Human genome structure and organization

Psychology

The Human Genome

Building on the Celera Genome" discusses the race to completely decode the human genome. A government-funded consortium of higher education centers decoded the genome in 2003, but another scientist, J. Craig Venter, announced he decoded a new version of the genome that many people think is more complete than the original. Venter calls his version a "full," or "diploid genome," and it contains the DNA in both sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, and it is the most common genome found in the human body. His research is more thorough than other methods, and so it gives more complete and valuable results to scientists and researchers. In fact, he used his own DNA for the research, so the results point to problems that could surface in his own behavior and health. The articles also gives a brief history of Dr. Venter, including how he became interested in research, and how some researchers are critical of his methods and results. He has written a book about his experiences, called "A Life Decoded," and he posts his genome research on the Internet, so other scientists can benefit from his research and understanding.

Venter's research also shows there can be many more variations in the human genome than previously thought - even abnormalities such as the same gene exists in many copies, or inversions, where the DNA is inserted in the gene upside down. Since there are more variations than initially thought, this research opens up all kinds of areas for additional research, including psychology.

The genome is still largely not understood, but the variants discovered could play a large role in psychological research and diagnosis in the future, since many of the variations can lead to diseases and conditions. For example, Dr. Venter believes that the variants can lead to the risk of alcoholism, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, antisocial behavior, and conduct disorder. Obviously, this could have a lasting affect on the study of psychology and predicting many unwanted behaviors and addictions. By studying the human genome of a particular patient, the psychologist might be able to predict these behaviors, and begin treatment or medication to alleviate them.

In addition, children's genomes could be decoded early in life in an effort to find these problems before they start, and treat them behaviorally so they do not occur. Studying the genomes of known addicts or patients with other behavioral problems could also help researchers find more ways to predict these behaviors and perhaps a way to stop them from occurring someday.

This research has many other health implications as well. It could show that many issues that have always been thought to begin in the mind and the psyche can actually be hereditary, and there is no way to stop them from occurring, only treat them. This may lead to a better understanding of some diseases and conditions, and how to treat them effectively some day. This is valuable information for the psychologist and the therapist, who may end up developing an entire new way of looking at human psychology and how to treat psychological problems. Many problems may be in the mind of the individual, but they may have their origins in the very origins of life.