Genetics Essays (Examples)

Genetics and Development

Genetics is a scientific discipline that deals with how individuals inherit their physical and behavioral attributes. Generally, genetics is a branch of biology that deals with the science of heredity, genes, and differences in living organisms. It's the process with which a child inherits traits from his/her parents and the molecular organization and function of genes. The question of what determines the development of a child has been an issue that has attracted considerable concerns and debates across educators, biologists, and psychologists. This issue has attracted huge concerns because it's impossible to explain each and every factor that eventually determines who a child becomes. Notably, the development of a child involves a mix of various influences such as parenting, genetics, individual experiences, family relationships, friends, and school. One of the most important influences on a child's development and growth is genetics, which primarily is the process of…

Genetics and Development:

As a discipline of biology, genetics is basically considered as the science of genes, inheritance, and differences in living organisms. Since genes are common characteristics in living organisms, genetics is used in the study of all living systems including plants, humans, domestic animals, bacteria, and viruses. Generally, this biological discipline focuses on the molecular structure and operation of genes whose behaviors are in the context of organisms or cells. Additionally, genetics also deals with distribution of genes, differences and changes in population, and heredity patterns from parent to offspring. One of the main characteristics of the contemporary science of genetics is its focus on explaining the heredity process because living things inherit individuality from their parents. With the increasing discoveries by geneticists, this science of biology plays an integral role in the process of human development.

Genetics and Human Development:

As genetics has continued to capture popular…

Hence, genetic factors underlie the stability or continuity of psychological traits.

Gene Development

Mutations play a vital role in genetics, although they cause different disorders living things. Sometimes heredity causes disorders that affect the normal genetic development. Genetic processes control how humans develop from a single cell to adult human beings. Genes control the nervous system cells, and re-growth of skin and hair cells. Genes make humans dynamic organisms capable of development, growth and change.

Parents pass most genes to the children, at birth through genetic inheritance processes. At conception egg and sperm combines and each has unique characteristics from the parent. Each has 23 chromosomes, with threadlike structures in the nucleus with genetic material. The chromosomes combine producing 23 chromosomes (autosomes). The 23rd chromosome is the X or Y chromosome, either determines the sex of the child. The chromosomes have deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), which have chemical compounds that cause…

The information is then transcribed into the traits and phenotypes of the offspring depending on the dominance and recessive alleles within the gene (erg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, n.d). The egg is fertilized by the sperm from the mother and their nuclei fuses together to form a zygote. The zygote contains 23 chromosomes from the mother and 23 from the father. From this combination of genes and the environmental conditions of the uterus, the traits and phenotypes of the individual are determined.

The principle of segregation for all organisms is as follows:

1. Hereditary traits are determined by specific genes. In the DNA molecule, genes are coded to specify a certain, single characteristic; this includes height, weight, eye color, etc. Any variations of the gene that correlates to the same trait are called alleles.

2. Individuals carry two genes for each trait, one from the mother's egg and one from the…

Genetics

Original Gene Sequence: 3'-T AC CC T. TT AGTAGCCAC T-5

Transcription of Original: 3'-A UG GG A AA UCAUCGGUG A-5'

Translation of Original: Start codon Met, Gly, Asn, His, Arg, Stop

Mutated Gene Sequence 1: 3'-T ACGCT TT AGTAGCCAT T-5'

Transcription of Mutated 1: 3'-A UGCGA AA UCAUCGGUA A-5'

Translation of Mutated 1: Start codon Met, Arg, Asn, His, Arg, Stop

Mutated Gene Sequence 2: 3'-T AACCT TT ACTAGGCAC T-5'

Transcription of Mutated 2: 3'-AUUGGAAAUGAUCCGUGA

Translation of Mutated 2: Ile, Gly, Asn, Asp, Pro, Stop

The first and last codons of the sequences are the start and stop codons respectively. The start codon indicates where transcription should begin. The stop codon indicates where transcription should end.

When a mutation occurs in the start codon, transcription will not be initiated and thus a protein will not be produced. When a mutation in the stop codon occurs sometimes the mutation will…

Genetics

Student esponse

Original DNA Strand:

3'-T ACCCTTTAGCCACT-5'

Transcription (base sequence of NA):

3'-A UGGGAAAUCGGUGA-5'

Translation (amino acid sequence):

Met -- Gly -- Asn -- His -- Arg -- STOP

Mutated gene sequence one:

3'-T ACGCTTTAGCCATT-5'

Transcription (base sequence of NA):

3'-A UGCGAAAUCGGUAA-5'

Translation (amino acid sequence):

Met -- Arg -- Asn -- His -- Arg -- STOP

Mutated gene sequence two:

3'-T AACCTTTACTAGGCACT-5'

Transcription (base sequence of NA):

3'-A UUGGAAAUGAUCCGUGA-5'

Translation (amino acid sequence):

Ile -- Gly -- Asn -- Asp -- Pro-STOP

What is the significance of the first and last codons of an mNA transcript?

The first codon ("Met") indicates the beginning of the transcription sequence. The last codon indicates the end of a protein sequence, which stops transcription.

Explanation:

Each protein sequence is coded with a starting and ending point, to indicate the length and type of the protein according to the sequence transcribed from the…

Genetics Case Study

Genetic Case Study: The Rita and Peter Trosack and Tay-Sachs Disease

Genetic testing is becoming a much more common practice in medicine today. This presents a unique set of challenges for medical professionals in virtually all specialties. The practical aspects of determining which test to order, and in interpreting the result accurately in the context of the family history, can be difficult.

Additionally, the ethical conundrums that frequently present themselves when genetic risk assessment and/or genetic testing is being considered can be daunting. These challenges present real concerns for medical professionals and patients alike.

Included in this paper is a review of some of the practical and ethical complexities associated with genetic testing. Pretest and posttest genetic counseling is also emphasized as an important and essential process in today's medical practice.

The Interdisciplinary Team

The interdisciplinary team members should include an obstetrician, a genetic counselor, a psychologist/psychiatrist,…

With recessive genes (in which both mother and father have to contribute a 'positive' set of the same genes) are designed to work in precisely the same way that hemophilia does: One out of four offspring (on average) will have the condition, two will be carriers, and one will be neither sick nor a carrier.

Klinefelter's syndrome, on the other hand, arises from a mechanical mistake that occurs on the genetic level during the process of the way in which egg and sperm come together to create a genetically whole zygote/fetus/baby. Under normal genetic conditions, an egg brings half of the needed genetic material to an individual. This female contribution is referred to as the X chromosome. Sperm, which also contribute half of an individual's genetic material, can be either X or Y in terms of chromosomal type. An X sperm combines with the X chromosome of an egg to…

Genetics

Based on the resulting F1 and F2 phenotypes, the dominant allele is yellow and the recessive green. This was the only possible conclusion given that the parents were yellow and green, the F1 phenotypes were all yellow, and the 3:1 F2 ratio of yellow to green. In contrast, incomplete dominance would have resulted in yellowish-green peas.

If 'C' represents the yellow allele and 'c' the green, then the parents were CC and cc, and the F1 generation were all Cc. Since the F1 generation was all Cc and predicted to segregate in accordance with Mendelian inheritance, the predicted ratio would be 3:1 yellow-dominant.

Trait

Observed

Expected

Obs - Exp

(O-E)^

[(O-E)^2]/E

Yellow

Green

Chi Square

Sum =

When the Chi Square test was performed on the resulting numbers, the result was zero. This suggests that there was no difference between the results and the ratio predicted by Mendelian inheritance…

Genetics

Option 3: Darwin's Perspective

According to Darwin, the survival of a species is determined by the degree of strength of its members. Thus, the "fittest" in terms of physical prowess as well as to a degree mental capacity survives. Human beings have long used their mental capacity to overcome the challenges of the physical environment. The very first discoveries of tools, fire and the wheel have set the species apart from the rest of life on earth. Human beings use their mental capacity to create tools in order to ensure and facilitate their survival in the face of challenges such as weather, predators and illness. From the Darwinian viewpoint, genetic engineering is simply the next step in the evolution of the human capacity to ensure the survival of their species. Some of the unforeseen results of technological advancement have admittedly been devastating, but another uniquely human capacity is accountability.…

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is linked to genetic inheritance, and more than 250 genes have been explored as having potential links with CAD. Although these genes are thought not to directly pass on CAD, research has seen that some mutations within these particular genes actually increase the risk of CAD within an individual who as immediate family members who have already suffered from the affects of CAD. Further research has pinpointed six genes out of that larger batch which may also play a role in heart disease. As seen in people who have experienced heart disease, variations of these six genes prove relatively common in individuals under the age of sixty-six years old. Researchers are using these new and continuous findings regarding heart disease's genetic base in order to compile genetic testing which can prepare individuals to have to potentially take measures to avoid heart disease. Utilizing genetic testing can…

Genetics & the Media

Human Genetics

Author's note with contact information and more details on collegiate affiliation, etc.

Human genetics is a modern issue that moves from the forefront to the background of our global culture. It is not only a scientific endeavor, but it is also an activity laden with political implications, as well as a business opportunity for the media. Human genetics and human cloning become more accessible issues because the practice influences the average citizen more so than before, with or without the average citizen's knowledge. What the average person knows about human genetics and human cloning has been increased and influenced by media representations. The paper will focus on an article that questions the interest of genetic research in the mind of the general public as well as considers why human genetics and human cloning are media-worthy at all.

Article eview: Genetics & the Media

The…

Genetics Technology

WHERE THE UCK STOPS

Interdisciplinary Team

This will consist of a physician, a geneticist, an ethicist, a lawyer or legal practitioner, and a health care provider. The physician or pediatrician will make the diagnosis (of Tay-Sachs), the geneticist, as a specialist, will provide more specific information on genetic diseases, particularly Tay-Sachs, as to causes and risks, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The physician and geneticist can together form a plan of care for the nurse's implementation. The ethicist will provide information on the accepted moral values of correct human conduct, behavior and decisions involved in dealing with Tay-Sachs disease. The lawyer or legal practitioner will inform the parties on current laws and court decisions covering or affecting the management of these genetic disorders. And the nurse who will carry out the detailed instructions of the geneticist and the physician and incorporate the guidelines provided by the lawyer into these…

However, to me, the most important consideration for an advocate is to make sure and listen to the family. Given more information, they may change their mind about continuing the pregnancy. If I remain their advocate after birth, they may make a decision not to provide a feeding tube or other medical interventions. I need to ensure that I understand that position, instead of making assumptions about their beliefs and attitudes, in order to advocate for them.

The primary legal consideration that effects the couple's decision to continue the pregnancy is that there are limitations on late-term abortions. While they probably want time to thoroughly evaluate their options, and might later come to the conclusion that an abortion would have been a better option for them, the window of opportunity for that choice is a narrow one. It is critical that the Trosacks understand this situation. To me, the primary…

The following images show certain disorders that result due to mutation. Children born from the same family members' shows higher similarity index regarding the genetic disorder number inclusive of the Indian community (Cummings, 2010, pg 333).

Curbing gene disorders

Stoppage of varying types of disorders is possible through learning in consideration of human development the number of genes contained in a single genome, their respective location and the establishment of functions or roles in the various genetic processes. This is achievable through strategized genetic mapping, where the establishment of specified genes having same linkage involved. The mapping establishes the respective linkages between genes and as a result of their location in the same gene, the crossing over frequency with the existing distance amid them is notable (Cummings, 2010, pg 333). esearch on the various risks factors involved can also be considerable as beneficial. This enables the development of certain preventive…

genetics research and ethics related to the topic of human cloning. Specifically, we review a publication co-authored by Kuppuswamy, Macer, Serbulea & Tobin (2007) entitled " Is Human eproductive Cloning Inevitable: Future Options for UN Governance." The central theme of this article is to distinguish two major types of cloning that are possible with contemporary genetic technology. The article outlines the issues and controversies surrounding each cloning type, and asserts a moral and ethical position which the authors consider to be a viable and necessary middle ground. The report was targeted to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) as an assessment of the UN's response to the need for international governance of human cloning, particularly in the context of the UN's non-binding A/ES/59/280 Declaration on Cloning. The article is secondarily targeted for consumption by the general public as an informational resource.

The selected article by Kuppuswamy et. al.…

Genomics and Genetics in Nursing: Online esources

Genetics and Genomics in Nursing: Online esources

Genetics and Genomics

Genetics and Genomics in Nursing: Online esources

Genetics and Genomics in Nursing: Online esources

Genetics and genomics has become an integral component of healthcare in developed countries. Providing the best care for patients therefore requires a working and up-to-date knowledge of this area of medicine. One of the best ways to stay abreast of genetic and genomic developments, at least those that have matured made the transition from research laboratories into clinical practice, is through several internet websites.

The National Human Genome esearch Institute (2011a) maintains an easy to navigate website intended to provide current information on genetics and genomics for patients and the public. The two primary information components provided through the main webpage defines key concepts and terminology and offers a tool for developing a family medical history. The other two…

Juvenile Delinquency and Genetics

Genetics and Juvenile Delinquency

The role of genetics in delinquent behavior

Although the role of genetics in determining human behavior has become an increasingly popular explanation for a variety of sociological phenomenon, until recently, social learning theory tended to be the most common way to explain delinquency. This theory suggested that children 'learn' appropriate standards of behavior from parents, peers, and other adults. However, there remains the question of why certain adolescents seem to have more of a tendency to exhibit low levels of self-control, to act out, and to associate with delinquent peers. One explanation is genetics. For example, one theory suggests that the precise configuration of the prefrontal cortex has a great deal of influence over the ability of the individual to control his or her impulses, which thus influences behavior. The extent to which genetics influences behavior vs. environmental conditions is controversial, however…

genetics, largely the result of the completion of the Human Genome Project, has helped change the face of modern medicine. Genetic testing of an individual can not only help identify current diseases and disorders, but also help suggest treatment modalities and identify potential future illnesses. For example, patients with a family history of breast cancer can be tested for the breast-cancer gene, and, if positive, decide whether to pursue preventative therapies, such as pre-cancerous mastectomies. However, it is critical for healthcare workers to understand all of the ramifications of genetic testing so that they can answer patient questions about those tests. For example, if a genetic test can identify a disorder, but there is no preventative care or treatment for that disorder, will that knowledge help or harm the individual?

Summaries

Lea, DH (2009). Basic genetics and genomics: A primer for nurses. The Online

Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(2).…

For many years, scientists have considered whether when different species evolve to look the same if they do indeed share a common genetic mechanism. The researchers have found it interesting because it tells about how flexible evolution is. If the same wing pattern evolves independently in different populations then it is expected that the same genes are not involved.

Due to the fact that butterflies have thousands of genes in their genome, most scientists felt it was unlikely that the same genes would be involved, but the results of this study have shown that they are in fact the same. This proves that one of these butterflies has evolved itself over the years to look exactly like the other so that their chances of being attacked by birds would decrease.

eferences

How the Butterflies Got Their Spots. (2010). etrieved February 9, 2010, from Science Daily

Web site: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100205213102.htm

Human Genetics

Inheritable neuropathies are among the globe's healthcare challenges today. Although their incidence is not as high, one in every 2500 people, as compared to other major healthcare problems, their symptoms, and consequences are equally fatal. Charcot Marie Tooth disease is among the inherited neuropathies, which has significantly shown potential and fatal consequences to people. Notably, the disorder does not have any known cure, but there are numerous therapies to control the disease. Although this is the current case, advancements in medicine, are gradually bearing fruits because experts have discovered a way to diagnose some types of these deadly disorders. Other types of neuropathy disorders include hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsy (HNNP), hereditary motor neuropathy (HMN), and hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN or hereditary sensory neuropathy). In a second part of this paper is an experiment to detect HaeIII in given human DNA samples. Owing to…

ace and Genetics

On the surface, race seems like a legitimate way of categorizing human beings. Physical characteristics are passed down from parent to child, thereby recreating racial markers. However, the concept of race is generally rooted in ignorance. ace is an ephemeral construction, and genetic science is proving this to be so. If race were real, then there would be ways of tracing different races back to a few ancestors: such as an ancestral Polynesian, ancestral African, and ancestral Jew. As it stands, though, all human beings trace ancestry to the same basic gene pool from humanoid ancestors in Africa. This one fact alone is sufficient to debunk the concept that race "exists," or is a form of biological determinism. There are other reasons to believe that race is not as real as was once thought. ace is not real, and the reasons are rooted in genetic science, anthropology,…

Genetics

Case Study Part II: Genetics

Describe if chromosomal analysis is/was indicated.

Huntington disease, also known as HD [MIM 143100] is dominantly inherited gradually neurodegenerative disorder. It is caused by a mutation; which leads to the expansion of the CAG or polymorphic trinucleotide HTT tract. Normatively, the size of the control CAG among ordinary people should be between 17 and 20 repeats. In HD patients, 1-2 duplicate genes have an expanded GAC tract to at least 36 repeats (Kremer, et al., 1994).The polymorphic trinucleotide tract size can be uneven and is more likely to expand, especially if it is passed on by a male germline. At first, the new rate of mutation for Huntington disease was estimated to be extremely low. The illness only affected those families that had history with HD. Current estimates have discovered that the expansion of CAG into the illness range has become more rampant than…

Mor

Genetics MO

Cell division in plants is a process that is currently under intense study by biologists. One team of researchers in Australia has recently published a paper describing their research into the role that microtubules play in cell division and morphogenesis. While these structures have been identified to be involved in cell division and growth, how they form, disassemble, and reappear is not fully understood. The Australian team's research consisted of their testing the hypothesis that a gene in the plant A. thaliana, called mor 1, plays a role in the development of microtubules.

In order to test this hypothesis, the team determined that the mor1 locus in a mutant A. thaliana caused temperature sensitive mutations in the development of microtubules when the temperature was increased from 21?C to 29?C. They used immunofluorescence microscopy, a technique that stains cell structures with a fluorescent dye, to visualize the actual…

This discovery could lead to cleaner energy, including the technology that could be used by factories and cars to capture carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is polluting the Earth's atmosphere along with damaging coral reefs and marine life and has impacts that are irreversible. Scientists believe that this will be important for potentially getting to a viable carbon dioxide-capture material with ultra-high selectivity. They are optimistic that is within their reach. Potentially, they think that they could create a material that could convert carbon dioxide into a fuel, or a material that can separate carbon dioxide with greater efficiency (Chemists Create Synthetic 'Gene-Like' Crystals for Carbon Dioxide Capture, 2010).

eferences

Chemists Create Synthetic 'Gene-Like' Crystals for Carbon Dioxide Capture. (2010). etrieved

February 16, 2010, from Science Daily Web site:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100211141144.htm

The most frequent symptom is difficulty in walking or gait ataxia (Unicorn Self-Help Committee 2000), which spreads slowly to the arms and the trunk. Foot deformities, such as clubfoot, flexion of the toes or foot inversion are other early signs. In time, muscles weaken and waste, especially the muscles in the feet, lower legs and hands and, at this time, deformities s begin to show. Other symptoms are the loss of tendon reflexes especially in the knees and ankles, the gradual disappearance of sensation in the extremities, dysarthria or slowness of speech or slurring, easy fatigue, rapid and involuntary movements of the eyes, scoliosis, chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, heart enlargement, myocardial fibrosis, tachycardia, heart block and heart failure. Studies showed that about 20% of FA patients also develop carbohydrate intolerance and 10%, of diabetes mellitus, while others lose their hearing or eyesight.

In most cases, the patient gets…

Obesity and Genetics

Academic Institution

esearch shows that science has been displaying that genetics have always been playing a position in obesity for quite a while. It is clear that the genes can openly produce obesity in syndromes for instance, with the Prader-Willi syndrome. Nevertheless, genes do not at all times forecast future health (Genetics, 2006). Behavior and genes could both be required for an individual to be heavy. In some circumstances multiple genes possibly will raise one's weakness for obesity and necessitate outside factors; such as abundant food supply or not having much physical activity. With that said, this paper will discuss genetics and the role it plays in obesity.

Obesity is Complex

Obesity is not that simple but it is a complex disease. It results from the dealings of an extensive variability of hereditary and ecological factors (Hirschhorn, 2005). The mutual progress in measureable heredities, genomics and bioinformatics…

Adolescent Behavioral Traits

Behavioral Genetics

The 'era of the genome' officially began on April 12, 2003 when the entire human DNA sequence had been declared completed (Gannet, 2008). Although there was considerable resistance to the project from the beginning, the subsequent boom in medical and genetic advances are hard to ignore. For example, BAE and colleagues (2013) recently published a genome-wide association study that searched for and found specific DNA sequences significantly associated with agreeableness and long life spans. This study would not have been possible in the pre-genome era.

Despite these remarkable advances, however, genetic research has been going on for decades in the behavioral sciences, thereby laying a foundation upon which more recent genome era discoveries can be based. To better understand this foundation, a selection of studies examining the gene-by-environment influences on child and adolescent behavior will be reviewed and discussed in this essay.

Genetic Determination of…

Canine Behavior: Genetics vs. Environment

The debate over nature vs. nurture as it applies to learning dates back over a hundred years. Certainly, during much of the 20th century, the distinction between learned and inherited behavior appeared much clearer than it does today. The concept that any type of behavior was either learned or merely developed without learning seemed a rationale and straightforward belief. esearch based on these expectations caused some scientists to conclude that rat-killing behavior among cats, for example, is a learned behavior rather than an instinctive one, that human fears are all acquired, or that intelligence is completely the result of experience. Learning theorists were arguing at this point that most behavior is learned and that biological factors are of little or no importance. The behaviorist position that human behavior could be explained entirely in terms of reflexes, stimulus-response associations, and the effects of reinforcers upon them…

Moreover, some genetic testing is inaccurate, creating the possibility of false positives and false negatives.

The second problem with genetic testing is that it can provide information about diseases where there is no treatment or intervention. This is the case for Tay-Sachs. There is no way to prevent the disease, which is fatal in children. However, unlike some other genetic disorders, the baby is born healthy and begins to deteriorate sometime after birth. Does knowing that the child will develop the disorder help the family, when prenatal screening does nothing to help treat the child?

The third problem with genetic testing is that it may lead people to make undesired choices. Abortion rates for children with genetic diseases are higher than those rates for children without those diseases. Abortion is a major moral issue in the United States. Does a process that might increase the likelihood that a mother will…

Female copperhead snakes are capable of both asexual and sexual reproduction. In essence, sexual reproduction has got to do with the development of a new organism via “the fusion of two sex cells, the male and female gametes” (Smith and Smith, 2015, p. 198). Asexual reproduction, on the other hand, “is the ability of an organism to produce an offspring without the union of sex cells (i.e. gamates)” (Smith and Smith, 2015, p. 199). It is important to note that in terms of genetic diversity, sexual reproduction is of greater relevance than asexual reproduction. This is more so the case given that in comparison to the parent organisms, the egg and sperm produced have different gene combinations. Meiosis is, according to Smith and Smith (2015), involved sexual reproduction. In basic terms, meiosis involves not only the cell DNA doubling, but also the rearrangement of genes, and the division of the…

Tetralogy of Fallot: Literature eview

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect associated with systemic cyanosis, accounting for approximately 5 to 6% of all cases of congenital heart disease and is characterized by; ventricular septal defect, aortic override, pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular hypertrophy. It is the most common cause of blue baby syndrome with children diagnosed developing Tet spells. Sudden increases in cyanosis followed by syncope characterize Tet spells and may result in hypoxic brain injury and death. Environmental and genetic disorders are other causes of TOF; always associated with chromosome 22 deletions and DiGeorge syndrome and occurs slightly more often in males than in females. If left untreated, Tetralogy of Fallot rapidly results in progressive right ventricular hypertrophy due to the increased resistance on the right ventricle. This progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy which begins in the right heart chambers often leading to left heart failure. Actuarial survival…

Candidate Genes for Schizophrenia

Their Impact on Neuro-development

Search Improvement over Published Methodology

rief Introduction -- Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, which is characterized by delusions, lack of drive and interest, changed or unusual emotional reactions and generally disorganized behavior (Kirov et al. 2012). Some signs may begin from childhood but main features become apparent in the late teens and early adulthood. Outcomes and treatment are varied but relapses are frequent. Remissions are also often only partial along with significantly reduced social and occupation involvement. Persons with this disorder are among the most vulnerable, ostracized, and thus disadvantaged in society. A recent meta-analysis reported that about 15.2 out of every 100,000 persons are afflicted with it (Kirov et al.).

Genetic epidemiological studies theorize that varied susceptibility to schizophrenia appears to be strongly genetic (Kirov et al. 2012). These studies have identified many potentials links between genes and chromosomal abnormalities. Increasing…

Human Development

Operant conditioning could be used to get my roommate to make his bed by providing negative reinforcement every time he fails to make his bed. I could tell him that he is not allowed to use the TV. This should reinforce the idea that he must not fail to make his bed. Classical conditioning could be used to get my roommate to make his bed by providing an unconditioned stimulus -- telling him our neighbor is coming by to use the computer in the mornings from now on. He will naturally react by wanting to tidy the room including his bed.

The hypothesis I would use for testing the effect of Baby Einstein videos on cognitive development would be: Baby Einstein has a positive effect on the cognitive development of toddlers between the ages of 1-3. This would be a longitudinal study, using a randomized sample. A control…

Lac Operon Genetics

Practical 2. Analysis of wild type and lac operon mutant strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli

Complete the results tables below using the data you obtained in the practical.

Describe the size, colour and eosin sheen of the colonies on the EMB plates in Table 1 below.

Strain

Size

Colour

Eosin sheen

WT

Large colonies purple

Strong eosin sheen

H

Large colonies purple

Weak eosin sheen

J

Small colonies pink

No eosin sheen

K

Small colonies pink

No eosin sheen

Fill in the fluorescence results for NA+glu and NA+lac in Table 2 below.

Strain

NA+glu within 1 minute of MUG overlay

NA+glu

minutes after MUG overlay

NA+glu

minutes after MUG overlay

NA+lac within 1 minute of MUG overlay

NA+lac

minutes after MUG overlay

NA+lac

minutes after MUG overlay

WT

H

J

K

* Record the degree of fluorescence as (-) or (+) or (++) or (+++). Where…

Breast Cancer

How Genes Influence Breast Cancer

Director of the National Cancer Institute

How Genes Influence Breast Cancer

Many environmental factors can affect a person's risk of breast cancer, but they are not the only issues to consider. Genetics also play a strong role in whether a person develops breast cancer or avoids it. A strong family history of the disease can predispose a person to breast cancer, but it is not a guarantee that the person will acquire the disease. Conversely, people with no family history have also contracted breast cancer, so genetics are not the only issue. They are merely a part of the puzzle. The research here indicates that genetics may be a larger part of the puzzle than first thought, however, and proposes recommendations to spend more time and financial resources on discovering the significance of genes and how they influence breast cancer. Recommendations for action…

Jungsik Yoo

At times, marvel how far have come. Ever since was a young boy, under the influence of my father, a molecular biologist, dreamed of researching genetically inherited diseases. Today, live that reality in my current field of work and research as a graduate student in neuroscience.

Thus, long before most children, because of my early exposure to the field of biology, was intimately aware that one's genetic inheritance could determine an individual's future physical and emotional health. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that soon decided was genetically coded to become a medical researcher. will receive my Ph D. n the summer of 2006 in neuroscience. But my current studies in the field of genetics have also soberly reminded me of how far both my own learning and the field of genetics need to be stretched, before the objectives of genetic research into inherited diseases can be realized.…

In 1910, Morgan publicly disagreed with the prevailing notion in embryology, that a fully-formed adult was already locked inside the ova or sperm cell. Rather, Morgan argued that there was no single chromosome that guaranteed the heredity of specific traits (Shine and robel 1976).

Drosophila

In 1903, Morgan accepted the first professorship in experimental zoology at Columbia University. He moved his family to New York and began to work in genetics, fueled by his interest in the gaps in the work of Darwin and Mendel. During this time, scientist Hugo De Vries, a geneticist, revisited the work of Mendel and again proposed that new species were created as a result of mutations. Morgan then set out to prove De Vries' theory, using his now-famous Drosophila experiment.

Morgan used X-rays to mutate samples of Drosophila and cross-bred the mutants to regular samples. In 1910, Morgan found a male fly with white…

roles do genes play in determining cell structure and function? How is gene expression regulated?

Genes are composed of sequences of DNA which pass on the organism's genetic blueprint through the process of replication. "By serving as the blueprints of proteins in the body, genes ultimately influence all aspects of body structure and function... An error in one of these genes can lead to a recognizable genetic disease" (McCance & Huether 2012: 126).

What is the role of the environment in development of congenital disorders?

Genes have a considerable influence upon the probability of individuals developing particular disorders. For example, not every smoker develops lung cancer; not every overweight person develops type II diabetes. However, genes determine the likelihood that individuals will develop such disorders. The environment can trigger the expression of certain genes or support the conditions that make the manifestation of such conditions more or less likely to…

Epidemiology

Liegl-tzwanger, Fletcher and Fletcher (2010) pointed out that the exact incidences of gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the United States and Europe is not easy to determine. This is attributed to the fact that GISTs got proper recognition as well as diagnosis from the late 1990s.Studies carried out in Iceland ( Tryggvason et al.,2005), Sweden (Nilsson et al.,2005), as well as Holland (Goettsch,2004) have indicated that close to 11,14.5 and 12.7 cases per million people per year respectively.Incidences if GISTs have been shown to be higher as a result of the fact that most patients live with it for several years and it gets detected only during gastrectomy or autopsy all of which are usually performed for other reasond. study by gaimy et al.,(2007) which was performed consecutively on autopsies indicated that small GISTs having between 1-10 mm in about 22.5% of the individuals aged above 50 years.These small GISTs…

However, the use of this technology has also introduced a whole host of ethical and health issues. This is important, because how these issue are wrestled with in the future, will determine the way this technology will be applied to daily life.

A bibliography that includes all references cited in the report and a 1-2 sentence summary of what information was gained from each reference.

20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods. (2010). HO. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

This source identified specific ethical and health issues that are affecting the use of genetic engineering. It was useful in recognizing specific factors and issues that could be affecting the way genetic engineering is impacting daily life.

The Search for the Structure of DNA. (2010). Online Ethics. Retrieved from: http://www.onlineethics.org/Education/precollege/scienceclass/sectone/cs4.aspx

This source was useful in providing background as to when DNA was discovered and what compounds were looked at before its discovery.

Ejelonu, A.…

Hermaphrodite is an organism in which a single individual has both male and female gametes. Many plants and some animals are naturally hermaphroditic and can self-fertilize and reproduce themselves from a single organism. (Omoto & Lurquin, 2004, p. 209) While some species actually reproduce asexually, such as single celled organisms and other creatures, this is not the same as being hermaphrodite. There are benefits to the species in some sense in being able to self-fertilize and reproduce in this way. Sexual reproduction in effects cuts the population's growth rate in half. Only females produce offspring, not males. If half the population is male, then the speed of population growth is half that of an all-female population. An all-female species can quickly out produce a male/female species, allowing an all-female species to survive in high mortality habitats where a male/female species can't succeed. This result is also true in hermaphrodite species,…

living things are characterized by the following seven characteristics namely mobility, respiration, excretion, sensitivity or response to external stimulus, growth, feeding, and reproduction. Though there may be variations between animal and plant kingdom (ex, plants take in carbon dioxide and prepare their own food), these characteristics are commonly observed among all living things.

iology is a very broad field that encompasses the study of characteristics of living things. It includes botany, zoology and all other sub-disciplines that range from microbiology to evolution and ecology.

Evolution is the branch of biology that deals with the study of natural development of living organisms and the changes in them over time. Evolution refers to the heritable changes that occur in a population over a period of time. All the diversity that is observed currently in plant and animal kingdom can be ascribed to evolution over a long period of time.

Atoms are the…

Large size is a primary expressing symptom of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. The authors also used imaging analysis hardware and software, as well as using the patented CpGenome DNA modification kit for further testing.

Explain how the article relates to genetics topics addressed in lecture.

The article relates to a wide range of genetics topics including chromosomal abnormalities, alleles, the use of fluorescence in chromosomal analysis testing, cytogenetic abnormalities, genotypes, phenotypes, karyotypes, and the process of chromosomal rearrangement or deletion de novo.

Explain the significance of the species chosen for use in the study.

The species chosen for use in the study was human; significance does not need to be explained. The authors did need to receive consent from the parents for all diagnostic procedures, which were performed within the ethical guidelines of the Institutional Review Board of the Hannover Medical School.

Explain the most significant conclusions presented in the article.

One…

Genomes and Comparative Genomics

Over the last decade we have achieved rapid strides in the field of genetic engineering. The study of molecular biology has been fairly advanced mainly aided by the unprecedented growth in information technology. Today bio-informatics has opened new vitas for us and we are already progressing in investigating and in the comparative study of genomes. This has shed new light up on our knowledge of the evolutionary process and the important concepts such as protein folding and selective expression, which have so far eluded our understanding, are beginning to unfold. Let us have a brief overlook of the subject.

The Role of DNA

One of the greatest achievements of the twentieth century has been the unraveling of the mysteries behind the DNA and the mechanism of protein synthesis. Genes are the fundamental units of biological inheritance and are made up of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Genes are…

This bill was sent to the U.S. Senate and set for vote mirroring a bill previously passed by the House during the Summer of 2003 which failed to pass the Senate because of vehement disagreement that was even "within the parties over the prohibition of therapeutic cloning.(National Legislation Concerning Human and Reproductive Cloning, 2004; paraphrased) As of the date of the report on legislation eight U.S. states had passed laws that explicitly prohibited reproductive cloning using human embryos and another five U.S. states have placed a prohibition on cloning for any purpose whatsoever with 22 other U.S. states introducing bills outlawing the reproductive cloning of humans. (Ibid; paraphrased) Patenting laws for genetics allow inventors to patent genetics but only specific genetic factors may be patented and inventors are required to:

1) Identify novel genetic sequences;

2) Specify the sequence's product, 3) Specify how the product functions in nature --i.e. its…

sex vs. gender and nature vs. nature on a multi-disciplinary approach. e base our discussion on a variety of papers which we present as annotated bibliography. The papers are then used in the development of rest of the paper. e present our paper on the following views: religion, culture, norms, society etc.

One of the major issues that has attracted a lot of debate in this century in the field of psychiatry revolves around nature and nurture (Keltner et al., 2001).Nurture is used to refer to upbringing and nature refers to biological aspects of life.There is a raging controversy that revolves around hereditary environment with several historical evidences used in order to explain the connection between the two. The history locates the genesis of this debate to John Locke.It'd worth noting that this controversy has never stopped. This is because it still remains a major question as to how much…

Individual Differences Approach to Personality:

Personality is a term that has largely been considered an unproblematic concept and primarily refers to the varying kinds of characteristics of individuals. Despite this assumption, psychologists have constantly used the word in different ways. The varying views in the use of this concept or term are fueled by the fact that psychology usually makes generalizations regarding individuals. Generally, personality seeks to examine the many differences and similarities between individuals. Formal evaluation and study of personality have mainly focused on patterns of similarities vs. patterns of differences among individuals. When evaluating patterns of differences, the concept of abnormality has emerged and attracted huge concerns among psychologists. Since the issue is controversial, there are concerns whether individual differences in personality can be effectively explained with reference to genes.

Individual Differences Approach to Personality Theory:

As previously mentioned, personality is a concept that primarily focuses on examining…

However, while it is tempting to claim genetic influences as superior to environmental ones, there is still a great debate over whether and individual can overcome their genetics setbacks or be enhanced by their genetic superiority. The former is often achievable as in the case of the addict who has recovered from their addiction, the latter brings us to the morally trepidatious ground of eugenics where by genetic engineering can enhance the good traits and limit the bad traits. The problem there is who decides which traits to keep or loose? Usually decisions left up to a higher authority.

eferences

Gesell, A., Thompson, H., & Strunk, C. (1938). The Psychology of Early Growth: Including Norms of Infant Behavior and a Method of Genetic Analysis. New York: Macmillan.

Jang, K.L. (2005). The Behavioral Genetics of Psychopathology: A Clinical Guide. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Johnson, A. (2003, February). The Genetic Key…

Nonetheless, an argument from common sense can be made based on our own observational context. For example, neurologically speaking, there is a wealth of evidence to illustrate that genes have an immense impact on the final structure of the brain, and thus on behavior. Schizophrenia is an obvious example of this.

Logically, though, there is also abundant support for Dawkins' thesis. oughly, an argument can be shown to be logically viable if its conclusions can be reasonably drawn from its suppositions based on the available evidence. This is abundantly the case in the Selfish Gene, wherein Dawkins (1976) draws on all the existing evidence on evolutionary theory and the development of life, including the mechanism of natural selection (p. 48) and DNA as the molecule of choice for genetic propagation (pp. 22-23). The evidence that Dawkins provides is, quite simply, sufficient to support his argument that the gene should be…

Phenotype

How variations arise within a phenotype?

Phenotype is the specific characteristics that are displayed by the organism. Phenotypic variation is a prerequisite for evolution due to natural selection, thus without the former, there is no latter. Qualitative traits are traits that show a difference between phenotypes like skin color, sex, and eye color. However, such descriptions are controlled by a small number of genes so environmental influence on these traits is low since it involves the genetics of individuals. Quantitative traits are traits that exhibit a continuous range from one phenotype to another. Therefore, there is no difference between phenotypes and are usually influenced by several gene pairs while the environment has a significant influence on the trait. This type of trait involves the genetics of populations. It is a combination of genetic and environmental factors to produce phenotypes that blend into each other. Phenotypic variance or VP is…

technology has revolutionized society: communication, transportation, commerce, and especially medicine. . Ironically, for centuries and still in Oriental Medicine, healthcare was and is tailored to the individual. Even the Greek Physician Hippocrates wrote that he prescribed sweet elixirs to some and astringents to others depending on their individual condition (Pray, 2008). 21st century medicine, though, is more about an individual person's genetic code, and is made possible by advances in genetic technology and engineering. This is partially due to the Human Genome Project, a massive program completed in 2003 that focused on the identification of the individual genes that make up human DNA with the overall hope that it would initiate genomic medicine -- healthcare delivered based on the individual's medical history and genetic profile (About the Human Genome Project, 2011). Traditionally, medicine diagnoses human illnesses based on quantitative and qualitative signs and symptoms. With the advent of genetic technology,…

Buck vs. Bell

Lee M. Silver's Remaking Eden and Dr. Leon R. Kass' Life, Liberty and the Defense of Dignity provide differing perspectives on the applicability of the issue of the case of Buck vs. Bell to today's society. In Buck vs. Bell, eugenics and Social Darwinism spurred a Supreme Court decision that allowed forced sterilization. In Remaking Eden, the perspective of Silver effectively argues that the case of Buck vs. Bell is not at all applicable to genetic issues today. Silver's optimistic stance on genetic engineering seems to indicate that human innovativeness and ingenuity will allow humans to successfully use genetic technologies to improve the world. In contrast, Kass' perspective suggests that the case of Buck vs. Bell is highly applicable to genetic issues today. Kass notes that even well-meaning and benevolent applications of technology can have devastating impacts on human dignity, echoing a theme found in the violation…

The media is one of the most intense factors to influence people's personalities, with the audience often being inclined to follow what they see in the news. The American public, especially, spends a large time watching television, and, during the time that the T.V. is open, people watch hundreds of violent scenes. All things considered, the media encourages aggression and controls the way in which people's personalities are being shaped.

Scientists still have a long way to go until they will properly determine which are the exact factors influencing anti-social behavior. Most probably, time will solve the problem, and, in a few decades, people will be able to comprehend the ways in which genetics and environmental factors act on the human mind.

orks cited:

1. Laura A. Baker, Serena Bezdjian, Adrian Raine. (2006). "Behavioral Genetics: The Science of Antisocial Behavior." Law and Contemporary Problems, Vol. 69.

Laura A. Baker, Serena…

S.T.E.M. Article Review

Pochran, S. (2011, Sept. 21). What's on your genes? Tiny genetic switches create big differences. Science News Magazine. Retrieved from https://student.societyforscience.org/article/what%E2%80%99s-your-genes.

This article shows that scientific advances have allowed researchers to significantly modify the physical appearance of offspring through intervention and modification of the genes of the parents. Instead of what is "in" your genes, Pochran (2011) studies modifications which are "on" the genes. She makes this distinction by describing a research study wherein two mice were created; they were genetically identical. They were twins on a genetic level. However, they were physically different in an extreme way. One mouse was small and brown and the other was large, overweight, and orange in color. This experiment, conducted at Duke University by Randy Jirtle and his colleagues showed how methyl groups attach to DNA and can effectively turn off genetic markers which are in the chromosomes. So, even…

Buying a 17 acre farm with the inheritance left him at age 21 by his father, Burbank got to work on producing better strains of plants and trees to increase yield, promote disease resistance, resist environmental changes, and resistance to insects and fungus'. Burbank cross pollinated all the flowers of plants by hand and planted all the resulting seeds. From these seeds, he then selected the most promising plants to cross with other ones to ensure the best was achieved. From the book, "The Cavalcade of America," the unknown author refers to Burbank as the "Plant Wizard" and writes of the many lasting accomplishments he made in regards to the field of agriculture. (Cavalcade, 1946, pg 129). Many scientist dispute Burbanks and his work due to the documentation kept was not in line with 'proper' scientific documentation.

Conclusion

The opinion of this researcher is that while Mendel studied hybridization and…

Chapter Conclusion

This section will be used to provide a summary of the research and important findings supported by citations.

References

Arcand, Yves and Pierre Talbot. (2000) "Using Peat to Treat Wastewater." Journal of Environmental Health 62(6): 36.

Author provides a description concerning the utility of peat moss in wastewater treatment applications. Included in the report is a discussion concerning the origins of habitats favored by peat moss. Author also presents a useful basic description of this species and its physiology.

Coggins, Reed. (2002). "Ferns and Fire: Village Subsistence, andscape Change, and Nature

Conservation in China's Southeast Uplands." Journal of Cultural Geography 19(2): 129-

Author describes the economic impact of fern species for agricultural practices in rural

China where ferns are burned and used as fertilizer as well as used as a rotation crop to improve crop yields. Report provides useful background information for ferns.

Falcon-ong, H.J., D.J. Cantrill and…

That is simply because individual in the same family are much more likely than unrelated individuals to share similar foundational experiences by virtue of their exposure to similar parenting and resources in their immediate environment throughout their early lives (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2007; utter, 2006). Just as hesus monkeys tend to adopt maternal behaviors and elements of personalities of their mothers irrespective of their genetic inclinations, so do human infants and growing children and adolescents internalize and adopt various aspects of the behaviors and reactions exhibited by their parents and other significant adult behavioral role models in their lives (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2007).

Twin Studies

The quality of resources available to siblings (such as food, medicine, educational opportunities, etc.) is generally very similar within biological families (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2007; utter, 2006). To the extent these factors contribute to the development of behavior, it is extremely difficult if not impossible…

This would clearly be preferable to performing surgery, but may be more applicable in cases of type B than type a polydactyly. Of a total of 21 cases which were examined, this procedure resulted in a slight complication in only one case, where the digit had to be removed surgically due to failure of removal by suture ligation. The only real side effect of this simple treatment is that there was found to be a small bump remaining at the site in 43% of cases.

Conclusion

Although there has been some work into the genetic basis of polydactyly, advances in examination of the human genome may create a better understanding of the condition in the future. A large amount of the work done so far has been focused on animal models, and there is still room for further work to discover the genetic basis of the different types of polydactyly…

As this meme passed down through generations, it became more pervasive and it also became more complete. When slavery in the New World began, both blacks and whites were enslaved, black slaves could gain freedom, and slavery was not a condition of birth. However, as that changed, the memes surrounding African-Americans also changed. Not only were blacks seen as not equal to whites, but they were seen as incapable of becoming equal to whites. Therefore, when Jim Crow segregation was first challenged under the Fourteenth Amendment, the Supreme Court determined that separate facilities were not inherently unequal, despite overwhelming evidence that the facilities provided for African-Americans were factually inferior to those provided for whites. While this meme has been challenged by newer ideas and has, generally, not stood up to scientific, moral, and religious challenges, vestiges of it remain in almost every American person. As a result, many Americans, of…