Genetics is the field of study that investigates how particular qualities or traits are passed on from parents to their offspring. Genetic information is passed from parent to offspring via chromosomes. Human beings have 23 pairs of chromosomes which contain between 20,000 to 25,000 genes, some of which determine their inherited physical traits such as eye colour, skin colour, and body shape. Offspring can also inherit some non-physical traits from their parents including disease. Sickle Cell Anaemia is one example of inherited disease which can be passed from parent to offspring.
Every living organism inherits genetic information from its parents. Genetic material is incorporated within the DNA of every living thing which is passed on through …show more content…
A trio of bases is called a codon and represents one amino acid which is the building block of protein. Proteins are responsible for all of the functions of the body. (The Nemours Foundation, 1995-2017). A human child inherits 23 chromosomes from each of its parents. The chromosomes carry the heritable identity or “genotype” of the parent. (Personal Genetics Education Project, n.d.). Every person has two copies of the same gene: one inherited from the father and one inherited from the mother (Personal Genetics Education Project, n.d.). Most genes are the same from person to person but a very small number are slightly different. Variations of the same gene are called alleles. Alleles determine a person’s physical characteristics, or phenotype, such as …show more content…
Sufferers of Sickle Cell Disease have cells which contain abnormal haemoglobin molecules which change red blood cells into a sickled shape. The cells are stiff and sticky and don’t flow as well as normal red blood cells. Sickle cells also don’t live as long as normal red blood cells which causes Sickle Cell Anaemia. Anaemia happens when there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to cells. This results in joint pain, infection, fatigue, and organ damage (USA Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). According to The Mayo Clinic, “the sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance known as autosomal recessive inheritance. This means that both the mother and the father must pass on the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected” (The Mayo Clinic, 2017). A child will still have the sickle cell trait if only one parent has the sickle cell gene but they won’t have any symptoms. It will still be a carrier though and may pass the gene onto its own children (The Mayo Clinic, 2017). According to the University of California, “natural selection works by weeding less fit variants out of a population” (University of California Museum of Paleontology , n.d.). If the sickle cell anaemia allele causes such negative consequences on the health of sufferers, why then does the process of natural selection not work in
Every living organism inherits genetic information from its parents. Genetic material is incorporated within the DNA of every living thing which is passed on through …show more content…
A trio of bases is called a codon and represents one amino acid which is the building block of protein. Proteins are responsible for all of the functions of the body. (The Nemours Foundation, 1995-2017). A human child inherits 23 chromosomes from each of its parents. The chromosomes carry the heritable identity or “genotype” of the parent. (Personal Genetics Education Project, n.d.). Every person has two copies of the same gene: one inherited from the father and one inherited from the mother (Personal Genetics Education Project, n.d.). Most genes are the same from person to person but a very small number are slightly different. Variations of the same gene are called alleles. Alleles determine a person’s physical characteristics, or phenotype, such as …show more content…
Sufferers of Sickle Cell Disease have cells which contain abnormal haemoglobin molecules which change red blood cells into a sickled shape. The cells are stiff and sticky and don’t flow as well as normal red blood cells. Sickle cells also don’t live as long as normal red blood cells which causes Sickle Cell Anaemia. Anaemia happens when there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to cells. This results in joint pain, infection, fatigue, and organ damage (USA Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). According to The Mayo Clinic, “the sickle cell gene is passed from generation to generation in a pattern of inheritance known as autosomal recessive inheritance. This means that both the mother and the father must pass on the defective form of the gene for a child to be affected” (The Mayo Clinic, 2017). A child will still have the sickle cell trait if only one parent has the sickle cell gene but they won’t have any symptoms. It will still be a carrier though and may pass the gene onto its own children (The Mayo Clinic, 2017). According to the University of California, “natural selection works by weeding less fit variants out of a population” (University of California Museum of Paleontology , n.d.). If the sickle cell anaemia allele causes such negative consequences on the health of sufferers, why then does the process of natural selection not work in