Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Advances in technology related to genetic mapping and embryonic screening have raised several ethical dilemmas regarding the morality of parents choosing children based on certain characteristics. Screening for disability and sex is already occurring, and screening for other characteristics is not out of the question in the near future. The idea of “designer babies” is morally questionable for many people worried about “playing God” or causing problems at a broader, societal level. Based on the…

Our loved ones are the most important people in our lives, and making treatment a priority for those who are dying should be our top concern. Patients with terminal illnesses should not have the ability to willingly end their own lives. It should be illegal for a doctor to administer euthanasia because it goes against the Hippocratic Oath, eradicates any chances of consensual research and testing, and defies the principle that a human life is priceless. It would be unethical to allow people to…

In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the genetic material of an organism. It consists of DNA (or RNA in RNA viruses). The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA. Understanding Human Genetic Variation Genetics is the scientific study of inherited variation. Human genetics, then, is the scientific study of inherited human variation. We study genetic material due to following reasons; 1. One reason is simply an interest in better understanding…

how genetic diseases develop. Unfortunately, there are only a few disease-specific embryonic stem cells that can be studied. The approved hESC lines contain genes for different disorders such as “Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Huntington 's disease, cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, myotonic dystrophy and neurofibromatosis” (Taylor). Obviously, these are not all of the disorders the majority of individuals face. Thus, there are more drawbacks without hESC research. Surprisingly, the…

DNA. Arguably the most exalted three letters from all of biology, on par with the prevalent H20 of chemistry and Einstein’s e=mc^2 of physics. We’ve all heard of this three letter acronym, perhaps tried to spell the full deoxyribonucleic acid once or twice. But we don’t often consider how just one letter mistake, one wrong copy of a gene, a tiny error in this code of life, may have drastic effects on the health of a human. What if we could alter some genes, fix up a few there, go into the…

There are several species on the earth and each species has its unique characteristics. Even within a species, there exists noticeable variation. Variety is the essence of nature. Confining this article to humans, it can be seen that all human beings are similar to a great extent but there are also different from each other to a significant extent. The variation among individuals is due the genetic make up. With an exception of monozygotic twins, no two individuals in the world are identical.…

(1) The news the doctor brings affirms a family their worst thoughts. It’s malignant, and it has become untreatable. As of this moment, there is no cure for cancer; it’s often recognized as a death sentence. Cancer is caused by a genetic mutation in a cell, causing it to divide uncontrollably. Not only cancer, but multiple diseases are genetic, fatal, and incurable. Examples of which include HIV, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's disease, and many others. Due to this, the question becomes, “Are…

The Fundamentals of Caring is a movie that demonstrates the physical and mental journey of Ben: a retired writer coping with the loss of his son, and Trevor: an eighteen year old boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Trevor is an anxious, ill humored boy with a fascination of roadside attractions but a lack of courage to go see them. Ben is a grieving father and a failed writer who takes a particular interest in Trevor. However with the help of Ben…

It is founded on knowledge of reproductive anatomy, physiology, and endocrinology, and incorporates relevant aspects of molecular biology, biochemistry and pathology. In the assessment of patients imaging techniques, laboratory methods and surgery may be needed. Treatment methods include counseling, pharmacology, surgery, and other methods. Reproductive medicine addresses issues of sexual education, puberty, family planning, birth control, infertility, reproductive system disease (including…