Gene duplication

Common tumors are often caused by mutations in the genes that may potentially lead to varying protein structures, which do not correlate with their proper functions (1). Majority of these mutations arise as a result of substituting one nucleotide base pair for another, but a significant number are also from adding or removing one of more of these nucleotides that ultimately disrupts protein translation (1). One of the mutated genes linked to cancer is BRCA1 (2,3,4). BRCA1 stops tumor growth by…

specific genes can cause eating disorders, the reverse is also true. According to a Canadian study, the onset of eating disorders such as bulimia, especially when they are long term, can actually cause changes in the very expression of one’s genes. These changes can be passed down to progeny and increase their likelihood of developing an eating disorder as well. This phenomenon is known as epigenetics, and its biological mechanisms are based on methylation. The level of methylation of a gene…

cluster of genes in a bacteria that are clustered together and have related functions. Genes in an operon are coexpressed, which means that they are turned on or off under a single promoter. The genes of the arabinose operon are Ara A, Ara B, and Ara D (or the B. A. D. genes) which are all digestive enzymes that allow bacteria to break down arabinose. When Ara A, Ara B, and Ara D cluster together they form the arabinose operon. The gene that replaces the arabinose operon is the pGLO gene. GFP is…

All things alive are made of cells. We humans have way too many to count. All the cells cluster and act together in the way so that we can function normally. Thanks to Agre and MacKinnon we now have more knowledge over molecular machines such ass channels, gates, and valves. The fact that water could go through the cell wall has always been a known thing, however, how the pores looked under function had been unknown. That is, until 1990 when Agre became the first to discover one. Chemical…

Gattaca is a film about conquering the human gene via genetic manipulation and how this technology cannot eradicate the problems of human nature. This assumes that to manipulate human genetics is justifiable and that human nature is a flaw. This film is about human nature triumphing over a society in which perfect DNA is the only measure of success. There are many examples of scientific advances in Gattaca. The main advance is genetic engineering and the ability to extract potential diseases of…

A plethora of internal and external variables combine to create individual personalities, behaviors and psychopathologies supposedly unique to every human being. The argument of genetic makeup versus environmental influences, however, has researchers working to determine what really shapes us. Some say genotypes control how people think, feel and behave. Others believe it is the environment alone that is responsible for molding humans into who they are. There is much unknown in this field, but…

Viruses are infective agents that are unable to support themselves and rely on other hosts for survival. Although they are not a living thing, viruses are able to infect humans, plants, bacterias etc. Depending on the type of virus, they target a specific organ or type of cells and inject their DNA or RNA in the cell to reorganize the genetic material of the cell. The cell then follows the new DNA instruction and produces more viral viruses. The adenoviridae, better known as adenoviruses, are a…

or insufficient enough, from birth restricts a person to a career not requiring an education, such as a cleaner. Creation of a new form of prejudice produces the idea of having greater or second-rate genes. The character, Vincent Freeman, contests his fate of being an “invalid” by purchasing the gene identity of Jerome Morrow, who has been genetically engineered to be “valid”. This movie can be viewed in different ways. A ‘perfectionist’s’ type of person may see this…

Trisomy is a cell that has three copies of one chromosome instead of having the normal two copies. Trisomy 21 is known as the congenital disorder Down syndrome. This occurs when each cell has three copies of chromosome twenty one rather than having a pair. Commonly, Down syndrome is caused by nondisjunction. Nondisjunction is "an error in which homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids fail to separate normally during meiosis or mitosis" (Huether,McCance pp.42). Scientists have discovered…

In some populations, alleles can be lost due to random events. Genetic drift reduces allele frequencies in smaller population, therefore, decrease genetic variation. It can eliminate alleles at a faster rate in smaller population until they become fixed in the population. On the other hand, alleles in a large population rarely become fixed by genetic drift. This indicates that genetic drift has a greater effect on a smaller population by getting rid of alleles at a faster rate. Genetic variation…