Genetic diversity

gaining blood cells from a person with a genetic disease and then inject a normal gene into the defective cell. This type of gene therapy cannot be passed down generations (from parent to child) because it does not affect the egg and sperm cells. Somatic cell gene therapy needs to be done a few times to be permanent in a patient. The other type of gene therapy is germline therapy. Germline therapy takes place in the reproductive cells. It is the genetic modification of germ cells that will…

Although genetic engineering helps to solve many problems including famine, it is moving forward too fast, changing the way things happen naturally, and therefore posing many risks. GMOs are transferring genes in a much more unpredictable way compared to natural breeding. Natural breeding is that a member of one species can not produce fertile offspring with a member of another species. Genetic Engineering as one of the branches of modern science makes it possible to transfer genes not only…

exposure) apparent between and within human populations. Though only those with European ancestry show a large range of hair and eye colors. This recent discovery of important pigmentation determining genes has been made through a combination of genetic, biochemical and cellular approaches. But, undoubtedly it has been the ready access to the complete human genome sequence and documentation of a vast number of single nucleotide polymorphisms in several populations that is responsible for this…

Fundamentals of Biochemistry in the Biotech Industry Maple Syrup Urine Disease: A Sweet Scented Killer Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is a rare, potentially deadly disorder where the body cannot break down the three branched- chained amino acids (BCCA): leucine, isoleucine and valine. These amino acids are used to build proteins and when they are not being used they can be broken down and recycled in the cell. The complex that breaks these amino acids down is called BCKD (branched-chain…

states that information cannot flow from protein to protein or nucleic acid. In addition, Hirao & Kimoto (2012) stated that: Through molecular biology studies, from the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953 to the deciphering of the genetic…

potential to eliminate deadly genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. In one of experiments in China, scientists discovered off-target mutations in the genome. Off-target mutations are unintended mutations in the genome. They occur when CRISPR-Cas9 splices other DNA sequences that are homologous to the target DNA in the genome. These mutations can cause cell death or transformation. CRISPR-Cas9 technology could be used for non-therapeutic modifications such as genetic enhancement such as…

humans know no bounds. Finally, new technologies that may bring genetic modifications of human beings possible are emerging. However, genetic modification is controversial since it is potentially both powerful and harmful. Numerous movies and novels have been depicted what the world would be like if the genetic engineering became popular. Most of them portray a frightening world where we feel discomfort about human dignity. Therefore, genetic modification is unethical since enhancement will…

In biology “Evolution” is defined as the change in genetic in a population over a period of time, through several generations. Looking at the microscopic scale, evolution meant the mutation in the alleles of a certain genes are passed on to the next and next generations, and over the long period of time, these changes will “culminate in new forms … provides an explanation for the origins of morphological diversity, adaptation, and natural selection” (Bergman). As far as, in Stearns et al…

Gene editing has long been held out as a potential panacea for all human genetic disorders. Beyond human disease, it holds potential for producing disease free and larger plants and animals. Alternatively, resistance to herbicides can be edited into a plants genome or genes to increase drought tolerance. Furthermore, slight tweaks to the genome can produce crops that will be more desirable to consumers and thus enable their producers to earn more money. If the small change is only the removal of…

Controversy Of Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material. This is still a relatively new topic in today’s society. The altering of DNA was first only used to modify crops to increase their quality. Today, altering human DNA has been brought to the table. Scientists can now alter a human zygotes genetic makeup. This topic has been very controversial in the United States. Although the genetic…