Human Genome Project

This intellectual stimulation, coupled with a desire to discover more about life’s mysteries, compels me to pursue a career in scientifc research. This summer, I worked in a cardiology laboratory at UCLA, looking at proteins associated with HDL to understand how atherosclerosis can be averted. After some experiments provided questionable results, I was given the task of confrming that the viruses we were working with had been packaged and identifed correctly. I spent weeks running DNA gels,…

Professor, I found that in order to identify and distinguish any form of bacteria such as Serratia sp. and Enterobacter sp. a number of assessments should be conducted. Majority of bacteria’s has enzymes allowing it to break down nucleic acids and the bacteria and utilize the resulting nucleotides to produce their own nucleic acids. DNase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes DNA. The existence of DNase entails certain strains/species of bacteria and may be utilized for typing. A DNase assessment is…

result of growth and development processes and has limited contribution from environmental factors (Weedon, et al., 2008). As a result, loci influencing height are compared and contrasted from different races. Genome-wide association (GWA) is a method used to quickly scan markers across genomes (complete set of DNA). GWA data was used from 4,921 individuals of Caucasian descent (Weedon, et al., 2008). A common variant, also known as single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), was identified. It was…

DATABASES 1. Assembly Assembly database is needed to provide a systematic organization of genome. To accomplish that, the genome is fragmented into small pieces and is sequenced for many times to try to recreate the set of chromosome sequences. This database provides a unique tracker in form of accession so that users can identify changes to an assembly in precise locations whenever needed. There are two different types of assembly updates which are major release and minor release. 2.…

CRISPR is a technique that made genomic editing significantly easier. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas (CRISPR-associated protein) is a RNA-guided nuclease for precise genome editing in diverse organisms. In 1987, when scientists were studying the bacteria's immune system, they discovered a pattern of short, repeating, palindromic DNA sequences separated by short, non-repeating, "spacer" DNA sequences (Figure 1). How CRISPR/Cas works in bacteria: As…

Just recently, scientists have found a way to spin synthetic spider silk, like Batman does. These Swedish scientists are Anna Rising and Jan Johansson. The two biochemists came together to study the natural ability that spiders undergo. The spider silk protein is similar to a lengthy chain, containing three parts. The longest part of the protein has pieces that repeat themselves. Randy Lewis, a biochemist, explains the long part of the protein as “stacked Lego blocks connected by springs. The…

1. What is the species name of the model/study organism? If the study is looking at human disease choose the disease causing organism. If the study is on some aspect of human physiology or anatomy, the model organism is a human. The study followed one White family and one Italian family to see how the mutation of a Manganese Transporter, SLC30A10, causes a variety of diseases such as Parkinson’s and Chronic Liver Disease. The model organism of the study is the Homo sapien. 2. Intellectual merit…

World Book Student defines genetic engineering as “techniques that alter the genes (hereditary material) or combination of genes in an organism… Beginning in the 1970’s, scientists developed ways to reintroduce individual genes into cells or into plants, animals, or other organisms” (Rubenstein, 2015). Genetic engineering is a controversial subject not only in science but also in popular culture. Some research, such as stem cell research, has led to serious questions concerning ethics. Other…

would be screened if the fetus (i.e. me in my glorious self) showed an elevated risk for Downs Syndrome. A triple screen blood was performed which measured the quantities of three substances: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) which is produced by the fetus, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and unconjugated estriol which is produced by the placenta. The next 24 hours were one of the most stressful, my dad, tells me until the nurse called with the good news that all the bio markers were normal. Four…

replication (102,103). The exogenous agent who can damage the DNA include various types of radiations, such as Ultraviolet radiation, Ionizing radiation or various mutagenic compounds used in many processes (104). It is hypothesized that every single human cell encounters 104 to 106 DNA lesions every day (105). Thus all cells rely on a correct DNA repair system, which can repair the various type of DNA damage and keeps the genomic integrity of DNA intact. In order to maintain the genomic…