Genetics

The basic principle in this biotech is the cut-open of a plasmid which acts as a cloning vector, better work with the one containing antiobiotic favorable for later selection process, followed by insertion of desired gene or gene fragment. After amplification and proper induction in gene expression, the protein product could be harvested. If it is not the protein wanted, simple amplification is enough for harvesting of the desired gene or gene fragment. However, there are instances when the sequence in the vector would be incorporated into the bacterial host genome, which I can't see to cause a trouble in the amplification process, but this makes the bacterial composi…

Hi. I am writing a term-paper about cancer treatment by gene therapy and I'd like to know a few things. While writing my paper I thought that although gene therapy could introduce a working wild-type gene into a cell with a defective one, this would only help if the defective one did not have an adverse effect (for instance in case of non-functioning p53) however I saw no "easy" way how to avoid those genes that code for defective proteins that are always on and thus inducing the cancerous phenotype (such as Ras.) Is there a walk around on this (I thought about adding a second gene that codes for a inhibitor protein though that would be extremely difficult to do, or ju…

Every one of us, except identical twins or clones, has a unique set of DNA, or a genome, which in part is what makes us separate individuals. Inside each of our cells’ nuclei, we have 23 pairs of chromosomes, and one in each pair is inherited from one of our parents. The thread-like chromosomes contain all our genetic information. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules make up most of a chromosome and are the genetic material for all cellular organisms and most viruses. They act as the message carriers of chemical sequences governing the production of proteins. Such patterns are the genes, and all together they make up the blueprint of life.

IIRC, mammalian cloning works by swapping the nucleus of an ovum with that of a somatic cell. What if one were to take a fetal stem cell of, say, a mouse and replace its nucleus with the nucleus of a human somatic cell? Would that even work? Would that cell become a human stem cell? Has this been done? If it does work, then it could be a less politically volatile method of stem cell research.

Hello, I'm wondering how genetics fall into play from the grandparents and great grandparents when having children? For example, my partner has a very sick family (sister has dead kidneys, father has parkinsons disease, mother has arthiritis, grandparents on both sides died from cancer along with the great-grandparents). My partner has nothing and I don't have any issues on my side. If I have children with my partner, will any of these diseases or problems be passed on from my partners side of the family? Should I be worried? Thank You

Hi!! I am a high school student. Just have a confusion that. Is crossing over occurs in all chromosomes of a cell?

Is there a genetic link to the self-similarity exhibited by humans? I'm specifically referring to our limbs and our digits. Our hands have four fingers and a thumb. Our bodies have four limbs and a head. We have five toes on each foot, one very different from all the rest. Our hands and feet receive blood through our wrists and ankles. Our bodies once received blood through our umbilical cords. Is this sort of self-similarity a coincidence, or is there a genetic underpinning?

People sometimes talk about the design in organisms, but when pressed say it is metaphorical. But is it? We use evolutionary algorithms to create some of our designs. Now people have much less hesitation to call said products design, because intelligent humans designed the algorithm's parameters and ran it on computers that are also the product of our intelligence. Evolution could be said to be a very narrow form of intelligence but with great capacity: it can only solve one problem. Some may instead call it "smart" rather than "intelligent". Sayeth wiki: Intelligence is an umbrella term used to describe a property of the mind that encompasses many related abi…

I found an article by greenpeace that condemns the production of genetically engineered rice crops. Their main argument is that not enough is known about the effects of genetically engineered crops and the affects they may have on the environment and human health. I'm no expert but this sounds like propaganda to me. Genetically engineered crops are produced to withstand chemicals sprayed by farmers and harmful pathogens, isn't this proof enough to keep on going with it? Alot of the article goes on about how they're worried about the "GE'ed" plants interbreeding with natural ones, are there any problems with that? Here's the article:

People often have different beliefs on which is more important, although I think society's needs is the most important, is there anything genetic that could explain why some people prefer the society's needs over the individual's needs or visa-versa?

Hi! I have read in my high school that moustache and beard grows due to the action of hormones and its all this genes game. But I have heard many times that if you keep on shaving a particular area which lacks hairs, it results in growth of hairs in that particular area. If a particular person who don't have beard but is an adult shaves regularly then will beard grow??

Hi again, I have some philosophical questions here. Context: In the genetic code we have 64 different codons to codify 20 aminoacids + 3 STOPs + 1 START (shared with the methionine AA). So we say the genetic code is degenerate, having information redundancy (18 of the AAs are specified by 2 or more codons). Most of the synonymous condos only differ in the last nucleotide (due to the properties of mRNA and tRNA). However, is there any evolutionary explanation for this? Something like: is a protective measure against "evil" mutations related to important AAs (e.g. UC? always codifies "serine" -being ? any nucleotide- because if you change serine in a protein …

A question, is hairy men a sign of high testosterone? or is it false?

This is awesome, i didnt know there were such sites like this!!! So, here's the question: At Johns Hopkins University (USA), there is a “Build-a-Genome” lab course where undergraduate students participate in the international Synthetic Yeast Genome Project. Students receive oligomers and reagents to construct sections of a “designer yeast genome”. What types of alterations to the wild-type genome do you think might be useful for learning more about yeast genome organization/function, and why? All i could think of is causing mutations within certain genes to see what their functions could be. If the mutation occurs in the gene then to certain protein wont b…

I started reading about how genetics works at the cell level on the web, but I need someone to answer some questions I have: 1.Genes produce receptor proteins, which then bind to the neurotransmitter or other chemicals. What happens then? How does this then cause the neuron to either fire or not fire? A link to a Wikipedia article would be fine. 2.Genes have often have thousands of base pairs, so how come in genetics research they usually only have 2 variations of a gene? Could you point to some descriptions of how different variations of a gene produce different amounts of receptors at a molecular level? 3.Are genes each responsible for only one thing? I…

The further apart the alleles are on the chromosome the more likely a cross over. Can someone explain to me why this happens? Merged post follows: Consecutive posts mergedto be more specific, why is it less likely that crossing over would occur between two alleles that are closer together?

About two years ago, I read an article about males having a slightly (fractional) chance of being born over females due to the physical processes of fertilization and the energy used to make the processes happen. In the end, males are born more than females. Does anyone have a link to the article or remember where to find it? I can't remember.

Absolutely fascinating look at the mathematical properties of the human genome: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/fractal-genome/

Can a mutation that contributes to aging occur on any & even every copy and/or extra copy of a gene chromosome etc, no matter how many there are? Also disregarding the theoretical use of cell, organ, and tissue transplants, and gene therapy to replace mutated genes, to solve etc the issue of aging from mutations that contribute to aging there are no ways (other than the potential ways listed in this post) to completely solve etc the issue of aging from mutations that contribe to aging with our current technology etc correct? only answer this post if you are answering as accurately as possible whenever you answer..thanks..I really appreciate the help

Hey, folks. I'm reviewing the genetics of D. melanogaster, and I have a question inspired by reading a wikipedia article that says this: "It has only four pairs of chromosomes: three autosomes, and one sex chromosome." So, if D. melanogaster has four chromosomes, then how exactly is it going to have a Y and an X chromosome? Are one of the autosomes a Y chromosome? Am I missing or overlooking something here, or is it the idea that the one sex chromosome turns into two chromosomes, which could be XX or XY?

Hi everybody. It has been awhile since I posted. I have been busy with school. Anyway I was doing some reading online and I found something interesting. Apparently Mules which are the hybrids of Donkeys and Horses and are normally sterile and are so because of their odd number of chromosomes. Since Horses have 64 chromosomes and donkeys have 62 the mule has 63. When they try to breed the differing numbers of chromosomes don't match up with the gametes of the other mule and they fail to breed. I know there may be more too it than that however for simplicity sake this is all I will share on the matter. However if a female mule is bred with a pure horse or a pure do…

The ration is... T is a dominant Gene for tuft feathers on the neck, the rececive trate "+" codes for no feathers, the gene "TT" codes for tuft feathers but leads to infant death syndorm. It has been noted that a in very rare instances "TT" survive... What would be the best way to test this trate? woule I cross my Tuft Chicken with a non tuft chicken to see the offspring? If all the offspring are tufted, then the chicken is "TT".. that would be my test right?

Im taking a genetics class... i was able to figure out the answer but my answer does not match the answer on back of the book. Please help. heres the question: 3.21) In a family of six children, what is the chance that at lease 3 are girls?

Im taking a genetics class... i was able to figure out the answer but my answer does not match the answer on back of the book. Please help. heres the question 3.15) Albinism in humans is caused by a recessive allele "a". From marriages between people known to be carriers "Aa" and people with the albinism "aa", what proportion of the children would be expected to have albinism? Among three children, what is the chance of one with out albinism and two with albinism? My answer is : 50% would be albinos, and that the chance of having 1 reg and 2 albinos I got 1/8 chance... but the book has 50% would be albinos and that the other is 3/8ths...

Hi.... Id like to ask a genetic question... how dominant are genes when crossed across species. For example hybrids... I dont mean to offend anyone but I am curious. I have 2 chickens... well, i dont know if they are male or female, but I know that there geno type for Tuft Feathers is (Tt) each. If they cross with a pheasant, will the domminant gene T for Tuft feathers cross the species line too?