Genome Review Essay

Submitted By emiorr354793
Words: 826
Pages: 4
Open Document
The human genome is the collective recipe for the building and running of the human body. The genome is our 100,000 or so genes. These 100,000 genes are sited across 23 pairs of chromosomes. Genome: the autobiography of twenty three chromosomes by Matt Ridley is a book of about 100,000 words; divided into 23 chapters. There is a chapter for every chromosome. Whilst reading Genome, the reader explores the functions and purposes of their genes- genes that can help us or hurts us, genes that can influence or intelligence and so on. Ridley discusses the basis of all life on earth, the evolution of our species, and the principles of genetic inheritance. He talks about genes that carry traces of past human migrations, and the correlation between genetics and linguistics. He explores the genes that contribute to the interplay of nature and nurture effects on IQ and the role of genes in humans’ ability to comprehend language and communicate with one another. There is a chapter about how genetic variability is a response to exposure to infectious diseases in our evolutionary past. He talks about genes that can condemn us to cruel diseases, like Huntington’s disease. There is an ambiguous chapter titled he chapter titled 'Death' which is exploring the causes of cancer. genes that guide the development of our bodies and our brains, genes that allow us to remember, 'selfish' genes, self-replicators which are scrounging on the genome itself, whose remnants are found in our 'junk' DNA. Ridley covers every topic- from genes that impact sexuality and personality. This book chronicles the opening of the Genome mystery and the path science has taken to reach today's level of knowledge. It also includes a far reaching discussion of the current discoveries of DNA. Every turn of the page can reveal a new understanding about who we are and how our exploding genetic knowledge might shape our future.
In chapter three of Genome, Ridley discusses the finding of a scientist named Archibald Garrod. Garrod was a medical researcher that focused on a disease called Alkaptonuria. Alkaptonuria turns an individual’s urine and earwax a sickly black color, but was only present in the first cousins of some families. This disease leads him to think about the passing of genetic traits. He discovered that the disease was found in the lineage of families and could even reappear after a generation that did not have the illness. Garrod established the fact that every protein in the human body is made from a gene, and genes are inherited from parents. The origin of Garrod’s experiments is actually based off of Gregor Mendel’s research. Gregor Mendel is named the father of the modern science of genetics. Mendel's pea plant experiments established many of the rules of heredity. His experiments focused on the outward effects of the genetic programming (the phenotype). He essentially discovered that there are dominant and recessive genes in the human genome; meaning that traits do not disappear. An in depth study of mutations conducted by Hermann Joe Muller and others proved, “mutations were altered proteins made by altered genes.” James Watson and Francis Crick discovered DNA, the building block of genes. They are credited for
Show More

Related Documents: Genome Review Essay

Human Genome Project: Purpose And Implications

genes to improve prevention, treatment, and discover cures for various diseases. Known as the Human Genome Project, extraordinary research began throughout the United States, which was coordinated by the U.S Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. Completed in 2003, the project identified an estimated 25,000 genes and 3 billion base pairs in the DNA of an entire human genome as well as new tools for genetic data analysis and storage, addressing the inherent ethical legal, and…

Words 1909 - Pages 8

CRISPR-Paalindromic Repeats

illnesses in the future. CRISPR is an acronym used to designate Clustered Conventionally Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. This acronym alludes to the exceptional association of short, in part palindromic emphasized DNA successions found in the genomes of microscopic organisms and different…

Words 966 - Pages 4

Genetic Disorders: Marfan Syndrome

protein production, due to a fibrillin-1-gene mutation. Mice are often used in studying Marfan syndrome since they are easily taken care of, have a high reproduction rate, and have a fully shotgun sequenced genome. Scientists are able to view genetic mutations in mice and see how mutations in the genome correlate to mutation phenotypes. In the research paper, A new Mouse Model for Marfan Syndrome Presents Phenotypic Variability Associated with the Genetic Background and Overall Levels of Fbn1 Expression…

Words 360 - Pages 2

Essay on Genes and Genomes

Conifer Translational Genomics Network Coordinated Agricultural Project Genomics in Tree Breeding and Forest Ecosystem Management ----- Module 2 – Genes, Genomes, and Mendel Nicholas Wheeler & David Harry – Oregon State University www.pinegenome.org/ctgn Quick review: Genes and genomes  In eukaryotes, DNA is found in the... – Nucleus – Mitochondria – Chloroplasts (plants)  Organelle inheritance is often uniparental, making it powerful for certain types of applications Figure Credit: Wikipedia…

Words 1658 - Pages 7

How Does DSM-IV Classify Substance Use Disorders?

2.3 A literature review of genetic epidemiology and substance use disorders 2.3.1 Substance use disorders DSM-IV classifies substance-related disorders in two ways: substance use disorders and substance-induced disorders. There are eleven classes of substances: alcohol, amphetamines, caffeine, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, nicotine, opioids, phencyclidine, and sedatives, hypnotics, or anxiolytics. Substance use disorders are further identified as either substance abuse disorder or…

Words 985 - Pages 4

The History Of Science Journal

of around 130,000. Because institutional subscriptions and online access serve a larger audience, its estimated readership is one million people.[5] The major focus of the journal is publishing important original scientific research and research reviews, but Science also publishes science-related news, opinions on science policy and other matters of interest to scientists and others who are concerned with the wide implications of science and technology. Unlike most scientific journals, which focus…

Words 862 - Pages 4

Playing Doctor With Home Medical Dna Te Essay

Playing doctor with home medical DNA testing kits BY: CHRISTINA ROSA BIOLOGY 110 This review is regarding the controversy of DNA testing provide directly to the consumers. There are many types of test that you can take at home, paternity, gender prediction and risk assessment. . Theses test are at drugstore near you, alongside the aspirin and greeting cards, The only one that raises an issue is the one that will be the promise of answers to some…

Words 1342 - Pages 6

Genetic Engineering Essay example

Genetic Engineering in Humans Introduction All plants and animals are made of billions of tiny cells. Inside each of these tiny cell there is DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), which make up our genes. Genes are what influence our health and illnesses, as well as determining our human traits and behavior. Genetic Engineering refers to the use of modern biotechnology to change the genes. With the use of this technology we could be able to achieve our desired traits, but there are many legal and ethical…

Words 2014 - Pages 9

case study Essay

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1822 (2012) 1951–1959 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Biochimica et Biophysica Acta journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/bbadis Review Genetics of early miscarriage☆ Merel M.J. van den Berg a,⁎, Merel C. van Maarle b, Madelon van Wely a, Mariëtte Goddijn a a b Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Clinical Genetics…

Words 7537 - Pages 31

GMO's Essay

GMOs, Helpful of Harmful? Genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, make up for majority of the foods being produced today. There are a few to no benefits to these altered and ‘fake’ organisms. GMOs are organisms that have had their gene material altered by a process called genetic engineering. Many serious effects occur to the environment on which they are grown, and to those who consume these ‘alien’ foods. The affects of GMOs may be large or small, in any case, but there are affects…

Words 767 - Pages 4