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The Human Genome Project (HGP) has provided us with a map of our entire genetic code. Studying the human genome may help us discover the answers to many questions including: how many genes we have, how specific genes work, how living things have evolved, how single cells can develop into complex organisms, and how what's in our DNA can cause us to become ill. Most people would say that this information could provide information that would lead to developments in medicine and new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. Some people, however, have also acknowledged the dangers of this kind of information, for example genetic profiling might lead to discrimination. Some examples might be that if it is determined by genetic testing that a person has a high risk of developing cancer, should employers be allowed to refuse employment on these grounds? Should insurance companies be allowed to deny them health insurance? What are some of the ethical or other questions that you think can result because of the HGP? As an individual, how might you live your life differently if you know about your genetic predispositions?

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Jarrod Robel
Jarrod RobelLv2
29 Sep 2019

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Related questions

For years we have been able to analyze the fossils of extincthumans like those of Neanderthals. Their bones gave us clues to howthey looked, how they lived, and how they might be related to us.In the last few years, we have been able to get a better view intothese extinct species and their relationship to our species. Thanksto next generation genomic sequencing technologies, we have beenable to obtain genetic data on Neanderthals, Denisovans and othersthat have allowed us to make direct comparisons between our speciesand theirs. In addition, we have been able to observe the presenceof DNA from these extinct species within our own genomes which tellus that we had kids with these now extinct humans.

If we take Neanderthal DNA as an example, we find that we share99.5 percent of our DNA with them. Which means that we andNeanderthals were separated from each other for more than 500,000years. This also means that we were genetically similar enough tobe able to have offspring with each other. We see evidence of thisgenetic introgression between us and Neanderthals when we look atour DNA. Interestingly, if we obtain one thousand DNA samples fromGrossmont College students, we estimate that we would be able toextract at least 20% of the Neanderthal genome from them. Thismeans that 20% of our collective nucleotide sequences are sharedwith Neanderthals but this doesn’t mean that 20% of our genes areNeanderthal specific genes. Of the twenty-one thousand genes thatNeanderthals had, only a few dozen of their genes survive withinour genome. The same holds true for Denisovans. What is moreinteresting is that older versions of ourselves have a tendency tohave higher levels of DNA from extinct humans compared toourselves. In other words, over the course of thousands of years wehave been slowly weeding out the DNA of the other humans from ourgenome in favor of our genes.

One basic question that we might like to ask is why have we beenlosing Neanderthal and Denisovan genes over time? Also, why do westill have a significant amount of DNA segments that don’t seem tobe going anywhere? The answer to this has to do with selection.

The answer to the first part of the question has to do with thefact that we were not fully genetically compatible with the otherhuman species to begin with. Basically, to have had Neanderthal orDenisovan genes in the past meant that an individual's level offitness was reduced. To get rid of their genes in favor of our ownwould mean that the relative fitness of individuals would increaseovertime.

The answer to the second question has to do with the fact thatDNA segments from Neanderthals and Denisovans that did not code forproteins remained because there was little selective pressureagainst them. As far as genes are concerned, the only Neanderthaland Denisovan genes that remain only exist because they had aselective advantage or at least have been neutral to ourspecies.

DNA segments that that were neutral or that had a selectiveadvantage, whether genes or not, simply remained because they wereadvantages or there was little selective pressure against them.

Your task for this week is to look for information about oneNeanderthal or Denisovan gene that survive within our species andto tell me what function that gene has and how that gene mayincrease the fitness of modern human populations.

  • In your post, discussONE Neanderthal orDenisovan gene that is currently found within our species.
    • Tell us about the gene and its function. Explain what it doesfor us. (Make sure you give a citation.)
    • Explain in your own words any possible advantages that yourNeanderthal or Denisovan gene might have. Make sure you give ininformed opinion that is grounded in your research.

General Instructions This essay should be 400-500 words in length. You must use correct spelling and proper mechanics. You must include citations and a reference list for any resources used at the end of this essay. It is expected that you will use one to two references for this essay topic. Essay #2 Studies of identical and fraternal twins have yielded some very interesting information on the genetic basis of behavioral traits. Read both of the following articles from the web, and then complete the assignment below. · Do our genes make us popular? From Scientific American http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/popularity-genes/ · Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart, from the Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research http://mctfr.psych.umn.edu/research/UM%20research.html Address the following questions in your essay: · What is most striking to you in the results presented in the two articles? · In the article on popularity, do you agree with the conclusion that there is a genetic basis to how popular people are? Explain why or why not. · In the twin studies, do you think that the behavioral similarities in identical twins raised apart from birth (like “the Jim Twins”) are due to inheritance? Explain why or why not. · Conclude by stating whether or not these two articles have changed the way that you think about genetics, and explain your answer.

Cystic fibrosis is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, whichencodes for a chloride channel. You are studying cystic fibrosispatients to determine what mutation they possess in the CFTR gene.The difference between the mutant and wild type CFTR genes can beuncovered by examining the CFTR:

(1 point - partial possible)

DNA

mRNA

protein

2.

You decide to identify the CFTR mutation by analyzing thegenomic DNA of your patients compared to genomic DNA of healthyindividuals. You specifically are looking to see whether a specificgene truncation has occurred in the patients. You will determinethis using hybridization techniques. Which of the following willallow you to accomplish this?

(1 point - partial possible)

Using an RNA probe complementary to the region not removed bythe truncation.

Using an RNA probe complementary to the region removed by thetruncation.

Using an DNA probe complementary to the region not removed bythe truncation.

Using an DNA probe complementary to the region removed by thetruncation.

3.

You would like to ensure that this experiment (to determinewhether patients have a specific CFTR gen truncation usinghybridization) is properly controlled. Which of the followingsamples must you include?

(1 point - partial possible)

The genome of a healthy individual who does not have CFTR.

The genome of a CFTR patient known to have the specifictruncation you are trying to identify.

The genome of a CFTR patient with a point mutation in a separateregion of the gene but without the disease truncation.

The genome of a healthy individual married to a CFTR patientwith the specific truncation you are trying to identify.

The genome of a patient with muscular dystrophy, which can bedue to a trucation in the dystrophin gene.

4.

To conduct the hybridization experiment, you are trying todecide between using a DNA or RNA probe. Which would be a betterchoice and why?

(1 point)

An RNA probe because RNA has uracil bases.

An RNA probe because it could also be used in a translationexperiment.

A DNA probe because it is more stable than RNA.

A DNA probe because RNA cannot bind to DNA.

5.

Which of the following will lower the Tm of a given DNAstrand?

(1 point - partial possible)

Increasing the percentage of GC base pairs.

Raising the pH of the solution from extremely acidic toneutral.

Decreasing the salt concentration in the DNA solution from 50mMNaCl to 5mM NaCl.

None of the above.

6.

Imagine Hershey/Chase had used an RNA virus (genome composed ofRNA) instead of a DNA virus in their experiment. Wouldradioactivity still have been found in the pellet?

(1 point)

A.No, because only DNA can be labeled with radioactivity.

B.No, because the RNA genome would not enter the bacteria uponinfection.

C. No, because while DNA and RNA nucleotides are similar, theyare not identical.

D. Yes, because DNA and RNA nucleotides are similar.

7.

Griffith and Avery's transformation experiments allowed us toidentify that DNA is our genetic information. Which of thefollowing scenarios would result in bacterial cells that arecapable of killing mice upon injection?

(1 point - partial possible)

A. Heat killed non-virulent bacteria is added to a live virulentbacteria strain.

B. Heat killed virulent bacteria is added to a heat killednon-virulent bacteria strain.

C. A heat killed virulent bacteria that is treated with anuclease, is then added to a non-virulent bacteria strain.

D.Heat killed mouse cells are added to a non-virulentbacteria.

8.

The human genome consists mostly of non-coding DNA. Which of thefollowing are benefits of this?

(1 point - partial possible)

A. Random DNA mutations generally won't affect RNA and proteinfunction.

B. It is faster to duplicate the genome when these arepresent.

C. The existence of introns can lead to multiple variations ofproteins encoded by a single gene.

D. Abundant non-coding genome is a protective feature againstthe consequences of transposition of mobile elements.

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