Complex Genetic Trait Research Reaches New Heights

In a recent study of more than 180,000 people, researchers have analyzed and found genetic differences that dictate height. The association of the Genetic Investigation of Anthropocentric Traits (GIANT) found that there are 180 gene regions that determine human height. There are 21 of these variants that cluster around genomes to regulate the building of bones. Approximately 80% of our height factors are due to genetics and the rest is influenced by environmental factors and diet.

This article demonstrates importance in the contribution of research and the association GIANT to the discovery of new complex genetic traits such as determining height factors . It's an example of discovery science, because research was conducted in order to find a specific factor of genetics (height), not necessarily to prove a hypothesis.

Bibliography:

Hopkin, Kathy. " Complex Genetic Trait Research Reaches New Heights." Scientific American. September 29, 2010. Page 1. Retrieved February 10, 2012. http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=complex-genetic-trait-research-reac-10-09-29

"Gay Gene" found in female mice

A group of Korean geneticists altered the sexual preferences of female mice by removing one single gene that was linked to their reproductive behaviors. When they took out the gene the female mice would move and spend more time around their same sex. Then there are the female mice who didn't have their gene taken out which is called FucM(fucose mutarotase), and they were attracted to male mice. Chankyu Park from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology mentions that, the absence of FucM tricks the female mouse brains into functioning like male brains.

This experiment was done by a group of Korean geneticists. The article selected is discovery science, certain experiments were performed before coming to a firm conclusion that by removing a single gene linked to a mice's reproductive behavior the mice begin to interact more with their same sex. This article is very significant becuase Changyu Park, one of the scientists involved in the experiment wants to see if their truly is a "Gay Gene" in the human body.

Author: Mara Hvistendahl
Title of Article: Has the "Gay Gene" been found in Female Mice?
Journal: Popular Science (Popsci)
Date Published: July 14, 2010
Pages:http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/has-gay-gene-been-found-female-mice

Genetic Factors Associated with Increased Longevity of Life

There are many factors that affect how long a person lives, for example: a healthy lifestyle, or specific environmental factors, but there is a new factor that many people did not know about, genes. Scientists have found proof that there are certain genes that determine how long, and how healthily, someone will live. Also, there is proof that there are specific genes that could help to protect against diseases that someone could potentially acquire in the future, like cancer, dementia, and/or cardiovascular diseases. Scientists also believe that some day soon they will be able to tell if a person will live into old age, and eventually be able to prevent age-related illnesses.

Paola Sebastiani, professor of biostatistics at Boston University (B.U.) School of Pubic Health, and Thomas Perls, professor of medicine and geriatrics at the B.U. School of Medicine, are the leaders of the study. These professors stated however that undoubtedly lifestyle choices such as: diet, exercising, and smoking habits play an "undisputed role in determining not only how long one will live, but also how well one ages. Also, scientists are led to believe that looking at one's family tree may indicate whether you have a familiar tendency toward longevity. Scientists indicate that there are at least two important ways in which genetics contribute to the degree of longevity of a person: 1) An individual may inherit certain genetic variations that predispose him or her to disease that decreases longevity, 2) other gene variants may confer disease resistance, thereby increasing it.

1. Was the article you selected an example of discovery science or hypothesis based science? Explain

a) The article I selected is an example of hypothesis based science because scientists still have not been able to pinpoint the exact genes that increase longevity of life nor have they been able to completely prove the observation.

1. What importance does the research or findings have for humans?

a) The research that these scientists are trying to prove is important for humans because they could see if a certain person is going to have a long life, any diseases or sicknesses that are significant to know for the future, and if there is any way to prevent them.

Author: Nicholette Zeliadt

Name of Article:

Live Long and Proper: Genetic Factors Associated with Increased Longevity Identified

· http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=genetic-factors-associated-with-increased-longevity-identified

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Geneticists Discover The Origin Of Blue Eyes

After extensive testing and research, geneticists have discovered the origin of blue eyes. Apparently blue eyes come from a mutation that occurred in Europe as many as 10,000 years ago. As report coauthor Jesper Troelsen stated, " There was one founder mutation that gave rise to all the people in Europe who have blue eyes.” By testing about 800 different people from Denmark, Turkey, and Jordan, geneticists determined the single base-pair change in the human genome that showed up in all the blue-eyed people and none of the brown-eyed people. Because the stretch of DNA was so similar and barely shuffled, they inferred that it was a relatively new mutation.

This discovery was an example of discovery-based science, not hypothesis-based science, because the scientist discovered the mutation through experimentation and analysis.

This discovery is important because because it gives us new found insight into the origins of race and genetic traits found commonly in human today.

Citation:

Rice, Jocelyn. "Geneticists Uncover the Origin of Blue Eyes." 14 Dec. 2008. Web

A Baby, Please. Blond, Freckles -- Hold the Colic

The idea of being able to edit genetic traits in children has come true. It has been present for a while now but only used to try and remove diseases so that the baby will not be born with any life threatening diseases. Now we have the knowledge and technology to change more specific traits such as gender but many of the labs are afraid to begin this program. In a survey of 999 people there were several different requests made that they would implant into there children's traits such as being taller, being more athletic, and even being smarter. Than there was also the idea of how other people would react to genetically engineering baby's and in a way make a superior human by editing all these traits. It is controversial but the U.S. allowed labs to change traits and out of 137 labs about 50% of them now offer gender selection.

1. its hypothesis based science because it has been tested to achieve the correct format for the process which is so delicate.
2. This discovery could be one of the greatest discovery's as far as how impact full it will be on society ever. It allows us to change genetic traits in human beings. We could make are race stronger, smarter, taller and etc. It basically places the characteristics of are own race in are own hands.

Bibliography

Gautam Naik, A Baby, Please. Blond, Freckles -- Hold the Colic, February 12, 2009

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123439771603075099.html

Scientists stack up new genes for height

Summary

A team of researchers that includes members from the University of North Carolina, discovered hundreds and hundreds of genes that influence human height. The results of their findings was that a large number of genes in an individual helps determine their height. The study appears in the journal Nature, and it states that the study is a result of the largest association of scientists and researchers which gave themselves the name GIANT(Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits) to ever study the trait and genes of height. This association brought hundreds of researchers and individuals to see which genes affect the height in over two-hundreds individuals. The researchers that were competing in finding which genes affect the height, finished combining their results because they noticed that height was a complex genetic trait. The members of this association are researching to find "the missing heritability" which is the proportion of inherited variation of height.

Analysis :

· Was the article you selected an example of discovery science or hypothesis based science? Explain
- This article was an example of hypothesis based science, because the GIANT association of researches conducted an experiment to try to figure out the complex genetic traits of height.

• · What importance does the research or findings have for humans?
• - The importance of this experiment for humans is that they are finally coming to a close of genetic traits and figuring out what does each gene do or does to the human being and seeing if more genes affects the height or stature of the individual.
• 
  

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titleTitle: Scientists stack up new genes for height

date published : September 30,2012

source: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2010/09/30/scientists_stack_up_new_genes_for_height.html

Rare Mutation That Causes Mirror Movements

Summary: Andrée Marion is a 47 year-old accountant from Quebec. She has a rare defect that causes mirror movements, which are involuntary motions on one side of her body that mirror the voluntary movements from the other. Side. For example, when she brushes her hair or reaches for change in her pocket with her right hand, her left hand does exactly the same movements. It can’t be controlled. Her son has the same defect, half of her relatives from 4 generations have the same mirror movements. She seems to have a rare disorder of nervous system crossing. This mutation is caused by a faulty gen, deleted in colorectal cancer, it interferes with the interaction with netrin, this protein helps guide axons across the body’s midline during development. In Marion’s case, the mirror movements are in most of her body. She can type, drive and do most things without difficulty.

Analysis: It is discovery based science because it was discovered in a human, not only made into a hypothesis. The discovery was observed and the data was analyzed to see what kinds of patterns could be found. The discovery was very important for humans because it helped find the reason for the rare mutation. It also gave an insight to what it can cause and what it is caused by.

Moisse, Katie. "Rare Mutation That Causes Mirror Movements Reflects Nervous System's Complexity: Scientific American." Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American. Web. 08 Feb. 2012. .

-Zoe McCloskey

Coffee Drinking in Your Genes? Genetic Variants in Two Genes Linked With Caffeine Intake

It has been discovered that the need to drink coffee is actually in our genes. A team of scientist from the national cancer institute, Harvard school of public health and university of North Carolina examined 47,000 individuals. They looked at the genetic variations’ across the entire genome and discovered that two genes affect the intake of caffeine which was CYP1A2 and AHR. The individuals that had the highest-consumption genotype for both genes consumed 40 mg more caffeine than the individuals with lower consumption genotypes. Not only does it affect the amount of caffeine that a person intakes it can lead to specific physiological and medical disorders, by changing moods physical performance and sleep patterns. They concluded that more test similar to this genome-based strategy could show more behavior and dietary determinates in our genes. It is a discovery based science because the researchers were simply studying the human genome and discovered this connection. It is import because the more we understand the human genome the easier it will be easier to discovered cures for diseases such as cancer diabetes. THE END

Can an injection cure blindness?

Scientific Article Analysis

Topic: Genetic traits in sexual organisms.

Article: 1 shot of gene therapy and children with congenital blindness can now see.

Summary: This study was conducted by researchers in the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and they used gene therapy to mprove vision in five children and seven adults. A boy, born with a retinal disease that would eventually make him blind, has now regained some sight, after only one injection of genes that produce light-sensitive pigments in the back of his eye. These patients can not see completely yet, but they are all now able to navigate a low-light obstacle course. Half of them no longer classify as clinically blind. Two of the subjects of this gene therapy were the youngest ever (8 years old) and the oldest ever (44 year old). They received a modified version of the gene via a surgical procedure and injections. The children in the study were the most improved.

Analysis

After the paragraph, identify the approach the researcher or group of researchers took to make their discovery.

• Was the article you selected an example of discovery science or hypothesis based science? Explain

This is an example of hypothesis based science. The scientists reasoned that these light sensitive genes might have a positive effect on bettering sight in patients that have genetic problems in this aspect and they were correct.

• What importance does the research or findings have for humans?

These findings can open the door for further treatments that can eventually possibly cure people of their blindness. These diseases previously had no treatment, and the fact that children responded best to the therapy means that the degeneration of eyesight can be prevented from early childhood.

Bibliographic Citation

Author: Karen Kreeger, Univeristy of Pennsylvania

Journal: Biology News Net

Date: October 25, 2009

Mitochondria swapping for a “healthy baby”

• In a cell the power house, the provider for cell life is the mitochondria and a defective mitochondria could cause deseases in offspring. Geneticist Shoukhrat Mitalipov of Oregon Health and Science University and his team conducted an experiment with monkeys, in which they swapped the monkeys’ mitochondria’s and yielded four healthy offspring’s.  The mitochondria of one of the monkeys was emptied and left only with the DNA and then refilled with the genetic material of the other monkey, a process known as “cellular shell game”.

Analysis

• ·      This article is an example of hypothesis-based science because the group of scientists had a hypothesis that the Mitochondria of an organism could be swapped and altered and then be reintegrated into the organism and yield healthy offspring.
• ·      This research can be very important for humans because it can be used to “cure” or prevent hereditary diseases. Doctors can now swapped damaged mitochondria for healthy ones and prevent any hereditary disease caused by the unhealthy mitochondria.

Bibliographic Citation

• ·      Author: Amy Barth | Title: Genetic Disease Cured Using Cellular Shell Game | Journal: Discover Magazine | Date Published: January 25, 2010 | Site: www.discovermagazine.com |