Genetics

Over the past several years Genetics has become a leading link to understanding how our

body works. By mapping out deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, scientists plan to find cures

for various diseases, develop better, more efficient drugs, grow new organs, evaluate

environment hazards, and eventually build a human being.

Inside of every single cell in our bodies there are 46 chromosomes that are made

up of DNA. Half of your chromosomes are inherited from each parent, DNA is strung

along the chromosomes. DNA is the living instructional manual found in all living

organisms. The building block letters of DNA are Adenine, (A), Thymine, (T), Cytosine,

(C), and Guanine, (G). These are repeated over and over again about 3 billion times in our

body alone. DNA can be subdivided into genes, with each gene carrying the information

on how to produce a unique protein. Each gene consists of three of the building blocks

placed together. Along the stretches of DNA, genes tend to occur in clusters, like cities

separated by vast emptiness. When the DNA is collected all together you have a genome.

In the past scientists believed that there was more than 100,000 genes in the

human genome, but recent studies by Celera Genomics and many other scientist based

teams, have found that the number of genes to be 35,000. (Article #1) This new found

information has made some biologists ecstatic and has wounded the pride of others.

“There are many people who are bothered by the fact that they don’t seem to have (many)

more than twice as many genes as a fruit fly,” said Eric Lander, director of the Whitehead

Institute Center for Genome Research. “It seems to be some kind of affront to human

dignity.” The 30,000 genes in our body compared to the 13,600 in the fruit fly does seem

to raise questions about why we have the abilities to do so much more when we don’t

have that many more genes in our genome. Even though all creatures share the same DNA

code, some people still believe that there is a step-change between the rest of nature and

humans that separates us from them.

The Human Genome Project, starting in the 1980’s, is a research program

designed to construct a detailed genetic and physical map of the human genome,

determine the complete sequence of human DNA, localize 30,000 to 35,000 genes, and

perform similar analysis on the genomes of several other organisms.

Every species has its own genome. Every individual animal within a species has its

very own specific genome. Unless you are an identical twin your genome is different from

everyone on earth - and from everyone who has ever lived. Even though you have your

own distinct genome, it is still recognizable as a human genome.

Analyzing the human genome will give us insights into why people like the foods

they do, why certain people die of heart disease and others of cancer, and why some

people are outgoing and others are paralyzed by shyness. We will also be able to know

what body shape your children will have, the number of calories they are able to burn off

in rest, and the types of sports they will excel at and enjoy. Studying the genome can

related to a number of things, you can study the whole genome, or only a small part. You

can study the sequence, or function of a specific gene.

We are able to observe what happens when something goes wrong with a gene,

and how it affects our life and body. Certain diseases are cause by mutations in a particular