Arianna Mason

Genetic counseling is a position in the medical field that involves counseling people who are or could be affected by a genetic disorder. Genetic counselors advise patients about genetic testing and the implications of being diagnosed with a condition. Though there have been some recent changes to the nature of the job such as the use of telehealth services and the increase in specialties, genetic counseling has existed in some form for a long time. Before the 1960s In an ancient Jewish text called The Talmud, mothers were advised to not have their sons circumcised if they had two previous sons that died of blood…

Epilepsy, which causes seizures, is one of the most common types of neurological conditions. It can be caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. However, there are instances in which the condition is caused by a single genetic mutation. Epilepsy-causing genetic changes can occur in genes like CDKL5 and FOXG1. Because there are many different causes, the condition has been common throughout history. Its presence in different regions and eras means that depictions of those that suffered from it vary greatly. Ancient Times One of the earlier known references to epilepsy-like symptoms appears in an Ancient Mesopotamian text called The Code Of Hammurabi that is believed to…

The discovery of DNA is often attributed to the famous duo, Watson and Crick. Though James Watson and Francis Crick were partially responsible for uncovering the structure of DNA, the discovery of the molecule itself is the achievement of a single researcher. This researcher, biochemist Friedrich Miescher, often goes unmentioned in conversations about great scientists. However, the impact that his work had on those in the field of genetics is nearly unmatched. Friedrich Miescher was born in Basel, Switzerland in 1844. Once Miescher completed his medical studies, he began working in the lab of Felix Hoppe-Seyler. Hoppe-Seyler is often referred to as the “founding…

The Neanderthals were a prehistoric species of humans that existed from about 400,000 years ago to about 40,000 years ago. They lived in Europe and Asia and, as a result, encountered modern-day humans as they migrated out of Africa about 55,000 years ago. In the past, scientists have wondered whether conflict with modern-day humans, also known as Homo sapiens, is what led to the extinction of Neanderthals. However, some theorize that Homo Sapiens may have absorbed them into their population by interbreeding with them. Whatever the reason for their extinction, interbreeding still occurred between the two species. And now, some living humans have genomes that…

The term "Habsburg jaw" references a jaw deformity present in many members of a German royal family collectively known as the Habsburgs. The deformity is believed to be a combination of two conditions that may share the same genetic causes. These conditions are mandibular prognathism and maxillary deficiency. Mandibular prognathism is a protrusion of the lower jaw while maxillary deficiency is an underdevelopment of the upper jaw. The severity of these conditions within the Habsburg family is thought to be the result of the inbreeding that they practiced in order to retain their power. Typically, inbreeding causes certain traits because it increases the likelihood that anyone who is the result…