Blog - Hidden Gene

Apr

29

2023

The Little Known History of Eugenics

History

The term "Eugenics", meaning "wellborn", was coined by British statistician Sir Francis Galton to describe his theory that intelligence and other capabilities were inherited and people with desirable traits should, therefore, have more children. It was his opinion that this would increase the presence of these traits and lead to desirable outcomes for the human species. Galton's Impact Galton's theory reached the United States in the 20th century and resulted in the spread of negative eugenics. A series of efforts were made to ensure that people with undesirable traits were prevented from reproducing. This was in order to keep "bad"…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

How Charles Darwin Enraged Victorian Society

History

Charles Darwin, the second son of a prominent physician, sailed away from England on the famous HMS Beagle in 1831. The young man, serving as the ship's naturalist, spent just 18 months of his five-year journey aboard as he was free to mostly do as he wished during the voyage. He spent much of his time analyzing plant and animal specimens that he found in various locations. Some of the most famous of these locations were the Galapagos Islands. There he is believed by many to have noticed that finch specimens from both the islands and the mainland were similar…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

How Gregor Mendel Secretly Founded Genetics

History

Gregor Mendel, born in the year 1822 in what is now the Czech Republic, showed great intellect as a young boy. So much so that a priest convinced his family to send him away to a grammar school where he finished his studies in 1840. Mendel then went on to study philosophy, physics, and mathematics in university and later become a monk in the Augustinian order. His position at his monastery allowed him to be sent to the University of Vienna to continue his study of physics and mathematics. While there, he also studied microscopy and plant anatomy and physiology.…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

The Genetics of Eye Color

Explained

Eye color is a trait that is controlled by many factors. Scientists once believed that just a single gene was responsible for it but have since discovered over 150 genes that influence the characteristic. Each of them has a different function though some have more control over pigmentation than others. What are the Major Influences? One of the major genes involved is BEY2 (this gene has many other names including OCA2 and EYCL3). BEY2 is believed to have two different versions, both having different effects on the maturation of the cells that produce and store melanin pigment. One of these…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

How Do Ancestry Tests Work?

Explained

Many brands claim to be able to accurately determine an individual's ethnic origins. This has led to tens of millions of Americans taking their at-home ancestry tests. However, few of these Americans know exactly how the tests work. The Sample Typically, an individual will fill a tube with their saliva and mail it to whichever company they originally purchased the test from. The DNA sample then reaches a laboratory and one test or series of tests may be performed. In all of these tests, what is called a genotyping array (or SNP array) is utilized. This technology allows for the…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

Why Diseases Appear to Skip Generations

Explained

Diseases caused by genetic factors are controlled by alleles, which are versions of the same gene that code for different characteristics. Every person will receive one allele from each parent. These may be different or the same and each is typically either dominant or recessive. The influence of a dominant allele will overpower that of a recessive allele. One example of how alleles work to influence disease is the genetic basis of conditions that are known to be autosomal recessive. Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive condition. The gene that is responsible for sickle cell, HBB, has many possible…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

Genes Can Be More Than Just Dominant or Recessive

Explained

The concept of complete dominance explains that a dominant version of a gene, otherwise known as a dominant allele, is always expressed over a recessive version or allele. If a person inherits at least one dominant allele, then they will have the dominant trait. However, a person must inherit two recessive alleles to have the recessive trait. Despite this clear-cut explanation, many physical traits are not a result of complete dominance. Codominance In some instances, neither allele is dominant over the other. This is called codominance and it results in the simultaneous expression of two physical traits (a physical trait…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

Why Are Genes Dominant and Recessive?

Explained

Dominant and recessive are terms used to refer to the manner in which versions of genes influence physical characteristics. Individuals receive two versions, also known as alleles, of each gene from their parents. Generally, each can be either dominant or recessive (more complex categories do exist). For example, the gene BEY2, which is known by many other names, helps to determine whether an individual's eye color can be brown or blue (there are other genes that work with this one and result in other eye colors). The allele for brown eyes is dominant, while the allele for blue eyes is…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

How Many Genes Do We Have?

Explained

Scientists currently have no exact number for the amount of genes that humans have though the consensus is that it is anywhere between 20,000 and 25,000. With the question of how many genes there are in humans, several other issues come up. In order to count the number of genes we have, scientists must have a clear definition for the term "gene". They must also locate these genes and have the tools and resources available to arrive at an accurate number. These issues make seeking an answer surprisingly difficult and time-consuming. What is a Gene? A simple definition of a…

Apr

29

2023

By Arianna Mason

How Does Cancer Work?

Explained

Cancer begins in our DNA, the material that stores our genetic information. This material is made of molecules called nucleotides that are partially made up of nitrogenous bases (one nucleotide has one base). The order of these bases that are attached to the rest of their respective nucleotides and represented by A's, T's, C's, and G's are what create the sequence of our DNA. When changed and not repaired by DNA repair mechanisms, these sequences that are vital to the function of our bodies' physiological processes can lead to a cancer diagnosis. Not All Changes Create Cancer Fortunately, the vast…