Explained

The movie Gattaca was released in 1997 as a warning to all about the future that gene-editing technology could bring. It tells the fictional story of a man named Vincent who was created without the use of modern technology. Vincent dreams of becoming an astronaut but is prevented from doing so by his “inferior” genetic makeup. That is until he assumes the identity of a man whose genome had been edited, mostly freeing Vincent from the challenges of genetic discrimination. The future that he lives in, imagined by the writers and producers of the film, is inarguably unjust but maybe that imagined…

Everyone on the planet is related to everyone else on the planet. In fact, it is mathematically impossible for one individual to not share some ancestry with another individual. There is even a point in history where each person’s family tree matches from that point backward. This means that a single person is the direct ancestor of every living human. This person lived between 5300 and 2200 B.C. Most Recent Common Ancestor Everyone is much more closely related than simply sharing ancestors before the year 2200 B.C. There is another person, the most recent common ancestor, that is theorized to have lived about…

The short answer is no; humans cannot catch cancer. However, human beings can catch transmissible diseases that increase the risk of cancer. Viruses There are many viruses that cause diseases known to contribute to cancer risk. For example, human papillomavirus, or HPV, can cause cervical and other types of cancers by integrating its genome into the genome of the individual that it has infected. This can stop genes from being able to produce proteins that prevent cancer. Another cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, can be caused by the combined effects of two viruses. These are human immunodeficiency virus and human herpesvirus-8. Human herpesvirus-8, also…

CRISPR, also known as CRISPR/Cas9, is a gene-editing technology used to delete, add, or alter specific regions of DNA. The system has applications in human medicine as well as other fields, including animal and plant science. What Are the Parts of CRISPR? The two parts of the CRISPR/Cas9 system are the enzyme Cas9 and a section of RNA. Cas9 is derived from bacteria that use the enzyme to cut out the DNA of viruses that have been inserted into their genomes. Cas9 finds this DNA with the help of CRISPR sequences that serve as references for what the viral DNA will look like when encountered. Scientists…

Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, refers to a group of conditions that impact the way that sugar is processed in the body. There are two chronic types of diabetes. These are called type 1 and type 2 and both have genetic factors. Type 1 Diabetes In order for glucose (sugar) to enter cells and be used to create energy, the beta cells of the pancreas must create a hormone called insulin. The insulin is then used to bind to insulin receptors on cells throughout the body. The interactions between insulin and its receptors unlock channels that glucose can move through in order…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…