Essays on Gene

Description

A genetically modified organism refers to organism whose genetic makeup has been intentionally altered (Jumba, 2010). They involve both plants and animals. Genetically modified plants are referred to as transgenic plants whereas genetically modified animals are referred to as transgenic animals. According to Starr, Evers and Starr (2011), the most commonly used genetically modified organisms include yeast and bacteria. This is attributed to the metabolic ability of the cells of these organisms to make complex organic molecules.

Science behind Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetic modification is normally carried out in the laboratory. According to Keefer, two procedures are normally applied in the transformation of the Continue reading...

The Bayesian method, also known as Bayesian method, is an inferential rule that is commonly used whenever an update is required within any probability estimate (Cohen et al. 12-57). The estimates are done on hypotheses whenever additional evidence is in the process of acquisition. This technique is majorly used in statistics and more especially mathematical statistics. In most of the cases involving the usage of Bayesian method requires, that it be derived through statistical methods. The derivation is usually automatic and ensures that the method well in combination with other competing methods that could have otherwise been used. This Continue reading...

Introduction

Genetics is an evolving field in modern day science that has been drawing attention and funding in abundance. Various healthcare professionals have varying degrees of knowledge on modern day genetics and its applications. Nurses are also required to possess knowledge on genetics, as well as a good practice on ethics pertaining to genetics. However it is still not an area where everybody is comfortable to handle (American Nurses Association, 2001). Since the completion of genome project in 2003, there is a great interest towards the applications of genetic engineering technology in healthcare. Genetic screening for diseases such as diabetes Continue reading...

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a disease relating to the exocrine gland function. It involves multiple organ system as a whole, but there are some specific organ dysfunctions caused by this condition. These are the chronic respiratory infections, and pancreatic enzyme insufficiency. There are also some forms of complications that are usually associated with the untreated patients. Pulmonary issues or involvement is found in 90 percent of patients surviving the neonatal period. It has been noted in recent times that the major cause of death relating to the cystic fibrosis is the end-stage lung disease associated with it.
In the affected Continue reading...

- The stromal cells that are found in the developing gonads of tetrapods begin from the medulla from the peritoneal wall and the cortex from inter-renal blastema or mesonephric. Hence the gonads have a dual origin.
- Spermatogenesis occurs in a syncytial complex because it involves the formation of sperm from undifferentiated cells that are first attached to rachis. Syncytial cell complex or syncytium result when cells with single nuclei fuse to for a cell with nucleus. Syncytial cell complex is vital in oogenesis in that it assists in the differentiation of cells. One other developmental model is vitellogenesis.
Continue reading...

Introduction

Most of the world’s chronic diseases are preventable by long term dietary behavior. Out of the ten major causes of deaths for Americans, diet is a contributing factor to at least five of them. These diseases are such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. A report by the Joint World Health Organization on diet made in 2003 revealed that, most of the world’s chronic diseases can be prevented by regular physical exercise and maintenance of a healthy weight. This finding is valid up to date. According to this report, a person’s genome determined their susceptibility to Continue reading...

Factors such as race, sex and age may be significant benchmarks in the analysis or understanding of epidemiological details such as incidence and mortality rates of oral cancer.1 For instance, the incidence and mortality rates in men are twice more than in women.1 Based on race, African American males have a higher incidence rate than White males.1 This also applies between a comparison between African American females and White females respectively.
Despite the occurrence of new cases of oral cancer, the overall incidence rate trend over the last 30 years has been declining.2 The incidence rate of oral cancer Continue reading...

(Name of Student)

“One person’s abnormality is another person’s life.”-Alice Dreger

The extent to which one person’s abnormality is another person’s life is relative to the scope of anatomical normality or abnormality. Genetic abnormalities that relate to gender, otherwise known as anatomical sexual variation, are part of human intersexuality. Intersex is defined as the anatomical variation from the standard male or female gender, and is a pathological variable that require medical treatment. This means that an intersex child has the sexual anatomy of both genders.
Intersex genitals may therefore be a sign of an underlying medical condition, but they are not a medical problem. The Continue reading...

Specific Aims

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) encodes a DNA-editing deaminase, which is a group of the Cytidine Deaminase family (Bello). This protein is concerned in somatic gene conversion, hypermutation, and class-switch recombination of Ig (immunoglobulin genes). Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) has been expressed in B cells at germinal center and starts the events, which lead to class switch recombination of immunoglobulin genes and somatic hypermutation. Additionally to this primary responsibility in immune diversification, deviant targeting of Activation-induced cytidine deaminase activity leads to translocations and point mutations of oncogenes linked with B-cell lymphoma. Lately, AID has been related in active DNA demethylation ( Continue reading...

Introduction

Depression is a disease affecting a large part of the population today. Though many people experience sadness from time to time, depression is a much more complex disease. It affects a person’s daily life and often results in physical pain. Unlike the occasional feelings of sadness that fade away, depression lasts longer (NIMH, 2014).
Biopsychology involves the scientific study of the relationship between behavior and biology (Green, 2013). In the study of their relationship, biology and behavior mostly interact in the brain and nervous system. It will also apply to the analysis of depression in relation to the Continue reading...

ABSTRACT

Muscular dystrophy disorders are hereditary neuromuscular disorders in which the skeletal muscles deteriorate progressively due to loss of the functional protein dystrophin encoded by the DMD gene. There are many types of muscular dystrophy and they are classified based on the genetic mechanisms involved. Muscular dystrophy symptoms are usually caused by mutations in the link between cytoskeletal and basal lamina proteins since dystrophin is a sarcolemmal membrane protein (Meregalli M, 2013). Loss of ambulation is also an important clinical milestone in the clinical diagnosis of muscular dystrophy. Respiratory muscles, particularly the intercostal and diaphragm muscles are also affected by Continue reading...

Article Reflection

Article Reflection

Introduction

Placids can be defined as the endosymbiotic organelles, which substantially rely on the cell of their hosts to survive. Even so, placids are reported to have shown so much diversity in different situations. Therefore, ways through which differences emerge has been addressed. Some of the aspects that contribute to these differences are such as the difference in the lineages from which plastids originated. This is evident given that there are primary and secondary lineages from which the plastids can stem from. Additionally, the cause for the small size of the plastids has been established.
Plastids are the Continue reading...

Introduction

Blood consists of erythrocytes and leucocytes suspended in it. Blood is pumped from the heart to the body through the arteries and it enters back in the heart through the veins. Blood without cells is known as plasma while serum is the straw colored liquid obtained after the removal of the clot. Plasma contains different proteins, nutrients and waste materials. There are different cases of blood disorders observed in humans.

Blood cells and platelets

The most abundant cells in the blood are the anucleate, biconcave erythrocytes. They contain a red pigment known as hemoglobin (Hb) that carries dioxygen (O2). Hb contains four subunits Continue reading...

Lab 1: Ethical Issue in the Movie Gattaca. The epicentre of ethical issues in the movie Gattaca is the manner in which an individual ought to be judged. Should it be by the genetic composition one is born with or by the character traits, personality attributes and ambitions chosen by an individual? Vincent is born with genetic weaknesses that could result in ailments in the future. His genetic composition denies him access to his dream job despite the fact that he achieves the required grades in school and is a strong and athletic young man. As a result, Vincent Continue reading...

Introduction

The movie Apollo 13 is based on the true account of the unfortunate Apollo mission of NASA. The movie opens with Astronaut Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks) who is enjoying a party to celebrate the success of Apollo 11 lunar mission. The story subsequently revolves to tell the tale of the third mission of landing in the moon which would be led by Astronaut Jim Lovell, Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) lunar module driver and Kevin Bacon as Jack Swivert, who is the command module pilot. The mission is smooth until the crew is threatened due to the explosion of an Continue reading...

TA
ABSTRACT – Genetic engineering now has straight forward ecofriendly strategies to produce transformation in plasmids. The transformation process allows engineers to introduce DNa with specific desired capabilities into a host plasmid. In this way plants can be created that are able to resist a particular enemy or stressor without having to use toxics like herbicides and insecticides. The bacteria E. Coli was used to determine whether it can be made resistant to ampicillin or not. AmpR was integrated into the host cells and the tracer, GFP was used to identify expressed cells. The laboratory demonstrated that transformation by plasmids Continue reading...

Introduction

Allergy is an immune system disorder. Allergy or allergic reaction is a hypersensitivity to otherwise innocuous substances present in the environment. The allergic reaction is usually a rapid response; however, the sensitivity to certain allergens can be acquired over a period. It was previously called the type one hypersensitivity. It is characterized by an over activation of leucocytes, called the mast cells and the basophils following activation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) (Frigas, Gleich 1986). This activation of the basophiles and mast cells triggers an inflammatory response.

Pathophysiology of the allergic response

The type 1 hypersensitivity reaction is initiated when an allergen is introduced to Continue reading...

Connective tissue growth factor induces collagen I expression in human lung fibroblasts through the Rac1/MLK3/JNK/AP-1 pathway

Many lung inflammatory diseases present pulmonary fibrosis as one of the symptoms, which is characterized by shortness of breath, chronic coughing and discomfort in the chest. It causes modifications of the lung tissues due to overgrowth, hardening and scarring. This occurs mainly due to deposition of collagen, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, whose turnover is regulated by fibroblast. Fibroblast is an important cell regulator that is enlisted by a site of injury. This process is driven by release of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-8/CXCL8.
Previously, fibroblast was thought to express no or very Continue reading...

The gastrointestinal tract, which spans from the mouth to the anus, is a durable yet sensitive system that is susceptible to a variety of disorders that can bring an individual great pain and distress. There are a myriad of gastrointestinal disorders that fall under the category of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), and Crohn’s disease. Many of these gastrointestinal disorders have similar characteristics, but they are each distinct disorder and should be treated as such.

Etiology of Crohn’s Disease

According to a breadth of research into gastrointestinal disease, Crohn’s disease appears to be one of Continue reading...

Introduction

It is very common to hear of the term “risk factor” in epidemiology as well as in criminal behavior studies. In general, sense, a risk factor is a term used to refer to a variable that is associated with an alleviated risk of infection, disease or disorder. The number of identified diseases, disorders and infections are very large and consequently; the number of risk factors that increase the susceptibility to them is large. Each disease, infection or disorder has its own set of risk factors. However, some risks factors that have been found apply in all three aspects mentioned Continue reading...

Introduction

The term “risk factor” is very common in epidemiology. In general sense, it refers to a particular variable that is associated with an elevated risk of infection or disease. Since the number of diseases in the world is very large, the number of risk factors is also every large. The risk factors however vary from one disease or infection to another. However, there are a number of risk factors that are very common and play a significant role in many infections. One of these factors is molecular genetics. As the name suggest, molecular genetics is a genre that mainly Continue reading...

The Biological Basis

The term Genetic Modification (GM) refers to the techniques by which the genetic composition of a plant is manipulated by adding specific genes to it. Every plant contains genes, which are DNA sequences containing information that determine its specific characteristics or traits. The genes are “inheritance units” that provide instructions for the development and functionality of the plant’s next generation. Crop plants modified through this process are called GM or genetically engineered crops, or transgenic crops (“Process of Developing Genetically Modified (GM) Crops.”, n.d.). The principal steps in the process are:
- The wanted gene is isolated; e.g. Continue reading...

Introduction

Over the years, research has been uncovering more and more rare diseases, especially genetic disorders. Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is one of such rare disorders of the blood that causes a disfiguring swelling of a part of the body, particularly the face, larynx, extremities, abdomen, and genitalia. It may range from a simple painful swelling of an extremity to asphyxiation from laryngeal involvement. Diagnosis and prognosis of this condition depends on a heightened sense of awareness of the symptoms of the disease by the managing clinician and the availability of effective interventions.
HAE is known to occur in people with Continue reading...

Over the recent past, there has been numerous debate over a push by the federal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.25 (Epstein 2014). The article The minimum wage is no friend of the poor authored by Gene Epstein in the Barron’s is a well detailed analysis of how raising the minimum wage will consequently interfere with the labour market and ultimately influence international business. Epstein claims that there are many other better ways of lifting up people’s fortunes other than trying to micromanage the labour market.
According to the Congressional Continue reading...

Introduction

Modifying the genetic make-up of food is a concept which has been around for centuries. Farmers have successfully improved food supply through cross-breeding different plant and animal varieties to develop organisms that yield more, taste better and tolerate harsh conditions. In modern times, this has not always been welcome. The Pure Food Campaign (PFC) was established in 1992 as a coalition of restaurateurs, farmers, animal welfare, environmental and consumer groups opposed to genetic engineered food. Around the same time, the U.S. Agriculture Department stated that it would not regulate production and shipping of Flavr Savr, which is a genetically Continue reading...

Genetic modification, as the name suggests, is a biotechnological process by which the genetic material in an organism such as plants is altered in a manner that does not take place in the nature or via nature-influenced recombination. Such organisms which are called as the Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs find immense practical applications in the modern times. They are used extensively for carrying out medical and biological scientific work, are used to manufacture new pharmaceutical medications and importantly, are used in agriculture to produce good quality crops. The reason why genetic modification has gained prominence in agriculture is Continue reading...

There are more than 5000 genetic disorders up to date. These genetic disorders are most evident at birth or during the onset of early childhood. This results to admission in different programs in rehabilitation centers, school programs in order to help the victims affected by such conditions. These disorders can primarily affect the body system, muscles and the respiratory system.
One such disorder is the Rett syndrome. Rett Syndrome is a phenotypically distinct progressive X-linked dominant neurodevelopmental disorder that affects females (Volkmar et al, 2007). There are different types of Rett syndrome. These include the classical Rett syndrome, provisional Continue reading...

Discuss the relationship between the cognitive and the biological features of Alzheimer's disease

In order to know the relationship between the cognitive and the biological features of Alzheimer’s disease, it is very important to know the definition of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer is defined as the developed form of dementia that usually begins at the age of 40 years onwards. It usually begins when a person has problems speaking and remembering things and eventually the patients becomes very helpless and dies (Jon et al., 2013). According to its history, in 1906 the first person to talk about this disease was Alois Alzheimer. Following his discovery, the disease was later named after Continue reading...

The paper seeks to explore the scope of war, trying to explain how powerful nations of the world, ironically escalate war and terrorism while claiming to cease it. The paper seeks to explain how these nations dismiss peace movements in times of war. The paper enters into murky depths to explore the justifications these nations give like stamping out terrorism, installing democracy, and eliminating fascism. These nations also claim that the y have good political wills to “get rid of world of evildoers”. This paper tries to analyse how Gene Larocque speaks to the Studs Terkel about “The Good Continue reading...

Google is a company that has created a road map for what IT companies should be like; explain how Google can be considered to be one of the world’s best companies and at the same time one of the world’s most secretive organizations.

Introduction

Google is one of the best IT companies in the world. The company has earned web domination in terms of content search. The company has dominated web search for a long time. Apart from the strategy they have used to win users, it is also one of the best companies to work for. The Continue reading...

A review of the article by Jankowska, et al., 2008, titled “Reduction of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit expression by modified U1 snRNA caused apoptosis in cervical cancer cells”
Jankowska, et al in their article published in the journal “Molecular Cancer” demonstrate the expression of hCG-beta in cervical cancer and examine the functional significance of hCG- in-vitro cervical cancer cells by making use of modified U1snRNA to silence the mRNA of hCG-. Silencing of the maturation of mRNA by use of a novel silencing technique results in inhibition of growth and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells.
Lipofectamine 2000 and Continue reading...

Exam #1 (50 points)

1a ) Natural selection is the process by which adaptive traits of species increases through generations. In Cadotte’s research, he had several combinations of the 17 kinds of plots and he found out that those which had the most variation, survived the most. These were the plants with the most distance from each other. The adaptive traits of these plants were inherited by its offspring. Since the plants with traits that survived the most produced more offspring then these were the ones that flourished the most. The reason, Codette explained was that these plants had different needs therefore they Continue reading...

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic problem with major infections to lungs, pancres, intestine and liver. The main characteristic of the disease is abnormal transport of chloride, and sodium in the epithelium leading to thick secretions.
It usually results from mutation in the gene for a protein known as cystic fibrosis trans-membrane conductance regulator (CFTR). This is a hormone which is usually involved in various body excretion processes. The main method of transmission of the disease is through genes. However, research has proved that it can be still transferred among people with no DNA connection
The disease is Continue reading...

Breast cancer can be referred to as a cancer type that originates from breast tissue, mostly from the milk ducts’ inner lining or the lobules, which supply the ducts with milk (Sariego, 2010). Cancers arising from ducts are called ductal carcinomas, as those from lobules are called lobular carcinomas. Breast cancer affects humans, as well as other mammals. Breast cancer also affects in men.
Breast cancer occurs due to an environmental factor’s interaction with a host that is genetically susceptible. Normal cells undergo division as many times as required and stop. They get attached to other cells where Continue reading...

The cow became one of the idols in Africa. Africans generally learned to appreciate and adore the cow. The Dinka, in a show of their love for the cow, have designed four hundred different names used to refer to the cow. The Maasai of Kenya are exceptions to idolizing the cow and their love for the cow. This has led them to believing that the cow was given to them by the gods, and on that basis they are true and dear to the cow. It is considered to them a blessing to herd and keep more herds of Continue reading...

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian cancer has a prevalence rate of around 3% among all the cancers seen in women all over the world. Most of the ovarian tumors are non malignant or non cancerous. The tumors which are cancerous or have low malignant potential can prove to be life threatening due their spread to various sites within the body. The different categories of ovarian cancer are as follows: a) Epithelial ovarian tumor b) Ovarian germ cell tumor c) Ovarian stromal tumor
- Epithelial ovarian tumor: They can be either malignant or low malignant potential tumor. The tumors with low malignant potential are Continue reading...

Psychology is basically the study of the human mind and human behavior. Although, what exactly the human mind is made of and how it develops is a question that still remains to be truly answered despite all the years of research. This nature vs nurture controversy, which is already subject to much debate, is only one of the many questions that psychologists seek to answer.
At the core of the nature-nurture controversy is the question, as Dr. Stangor puts it, "Are genes or environment most influential in determining the behavior of individuals and in accounting for differences among people?" ( Continue reading...

With reference to Biological studies, homology is the presence of shared pedigree between living organisms in terms of evolution. The homology might be in terms of genetical constitution, or physical constitution, to name a few. Here, I have described the evolutionary homology between various phyla supporting the description with a phylogenetic tree.

Genetic code is the combination of DNA and RNA sequences that constitute the amino acid sequences used in the synthesis of an organism's proteins. It is the biochemical basis of heredity and generally, protein coding amino acids is very similar in all eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The principle Continue reading...

Genetic engineering and sustainable production of ornamentals: current status and future directions

It is evident that in the recent times technological advancement has led to the growth of various sectors of the economy including the area of scientific research and development. Owing to the rapidly growing population, researchers and scholars have sat down to come up with remedies so as to curb the looming problem food insecurity across the globe and through the last decades, health-friendly farm produces have been engineered after a series of laboratory experiments and this effort has yielded fruits through the production of certified, food production (Lütken, et al. 1141). This has been set forth to Continue reading...

Introduction

Understanding the ways of predicting the chances of inheriting certain genetic traits makes up the value under the study of genetics. Such ability has enabled development of varieties of animals and plants that have most of the qualities that are a desirable prediction of inheritance patterns in family lineage. One of the methods that are used in determining the mathematical probability that a given trait would be inherited is the Punnett square. The Punnett square is a simple graphical method that is used to discover all the combinations of a given genotypes that can be passed to children in Continue reading...