Genetics And Disease

Heather Said:

If I want to do biological research involving disease, genetics and metabolism what Bachelor's do I start with?

We Answered:

Definitely Biology as a major since biology departments offer physiology, genetics, and biochemistry. However, chemistry is essential as is calculus (which is often a prerequisite to some courses. Basically, you should take a pre-med curriculum (as a pre-med advisor for a course list). Applying to graduate school in genetics or physiology and then doing a post-doc in pathology or possibly in a cellular metabolism lab would be the way to go. You will get better advice as you get closer to completing your undergrad degree. Study hard. Try to work in a lab that is doing research in one of the areas you are interested in. You can often work in a lab (if you are at a larger university) and get credit for it as an "independent study." Important suggestion-- if you take one or two independent credit courses, you usually get to select the title of the course. Think of something that will look good on a transcript and keep in mind that you may take two or three semesters so think carefully about this. Good luck. Science is awesome.

Carole Said:

Is hereditary disease and genetics disorder the same thing?

We Answered:

All the hereditary diseases are genetic, but vice versa may not be true. Some genetic diseases may be caused by genes mutation, so you will not find it hereditary. But I think it is more theoretical rather than practical. Practically the terms are synonyms.
Hope it helps, all the best!

Anthony Said:

How might microbiologists use genetics to target specific disease-causing bacteria with new antibiotics?

We Answered:

Antibiotic resistance is a specific type of drug resistance when a microorganism has the ability of withstanding the effects of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance evolves via natural selection acting upon random mutation, but it can also be engineered by applying an evolutionary stress on a population. Once such a gene is generated, bacteria can then transfer the genetic information in a horizontal fashion (between individuals) by plasmid exchange. If a bacterium carries several resistance genes, it is called multiresistant or, informally, a superbug. The term antimicrobial resistance is sometimes used to explicitly encompass organisms other than bacteria.[citation needed]

Antibiotic resistance can also be introduced artificially into a microorganism through transformation protocols. This can aid in implanting artificial genes into the microorganism. If the resistance gene is linked with the gene to be implanted, the antibiotic can be used to kill off organisms that lack the new gene

Ruben Said:

Do you think autism is genetics or disease?

We Answered:

I think it is a combination of diet and social interaction at a young age, which causes Autism.

Another factor could be exposure to cigarette smoke for children - I know this is a taboo issue but surely this can starve their brains of the oxygen required and can cause problems such as this?

Peter Said:

Genetics Question: How can two parents with a recessive disease have children that do not have the disease?

We Answered:

Lets say the variable is t

If both parents have Tt then 1/4 of their offspring have a chance of TT which would be total dominance, not showing the disease

This is assuming that only one recessive t is needed for the disease (if 2 recessive t's are needed then it's not possible).

Glenn Said:

Genetics disease or disorder of fish please help!!! (Any ichthylogist of oncologist that studied this?)?

We Answered:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA004
http://www.ocean.com/resource.asp?resour…
try these sites it may help you out good luck

Joy Said:

i have a presentation about the haemophilia disease from genetics point of view. Please help.?

We Answered:

Your presentation about hemophilia would cover quite a wide range of informations. You are the best to know what aspects you want to be highlighted in your presentations. You are the best to choose the points you want to elaborate. Hence I give few points and will recommend some excellent links which I believe will be beneficial for the preparation of your presentation. Goodluck!

Hemophilia A is caused by a variant form of factor VIII that is present in normal levels but lacks a clotpromoting property.The incidence is 60 to 80 persons per million population. Of cases, 70% have been found to have a sex-linked recessive nature; that is, the disease is carried on the X chromosome at location Xq28. Factor VIII circulates in plasma in very low concentration and is normally bound to vWF. The source of factor VIII production is uncertain, but the liver is thought to be a significant source because hemophilia A can be corrected by liver transplantation. A female carrier mating with a normal man would be predicted to pass the disease to half her sons. Likewise, a male hemophiliac would have all normal sons and all carrier daughters. The remaining 25% to 30% of cases of the disease are believed to result from a spontaneous genetic abnormality. The familial form has a remarkable consistency of severity from generation to generation, although the degree of severity has considerable variation.

Hemophilia B (Christmas Disease) is a deficiency of factor IX activity. Its genetic pattern and clinical findings are indistinguishable from those of hemophilia A, but its incidence is only a fifth that of hemophilia A. Factor IX is a vitamin K–dependent glycoprotein. Its deficiency is diagnosed by a factor IX assay, usually after the factor VIII:C assay is found to be normal. The replacement schedule for factor IX is similar to that for hemophilia A, but a purified factor IX concentrate or recombinant factor IX preparation is used.

Hemophilia C or Factor XI deficiency occurs at a prevalence of 1 per 1 million in the general population and 1 per 500 births in Ashkenazi Jewish families. Factor XI is the only component of the contact phase system of coagulation (factor XII, prekallikrein, and high-molecular-weight kininogen) that is associated with excessive bleeding complications when a deficient state exists. Factor XI deficiency is diagnosed in the laboratory by a prolonged aPTT, normal PT, and decreased factor XI activity ascertained in a specific quantitative clotting assay (normal range, 60 to 130%). The clinical bleeding tendencies in factor XI deficiency are less severe than the tendencies seen with severe hemophilia A or B and are not correlated with the extent of the deficiency.

Take a look at the following links-The first two are in powerpoint presentations:
http://factorviia.com/images/ss5/factorV…
http://factorviia.com/images/ss1/factorV…
http://ed.fnal.gov/help/97/peretz/inheri…

Discuss It!