Nick Wieczorek

Byrnes 67
GENOME

Life - Chromosome 1
This chapter takes us back to the origins of life. Chapter one gives us genetic
proof that everything traces back to one ancestor and that all life is somehow connected.
Having learned about the origin of life and the many theories pertaining to how life truly
began, I was not as shocked as I’d otherwise be by this author’s bold claim. However, I
had never wondered or learned about genetic codes for other animals. I guess I could’ve
figured out that codes for human DNA would relate to those of animals since most testing
for medication and disease control is performed on animals. But to think that a codon in a
human DNA sequence codes for the same thing it codes for in a plant’s or animal’s didn’t
cease to amaze me.

Fate - Chromosome 4
This chapter grabbed me right away, and had me until it ended. Of course I had a
different kind of fate in mind at first. I was hoping to find that my Chromosome 4 could
tell me who I am supposed to be with, what I am supposed to do with my life, what I was
put on this earth to do. But no, it just tells me how old I can expect to be when signs of
Huntington’s disease would show. Depressing… Anyway, Chromosome 4 consists of a
repeating CAG codon-the more repetitions-the shorter you have to live before
Huntington’s changes your life and the lives of those around you forever. CAG is a killer
on other Chromosomes, too, such as: X-Chromosomes, Chromosome 19, and at least
three more. This codon stands between each person and mental illness.

Environment - Chromosome 5

Although he’s a hypocrite, Ridley makes a strong point that some diseases, with
or without a foundation in a person’s genetics, develop mostly from his/her surroundings.
What’s with this breakout of Asthma? Every day, more and more people are developing
this disease. There is no way that a disease with such rapid accumulation could be strictly
related to DNA. Ridley talks about the hypothesis that environment wholly affects
immune systems. Therefore, a person cannot adapt well to a dramatically different
environment than he/she is used to and may very well develop an allergy to some of these
new and strange surroundings. The rapidly growing numbers and types of allergies give
great rise to histamines which create Asthma. Asthma isn’t fate; it’s environment.

Disease – Chromosome 9
Chromosome 9 determines our blood types. I guess I always thought that some
types were better than others, but there are pluses and minuses to all blood types. Type O
people, for instance, are more immune to Malaria than people with blood type AB.
However, they are also universal donors, which means that they can give their blood to
anyone in a blood transfusion. I guess that can be looked at as both good and bad. If any
family member or friend is in need of a blood transfusion, type O people can always help.
At the same time, if people always need your blood, you’re bound to experience much
light-headedness and possibly several incidents of passing out. Another negative aspect of
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having type O is that being a universal donor means you are not a universal recipient.
That wonderful quality is for those with type AB blood. AB is the rarest blood type in the
world; however, it is the easiest blood type to treat in the event of a necessary blood
transfusion. Type AB people are also nearly immune to Cholera. In terms of offspring,
blood type becomes complicated because there is no “best” combination. So this whole
idea of “designer babies” seems ridiculous if there is truly no way to make a person
perfect. If certain genes lead to some wonderful benefits, there are bound to be just as
many if not more deficits.

Personality – Chromosome 11
Although no one will ever win the nature v. nurture debate in terms of personality
because it has been proven that a person develops character as a result of both his/her
genes and the environment and method in which he/she is raised. A gene called D4DR
can be found on a person’s 11th Chromosome. This gene directly affects the amount of
dopamine (puts a person in an elated and euphoric mood) that is absorbed by a person’s
neurons. The longer a person’s D4DR gene is, the lower his/her response is to dopamine.
Hence, people with shorter D4DR genes are easier to please and achieve higher states of
happiness from smaller, simpler things. Whereas, those with longer D4DR genes tend to
explore more and take more risks in order to feel similar levels of euphoria I just find it
truly shocking and amazing that “happy” genes and “risky” genes really exist inside our
bodies. Even though our personalities are not completely genetic; it’s just incredible to
me that any kind of character trait can be coded for in DNA.

Self-Assembly – Chromosome 12
Chapter 12…Definitely the most foreign and confusing chromosome chapter of
them all. I think I got that each cell contains somewhat of an outline of the entire of body
and I picture it as all gray and faded except for a highlight portion of the body where that
cell’s job lies. I’m still a little bit confused, but I think I got it. And that was the worst of
it. This chapter also related in a lot of ways to a lot of things we’ve touched on in class in
terms of reproduction and development. Ridley talks about stem cells which we just
learned about in class. He also more completely discusses selective adhesion of cells
which we touched on in class discussions of embryonic development. Selective adhesion
is one of the last steps of embryonic development and it is where like cells find like cells
and group to correctly perform their collective job. In a nutshell, this chapter was all
about putting it all together.

Pre-History – Chromosome 13
Well, we’re all related somehow. This chapter was about finding out exactly how
and about tracing back to that one ancestor that connects us to so many others. So many
small things separate each gene and yet each person is so different. But it all had to start
somewhere. Everything does. Take language for instance. There are so many similar roots
and sounds in all parts of the world. For example, many Indo-European languages use the
sound “m” for words that mean “me” and the sound “t” in words that mean “you.” (Like
the French word “tu” which I knew before I read it in the book.) Scientists have studied
these procedures and are using similar methods of research to connect common genes in
different animals and find a common ancestor.
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Immortality – Chromosome 14
This chapter was so intriguing. For some reason, it was just easy to follow, easy
to understand, and totally interesting. To think that immortality…could actually be
achieved, wow. Anyway, there was this theory in this chapter that if scientists can find a
way to lengthen telomeres, they would probably be able to lengthen a lifespan. Telomeres
are those repeating, yet thought-to-be useless nucleic acid chains on the ends of each
chromosome. When cells replicate, thus, they lose this insignificant information as
opposed to some integral part of a person’s genetic code. Telomeres were all over this
chapter.

Memory – Chromosome 16
This chapter focused mainly on learning and instinct, two key elements of
survival. Ridley talks about the relationship between the two and how memory connects
them as tools for survival. In terms of instinct and learning, one means nothing without
the one. A person needs instinct to be able to be taught something; accordingly, there is
no starting point for learning without instinct. Ridley also points out that it is impossible
to learn without memory. If you make a mistake one time, such as playing ball in the
living room and breaking Mom’s favorite vase, then you must remember the
consequences you suffered the first time. Hopefully next time you see a fragile object in a
room, you’ll have learned not to do anything too active or playing in that room. And of
course you would therefore not get punished or “beaten to death” by your mother, hence,
you will have “survived.”

Death – Chromosome 17
The chapter about death was quite interesting. And not interesting in terms of
death. Just interesting because it was hopeful. Scientists and specialists are getting closer
and closer every minute to finding a cure for cancer. Everything in this chapter related to
our cancer unit in class as well so I picked up on it a little more easily than some other
chapters. The gene, Tp53, aids cells in and encourages cell suicide, or as we learned
earlier this year-apoptosis. Tumors spread when nothing inhibits cell division. Obviously
cell-suicide would take care of that. There are also risks involved when it comes to
apoptosis as we learned in class, but it seems to be one of our only hopes in finding a cure
for cancer.