Genetics

Louis Younge, ine Fleming, Sabrina Keane, Patrick Ryan

History of

 Many centuries ago farmers had

known that the crossbreeding of animals and plants would
lead to both a mixture of physical and mental exchange of
characteristics. Gregor Mendel had a pea plant experiment
that he founded between 1856 and 1863. In this pea plant
experiment he had worked with the seven characteristics
of pea plants. These characteristics are plant height, pod
shape, pod colour, seed shape, seed colour, flower
position and colour. With the seed colour he showed that
when a yellow pea and a green pea plant were bred
together their plant colour would always be yellow.

 But in the next generation of pea plants the green pea

plants had a higher ratio; because of this appearance
he explained this by creating the words 'recessive
gene' and 'dominant gene'. A dominant gene means
that it is present no matter what. A recessive gene
means the gene is only present when no dominant
gene is present. E.g. the gene for brown eyes is
dominant and the gene for blue eyes is recessive. So a
child that gets the brown and blue eye gene will have
brown eyes and if the child gets two blue eye genes its
eyes will be blue.

 These words are words to explain different characteristics.

Gregor Mendel had worked with 29,000 plants and studies
the seven different characteristics of the plants. Gregor
Mandal then started experimenting with honeybees because
he wanted to extend his work with animals. In doing so he
had made a hybrid strain. A hybrid strain means a mix of
two different species of animals and plants. The hybrid strain
was so different that it killed a lot of bees. Gregor Mendel
could not get a clear picture of the mixed and physical
characteristics that were being passed on from honeybee to
honeybee because of the difficulties in controlling the mating
behaviour of the queen bees.

Chromosomes

What is a Chromosome?
A chromosome is a thread like structure of nucleic acids and protein
found in the nucleus of most living cells.

A chromosome carries genetic information in the form of genes.

Chromosomes are made up of both protein and DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid)
The term chromosomes comes from the Greek words colour
(chroma) and body (soma). This name was given to
chromosomes as they are cell structures that are strongly
stained by colourful dyes used in research.
DNA contains the specific instructions to make each type of
living creature unique.

 How are Chromosomes

inherited?

One chromosome is inherited from the female parent

and the other from the male parent.
During reproduction, each parent contributes one set
of chromosomes to their offspring.

 How many Chromosomes do humans

have?
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of
46 chromosomes.
If some people are born with one extra chromosome
(47) have three copies of chromosome 21 (2 copies
found in other people) which results in Down
Syndrome.
Chromosomes keep DNA molecules tightly wrapped
around histones.
For cells to function properly cells must constantly
divide to produce new cells and replace
old ones.

 Not all things have the same types of chromosomes

Bacteria have one or two circular chromosomes
Humans/plants/animals have linear chromosomes
which are arranged in pairs within the nucleus of the
cell
A centromere is the constricted region of linear
chromosomes which are not located exactly in the
centre of the chromosome.
Females have two X chromosomes while males have
one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.
Chromosomes were first observed by scientists in the
late 1800s.
Thomas Hunt Morgans pioneering studies came to a

Genetic

Types of diseases

Disorder prevalence (approximate)

Autosomal
dominant

Autosomal
recessive

A single gene disorder is the

result of a single mutated gene.
Over 4000 human diseases are
caused by single gene defects.
Single gene disorders can be
passed on to subsequent
generations in several ways.

Autosomal dominant

Familial hypercholesterolemia

1 in 500

Polycystic kidney disease

1 in 1250

Neurofibromatosis type I

1 in 2,500

Hereditary spherocytosis

1 in 5,000

Marfan syndrome

1 in 4,000[2]

Huntington's disease

1 in 15,000[3]
Autosomal recessive

Sickle cell anaemia

Only one mutated copy of the

Cystic fibrosis
Tay-Sachs disease
gene will be necessary for a
Phenylketonuria
person to be affected by an
Mucopolysaccharidoses
autosomal dominant disorder.
Each affected person usually Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency
has one affected parent.[7]
Glycogen storage diseases
The chance a child will inherit
Galactosemia
the mutated gene is 50%.

1 in 625
1 in 2,000
1 in 3,000
1 in 12,000
1 in 25,000
1 in 40,000
1 in 50,000
1 in 57,000

Down Syndrome
In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus where genetic material is
stored in genes. Genes carry the codes for all of our inherited traits and are
grouped into structures called chromosomes. The nucleus of each cell
contains 23 pairs of chromosomes half are inherited from each parent. Down
syndrome occurs when someone has an extra or a small copy of
chromosome 21
Trisomy 21 is an example of down syndrome. This happens when an egg or
sperm cell fails to separate at conception resulting in the chromosome 21
being replicated in every cell

Serial killers
XXY
Dr Helen Morrison studied 135 serial killers ,she has found shocking
similarities and a chromosome abnormality is a likely trigger
Jim fallon neuroscientist, studied brains for over 20 years he studied his
own brain his sons and compared them psychopaths
He found that he had the same low orbital cortex activity as a serial
killer
He then studied his ancestry and discovered a whole lineage of
murderers
Studied his family's genes
MAO-A-GENE warrior gene
Serotonin affects your mood

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2V0vOFexY4

What Now?

Medical Magic
With recent medical advancements, we will soon be
able to view and assess our genes.
Also, we will soon be able to add, remove or modify
specific genes as we please.
This means we will be capable of stopping hereditary
diseases or conditions.
The British Royal family, who suffer from a blood
thinning disease, will soon be able to conquer this
condition.

Designer Babies
However, this genetic control may be abused in the
future.
Babies will be shaped, both physically and otherwise.
Everyone can have their dream child
Is this a good thing?

Recently...
A company called 23AndMe has had its patent granted
for a gene inheritance calculator
This calculator has not yet been made available.
It will let you view all of your inheritable genes, which
we will soon be able to change in your children