Download How Do Genes Affect Our Health?

How Do Genes Affect Our Health?
Genetics Unit Questions
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What is a gene?
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How do genes mutate?
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What possible traits or diseases do we inherit
from our genetic code?
Are genes our destiny?
Genetics
By
Deana Vernon
Overview
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Basic genetics.
The Human Genome Project
Genes mutations.
Inheritable conditions and environmental
factors.
What you can do, if anything, about your
genes.
What is a gene?
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A Gene is a basic unit of heredity found in the cells of all
living organisms.
Genes are composed of long strings of DNA, a molecule
that forms the long, threadlike structures called
chromosomes.
Genes are like sentences made
of the “letters” of the nucleotide alphabet,
between them, genes direct the physical
development & behavior of an organism.
Gene
Human Genome Project
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The Human Genome Project:
An international research project design to sequence and
map the genome of all homo sapiens. Completed in April
2003.
Genome code.
How do genes mutate?
1) You can inherit a
single gene mutation
called an inheritable
condition.
or
2) A gene can mutate
any time after birth
called multi-factual
inheritable disorder.
Several inheritable conditions:
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Huntington Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Sickle Cell Anemia
Fragile X Syndrome
Hemophilia
Anti-trypsin deficiency
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy
Several multi-factual disorders:
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Heart disease
Diabetes
Schizophrenia
Certain types of Cancers
Certain types of addictions
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Multi-factual disorders are also difficult to study and treat
because specific factors that cause these disorders have not yet
been identified.
Genes are thought to behave (express) differently because of
environmental factors.
So……
What will I inherit?
Knowledge is power!
Know your genetic profile.
Create your own genetic profile at www.familyhistory.hhs.gov.
Interesting
Websites To Visit
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http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/dna
_double_helix/index.html
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http://www.historicalgenetics.com
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http://www.navigenics.com
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http://www.genome.gov
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http://www.familytreedna.com/default.aspx