The Dna Mystique Looks Into The Power Of The Gene

Genetics is a field of science that has long been studied, but researchers and scientists have discovered a new branch that changes the way genetics and evolution has been looked at before. Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi skillfully describe this new subject in their book Super Genes. The book includes information on the history and discoveries of epigenetics, the changes the readers can make to unlock and harness the power of their genes, and the research and experiments that prove the benefits of those changes. Ultimately, the purpose of Super Genes is to inform the readers that they can control their own genes, despite preceding understandings of biological destinies, by making favorable lifestyle choices that leans towards the state of optimum health and well being.

Demolishing genetic diseases from the human race has been and always will be a key role in science. However, there comes a point in time when moral standards have interjected the betterment of cleansing genetic diseases. One of the many branches of science that has the complete capability to exterminate our destiny of any genetic diseases, gene therapy, is being silenced due to the curse of society’s moral standards. There is a very narrow line in what is not morally correct and ethical to standards of people; causing the advancement of procedures like gene therapy to be narrow. The only explanation to gene therapy awaits on what we, as a community, can bring about for the future generations, but this is

Since its discovery in the 1980’s, the application of DNA has been utilized in many ways. When Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA is examined, a precise decoding of genetic information is revealed. With the exception of identical twins, every person’s genetic code (commonly referred to as a Genetic Fingerprint) is inherited and unique. From Maury advising men everyday on TV “You ARE the Father!” or “You are NOT the Father!” to learning the descendents of former slaves are related to President Thomas Jefferson, we have come to rely upon and expect the accuracy of DNA.

In 2010, Francis S. Collins penned The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine. At that time, he was the director of the Human Genome Project and now currently serves as the head of the National Institutes of Health. Collins is an American geneticist who was influential in discovering the genes responsible for cystic fibrosis and type II diabetes. The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine begins with a rough overview of genetic principles that will be used in further chapters. The book delves into dominant and recessive genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other genetic mutations, as well as, various conditions that arise from the previous genetic circumstances.

In today’s modern age science is moving at a rapid pace; one of those scientific fields that has taken the largest leaps is that of genetics. When genetics first comes to mind, many of us think of it as a type of science fiction, or a mystical dream. Yet genetics is here, it is real, and has numerous ethical implications.

The DNA saga started in 1869, when Swiss biochemist Friedrich Miescher isolated a new substance from the nuclei of white blood cells. Researchers were recently aware that cells were the basic unit of life and Miescher was interested in their chemical components. Each morning, he called at the local clinic to pick up dirty bandages, for in the days before antiseptics these were soaked in pus - a good source of white blood cells with their large nuclei. Adding alkali made the cell nuclei burst open, releasing their contents, from which Miescher extracted DNA (which he called nuclein).

Without diversity and variation among humans, the world would be quite monotonous. Although these disparities materialize on the exterior (e.g. hair color, eye color, widow’s peak, etc.) the authentic distinction lies deep within one’s genome. A genome consists of an organism’s DNA, thus providing the blueprint for growth and development (Moalem, 2014). Well-known physician, scientist, and author, Sharon Moalem expounded on the significance of genetics in one of his most prominent novels, Inheritance: How Genes Change Our Lives and Our Lives Change Our Genes. A myriad of biological concepts exist in this novel, all of which relate to genetics and the laws of inheritance. A few of these topics include: how genes are regulated/expressed, how a single change in DNA can alter the protein it codes for, and how ethics has an effect on genetics. These topics pertain to Big Idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes (CollegeBoard, 2015).

Matt Ridley’s, Genome is a novel consisting of 23 chapters, each corresponding to the human’s 23 chromosomes. Ridley unravels the human genome by discussing many biological concepts, controversial arguments and groundbreaking discoveries throughout history within the scientific community. Throughout this novel, Ridley makes sure to describe the history of the human genome and then go on to introduce discoveries, discussions and findings concerning the human species that led us to the knowledge we had at his present time of publication in 2001. These discussions range from the beginning of life, Luca and RNA World Hypothesis discussed in chapter one, to natural selection and immortality in chapter 14, to the concept of free will and the argument of nature versus nurture in his final chapter. These are all very important topics within the book because they help to establish bases for future scientific discoveries.

   When we contemplate manipulation of the human genome, we tend to frame the debate in terms of the potential consequences for our children, or our children's children. These are the individuals whose lives, and whose genes, are most likely to be effected by the rapidly advancing field of human genetics. Thus, while generations have always been conscious about the external environment bequeathed to their children, we of this generation may have to consider the additional question of what will we leave inside our children. As parents, do we have the responsibility or the right to screen against or select for certain genetically determined traits in our children? Here, I argue that

They discovered that genes contributed 49% while environmental factors contributed 51% to the differences in human traits and diseases [Tan, May 19th, 2015]. This shows that both nature and nurture have relatively equal significance. Supporting this finding, Professor Steve Jones asserted that many things are influenced by both nature and nurture at the same time [The Lost Lectures, December 11th, 2013]. He illustrated his point by using the problem of obesity as an example. He explained that one of the causes that lead to obesity is the absence of an appetite hormone called Leptin. The Leptin hormone sends signals to the brain as to when a person should stop eating. When a boy who has leptin deficiency is placed in an environment where a lot of food is available, he will eventually become obese. However, if not enough food is present, obesity is unlikely to happen. This demonstrates that both nature and nurture must work together to result in a trait, which in this case is obesity [The Lost Lectures, December 11th, 2013]. Similarly, scientists found that genes influencing one’s abilities in different subjects

Our genes shape who we are as individuals and as a species. Advancements in DNA sequencing have allowed researchers to identify thousands of genes that affect our risk of

DNA is one of the many things that make up your body. Today, most people know that it carries each person’s unique genetic code. People also know that it has a double helix structure. However, do you know what it’s made up of? ¬Many people do not know much about DNA. There are many ways that DNA is helpful to the world. It helps us understand from heredity of diseases and how to find a killer who committed a crime. Many people even use DNA for genetic engineering so that they can create an organism with a specific gene that was not there before. DNA is very complex and has many tasks that it has to complete.

On the most surface level, human genetic engineering and human genetic modification are a new and rapidly developing field of science that deals with directly altering the DNA (genetic makeup) of a living human cell. From early science fiction to the present day, taking control of humans’ gen es and directing the flow of evolution has been a subject of debate for many people. Human genetic engineering or HGE tends to bring up thoughts of dystopian futures where altering DNA has unexpectedly resulted in horrible mutant humans that can’t survive and thus the human race perishes, but this is not necessarily the outcome. Since genetic engineering is an emerging field of science, there are still many moral and ethical issues that need to be addressed before continuing research. Atheists and theists both have valid reasons to support / resist the continuation of this field of science. For the purpose of this paper, it will be assumed the reader has a reasonable understanding of the terms atheism, theism, DNA, genes, genome, and how a persons DNA (their genotype) essentially dictates the physical appearance and abilities that person portrays (their phenotype).

¹DNA is a structure of molecules that carries and stores our genetic information, as each of us inherited our generic makers, one from the mother and one from the father, for this reason a DNA sample could be a biological map that may potentially trace our ancestry. Based upon my knowledge of DNA, I have expected each of the students in the films, are not too different from one and another, where some may even share certain sequences of genes.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is made up of nucleotides which contain three parts: a phosphate group, a sugar group, and one of four types of nitrogen bases. DNA then forms a double helix, with alternating phosphate and sugar groups linked to a chain of nucleotides. DNA is important because it gives instructions to an organism on how to develop, survive, and reproduce through DNA sequences. These sequences contain instructions on how to make proteins, which are complex molecules that do most of the work in the human body. DNA Sequences that contain instructions on how to make proteins are genes which also determine physical traits. The complete DNA instruction book, or genome, for a human, contains about three billion