Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781305251052
Author: Michael Cummings
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 16, Problem 13QP
The prospect of using gene therapy to alleviate genetic conditions is still a vision of the future. Gene therapy for adenosine deaminase deficiency has proved to be quite promising, but many obstacles remain to be overcome. Currently, the correction of human genetic defects is done using retroviruses as vectors. For this purpose, viral genes are removed from the retroviral genome, creating a vector capable of transferring human structural genes into sites on human chromosomes within target-tissue cells. Do you see any potential problems with inserting pieces of a retroviral genome into humans? If so, are there ways to combat or prevent these problems?
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Chapter 16 Solutions
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
Ch. 16.5 - Should fertility clinics be required to disclose...Ch. 16.5 - Prob. 2EGCh. 16 - Would ISCI be an option? Why or why not? Jan, a...Ch. 16 - Jan is concerned about using ART. She wants to be...Ch. 16 - List the common infertility problems in women....Ch. 16 - Prob. 2QPCh. 16 - Prob. 3QPCh. 16 - What is the difference between gamete...Ch. 16 - Why should women consider collecting and freezing...Ch. 16 - Prob. 6QP
Ch. 16 - Researchers are learning how to transfer...Ch. 16 - Prob. 8QPCh. 16 - Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal disease that...Ch. 16 - Prob. 10QPCh. 16 - Gene therapy involves: a. the introduction of...Ch. 16 - In selecting target cells to receive a transferred...Ch. 16 - The prospect of using gene therapy to alleviate...Ch. 16 - Is gene transfer a form of eugenics? Is it...Ch. 16 - A couple who wishes to have children visits you, a...Ch. 16 - A couple has had a child born with...Ch. 16 - You are a genetic counselor, and your patient has...Ch. 16 - Prob. 18QP
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- The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is one of the vaccines currently being rolled out for mass vaccination in South Africa to protect the population against SARS CoV-2, and the active compound in this vaccine is an mRNA molecule. a) The starting material for productio of this vaccine is a copy of the coronavirus spike protein gene cloned into a ppasmid. List the main experimental steps in the vaccine production process, to go from a plamid to an mRNA molecule. b) Which molecular processes in the cell will allow an injected strand of mRNA to produce anti-Covid immunity in the vaccine recipient?arrow_forwardOur understanding of the molecular biology of cancer formation has been greatly enhanced by studying oncogenic viruses. Answer the following questions regarding oncogenic retroviruses? What is an oncogene? How does if differ from a proto-oncogene? Why are retroviruses prone to accumulating oncogenes? Explain how a gain of function mutation in the Ras protein caused by a retrovirus might lead to cancer formationarrow_forwardAlthough it is well known that X-rays cause mutations, they are routinely used to diagnose medical problems, including potential tumors, broken bones, and dental cavities. Why is this done? What precautions need to be taken?arrow_forward
- Suppose a 10-year old patient has come to your office with a very rare disease. One so rare that only 100 people for the past 100 years have been diagnosed and nobody knows the gene or genes that are mutated in this disease. Describe the gene sequencing toold you would use to identify the mutated gene or genes in this hypothetical disease.arrow_forwardRecombinant pharmaceuticals (for the production of insulin, human growth hormone or blood clotting factors) Question: What are controversies or ethical dilemmas surrounding this genetic technology or process?arrow_forwardIn gene targeting, homologous recombination between thebacterial chromosome and a linear _______- construct synthesized in vitro can generate a null mutation in any gene.arrow_forward
- The first publications describing the successful production and intracellular replication of recombinant DNA appeared in the early 1970’s. Since then, there is a long list of breakthroughs achieved by recombinant DNA technology. But which one of the following are NOT on that list? Select more than one answer ifneeded. a) Recombinant Factor VIII protein for the treatment of hemophiliacs b) Positional cloning of over 100 human disease genes c) Bacteria producing human insulin for the treatment of diabetic patients d) Reproductive cloning of over a dozen humansarrow_forwardBacteria are often the preferred hosts for genetic engineering projects by splicing in novel genes from eukaryotes into plasmids, which are moved into competent bacteria. For instance, the gene for human insulin was isolated and moved into a bacterium, which can now produce the much-needed chemical. Previously, type 1 diabetics had to rely on professionals that gathered insulin from human cadavers, cows, and pigs. In order for this feat of genetic engineering to occur, researchers had to start with an unspliced mRNA transcript for h insulin. Agree/Disagree? Explain your response.arrow_forwardAn unapproved form of gene therapy, known as enhancement gene therapy, can create considerable ethical dilemmas. Why?arrow_forward
- What is Gene therapy – Illustrate using example of Adenosine deaminase deficiency?arrow_forwardA protein spike of a virus has been identified as an important characteristic of the virus. If the protein spike can be replicated then it could be used as a vaccine. The sequence of the viral RNA that produced the protein spike was identified in the laboratory. You were tasked to proceed with the next steps. Identify and describe the methods to replicate the identified protein spike. Note: You have to use the knowledge of “Medical biotechnology” as a foundation for your answers. Please explain in detailarrow_forwardGene expression can be disrupted by techniques such as homologous recombination and RNA interference. What is the functional difference between these two methods in terms of the ultimate effect on gene expression? Why might homologous recombination or an alternative genome-editing method (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9) be preferred over RNA interference?arrow_forward
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