Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Muddiest Point Comment!
Muddiest Point
Also, what is Independent Assortment and the Law of Segregation?
Thanks!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Fragile X
Fragile X is inherited by a change in a part of a X chromosome. Most of the time mutations in a gene called FMR1 cause the Fragile X syndrome. Gene FMR1 is a gene used for holding the instructions for a protein called Fragile X mental retardation 1 protein.
Symptoms:
Behavior includes:
- Delay in Crawling, Walking, or Twisting
- Hand clapping or hand bitting
- Hyperactive behaivor
- Mental Retardation
- Speech and Language delay
- And tries to avoid eye contact
- Flat Feel
- Flexible Joints
- Large body size
- Large forehead or ears with prominent jaw
- Long Face
- Soft Skin
- Large Head circumference in babies
- Mental retardation
- Large testicles after the start of puberty
- Small differences in facial features
Scribe 12/13/11
More things we discussed in class include:
- The way you get a trisomy or monosomy is by a problem ("oops") during meiosis called a nondisjunction
- Most cases produce Gametes that are not viable (can't be used)
Manipulating DNA for practical purposes:
- DNA sequencing and the Human Genome
- Transgenic organisms have many applications in agriculture
- DNA finger printing is used in forensics
PCR:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) uses DNA polymerase to make many copies of DNA
- Proteins with recognize and cut SPECIFIC base sequences in DNA
- Results in fragments of DNA with "Sticky Ends"
- When they find DNA on a crime they use it to see if they can find a person who has matching DNA or even something close to find a family member
- Muddiest Points!
- Test FRIDAY
- Quiz Retakes by THURSDAY
- **Remember she will give stamps for UP 73/74 tomorrow**
Marfan Syndrome
Causes
- Caused by a mutation in the FBN1 gene on chromosome 15
- Inherited in families-autosomal dominant
Symptoms
- Vaired among people
- Can range from mild to severe
- Weak connective tissues in the heart, skeleton, eyes, and other organs
- Aorta may be larger
- Spine may be curved
- Eye lense might become dislocated
- Loose joints
- Chest bone may bend in or out
- Bone overgrowth-long, thin arms and legs
Diagnosis
- Dilatated or dissected aorta
- Dislocated eye lense
- Lumbosacral dural ectasia- CT scan or MRI
- At least four skeletal features of the disease
- Close relative has the disease
Treatments
- Eyeglasses
- Artificial eye lense-surgery
- Arch supports/Orthotics
- Surgery for skeletal problems
- Medication to decrease stress on the aorta
- Surgery to repair the aorta
- Blood pressure medication
- Avoid competitive sports, isometric and statis exercise, certain medications, and caffeine
Prevalence
- Both sexes
- All ethnicities
- Rare-about 1 in 10,000
Life Expectancy
- Early to mid 70s if treated
- In the 40s if not treated
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Monday, December 12, 2011
Muddiest Point
Genetic Disorders
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Hemachromatosis
Hemophilia
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Muddiest Point
So I'm having a little trouble on the pedigrees determining which people you can figure out and which you cant. Also, how do you know for sure which ones are which when you don't know the genotype of their children or their parents (depending on what is given in the problem)???
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a genetic disorder when there is a deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 (shown on the image on the left). It is a contiguous gene syndrome, where chromosome is missing some materials. In most cases (90% of the time), this disorder is not inherited. The parents can have a normal arrangement of the chromosomes, but their children can inherit a chromosome 4 with missing pieces. Some get it from unusual chromosome abnormality. Depending on how much of the genetic material is missing, the symptoms vary. Deletion of genes called WHSC1, LETM1, and MSX1 are signs and symtoms of Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome.
Signs and symptoms:
- Small heads
- Foot deformity
- Greek helmet noses (broad bridges continuing to forehead)
- Widely spread eyes
- Metal retardation
- High forehead
- Arched eyebrows
- Deformed feet
- Seizures
- Hearing loss
- Skeletal abnormalities
- Brain structure abnormalities
- Heart defections
- Undeveloped organs (urinary and genitals)
Diagnosis and detections:
- Facial appearance
- Growth delay
- Ultrasound
- Seizures
- Retardation
- X rays
- Renal Ultrasonography (to examine kidneys and brains)
- Chromosomal microarray (detects deletion of chromosomes)
Treatments and therapies available:
- Medication
- Gastrostomy feeding tubes
- Orthopedic surgery
- Valproic acid and antiepileptic drugs (for seizures)
- Physical aids – wheel chairs, hearing aids, etc.
- Surgery
Prevalence in population:
Wolf-Hirschhorn is a rare disorder, but can occur in all ethnicities. It is said that it occurs once every 50,000 people and occurs in females twice as many as the males. The reason for this disorder being more common in females is yet unknown.
The exact life expectancy is unknown. Most people with this disorder die right away when they’re born or die after a little while they’re born. In the past, people with this disorder died right away. But now, more people tend to live longer. The oldest person to have this disorder and be still living today is said to be around 62 years old (born in 1949). 1 out of 5 children live about 2 years and the rest live between the ages of 18 and 34.
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Cri-Du-Chat
For my genetic disorder I choose Cri-Du-Chat, here is some background on it.
Cystic Fibrosis
- Autosomal Recessive- need 1 recessive allele from each parent or 2 copies of the mutated gene
- Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CTFR) gene
- Chromosome 7
- Diarrhea
- Smelly and Greasy Stool
- Frequent Pneumonia
- Coughing
- Salty Skin
- Poor Growth
- "Sweat Test"
- test amount of salt in sweat on skin
- Can be tested to see if you are a carrier (can only pick up 80% of carriers)
- Gene mutation that prevents the production of a protein which allows chloride ions to pass through the cell membrane
- This is why the skin of people with CF is saltier
- This results in lung damage and digestive problems
- Enzyme supplements- lack of digestive enzymes
- Chest percussions and other methods used to clear mucus from lungs
- Drugs that break up mucus build up in lungs
- When older, lung transplants can extend life expectancy
- All lung problems can be treated but not cured
- Gene therapies available
- 1 in 2,500 in the U.S.
- Equal between men and women
- Most common in Caucasions and some Native Americans
- Life Expectancy- Mid 30's
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Pachyonychia Congenita
Symptoms and Diagnosis
A sure symptom of PC would be the thickened nails. Another noticeable sign would be hurting blisters and plump calluses on soles of the feet. Other symptoms would include white swelling of the tongue, a collection of cysts, and “blisters and calluses on the palms of the hands”. However, symptoms of children are different than those in adults. Symptoms that occur in children would include lumps around hair follicles and a very raspy or croaky voice. Some symptoms are shown in the picture to the left.
As for diagnosis, there are two types of PC: type 1 and type 2. The two forms of PC can be differentiated by faintly different symptoms. However, while just looking at the symptoms can be unreliable because they can fluctuate between the two types, genetic testing can verify if a person has type 1 or type 2 since different mutated keratin genes code of one type of the other (KRT6A or KRT16 codes for type 1 and KRT6B or KRT17 code for type 2).
Treatments, Life Expectancy, and Prevalence
Currently there is no treatment for Pachyonychia Congenita. However treatments are being worked on. The brand new technology incorporating “gene silencing” has the potential to be a cure for PC in the future. On the other hand, drug therapies are in short supply. People trim and file their nails to avoid infections and soaking and massaging of the hands and feet “clean off blistered skin”. Increasingly, because of the constant pain that comes with PC, some keep the sensitive areas of the skin damp and cool for relief and canes or “special shoes” can lessen the stress on the feet (as putting just a little bit of pressure, even just when walking, on those tender areas of the feet tear skin cells).
The prevalence of PC is not known, but it seems to be remarkable rare. It is estimated that there are a few thousand people in the world living with PC. Fortunately, though, Pachyonychia Congenita does not influence lifespan.
Fabry Disease
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Genetic disorders
Hello bio class!
Today I will explain the basics of Patau's syndrome, or Trisomy13. Trisomy 13 is a more specific explanation of the disorder. It literally is a third copy of the 13th chromosome in the human genome. This can cause overlapping of eyes, hands and other body parts, and other defects, and overall missing characteristics of the human structure. Most signs are visable at birth, such as the preceding symptoms, and various heart problems. The treatment depends on the symptoms. When the parents don't have the disease, the odds of a kid having it if their parents don't are about 1 in ten thousand. On average the life expectancy is less then a year, but again, it depends on the symptoms.
Neurofibromatosis by Christina P.
- inherited from a parent, the offspring has a 50% chance of being born with the disease
- new mutations in only some of the cells, but if the gene is mutated in the egg or sperm cell, then the parent will pass that gene down
- all physical signs differ depending on the person because each person's unique genetics influences their symptoms
- have cafA au lait spots (spots the color of coffee with cream) and freckles
- have a lot of neurofibromas (benign tumors)
- high blood pressure, bone defects, scoliosis, learning disabilities, Lisch nodules (benign growths on the eye), optic gliomas (benign tumors on optic nerve)
- can be diagnosed by looking at the physical symptoms
- if their is a family history of the mutated gene
- genetic tests on the NF1 gene
Muddies Point.
Cri-Du-Chat
Cri-du-chat syndrome is caused by a deletion of a part of chromosome 5. Because of this deletion, many of the genes are nonexistent in the affected person. This deletion happens because of a break in the DNA molecule during the creation of the egg or sperm. It could be, but not always is, inherited from a parent. The symptoms of cri-du-chat is having a cat-like cry as a baby, Also the affected person has distinctive facial features like a small, unusually round head. They also have many health problems such as respiratory problems, severe mental retardation, and heart defects. Doctors can detect this syndrome by an infants cat-like cry or by some of their health problems. Doctors can also detect it when the baby is still in the mothers womb. Sadly, there are no treatments for cri-du-chat, but the child can go through therapy so that they develop as normally as possible. It is also the most common syndrome that comes from a chromosomal deletion, and about 1 in 50,000 babies are affected. The life expectancy is normal if the person has no major organ defects or critical medical conditions.
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heeeelpplease(:
Galactoesema
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Saturday, December 10, 2011
Tay- Sachs
TAY- SACHS
Tay–Sachs is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It causes many to become weaker in mental and physical ways that starts normally around when someone is six months old and usually results in death by the age of four. It is a genetic diese where a single gene with one bad copy of that gene inherited from each parent. So, each parent must be a carrier. This gene is most found in people of Jewish decent. Tay Sachs occur when harmful quantities of cell membrane components compile in the nerve cells of the brain, causing the death of those cells.
Signs And Symptoms:
Tay Sachs is categorized into three catagories:
Infantile Tay-Sachs Young babies with Tay–Sachs disease seem to grow normally for the first six months after birth. Then the symptoms appear, the child becomes bind, deaf, and unable to swallow.
Juvenile Tay–Sachs is very rare. It occurs in children between two and 10 years of age. They develop speech and motor diffucites, along with swallowing and spasiticty.
Late Onset Tay-Sachs is very rare. It occurs in people in their 20s and early 30s. It is usually non-fatal. Some symptoms are having speech difficulities and swallowing difficulties, spasticity, and psychiatric illness.
Treatments
There is no cure discovered yet. There are things you can do to prevent it.
- A Carrier Test (to see if you are a carrier)
-Prenatal Testing(to see if two bad genes were inherited)
\\ Population
it kills 100% of whom it has affected
Life Expectancy:
Infantile- 4 years
Juvilline- 15 years
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Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the digestive and respiratory systems. Cystic fibrosis is a recessive disorder, meaning that both parents must pass on the gene for any of their children to have the disease. If a child only gets one faulty gene, they will be a carrier. People who suffer from cystic fibrosis inherit a defective gene in their chromosome seven, also called CTFR. CTFR stands for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. The protein, which is produced by CTFR, helps salt move out and in to cells. If the protein doesn't work right, that movement can be blocked, and a thick layer of mucous is made on the outside of the cell. Lung cells are the most affected by this disorder. The mucous blocks the airways in the lungs, which increases the chance of infection from bacteria.
- Coughing or Wheezing
- Respiratory illnesses (pneumonia or bronchitis)
- Weight loss
- Salty-tasting skin
- Greasy stools
- Have about 2-5 times the normal amount of salt in their skin (Doctor's use a sweat test to measure the amount of salt)
- In newborns doctors can measure the amount of a protein called trypsinogen in the blood, if diagnosed with cystic fibrosis the level of protein is higher.
- Genetic tests can identify a faulty CFTR gene, using a sample of the patient's blood.
- Chest physical therapy, to free up the mucous
- Inhaled antibiotics, to kill bacteria
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement
- Gene therapy, in which a healthy CTFR is inserted in to the lungs
- Cystic Fibrosis is most common among Caucasians. One in twenty-five people of Europe carry one allele for the disorder.
- Ireland has the highest Cystic fibrosis population
- Most cystic fibrosis patients only live to be slightly more than thirty years old.
Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome
Wolf Hirschhorn syndrome is when a mutation occurs in the Chromosome 4 or a little piece of it is deleted or lost. This is normally not inherited. It is an accidental or natural disorder. Both parents could be healthy and have no deletion in Chromosome 4 and still have a child with the disorder because while trying to produce a zygote the chromosomes might have been rearranged or were accidentally deleted. This disorder affects peoples' physical appearance and how they are mentally as well.
- Distinctive Facial features- wide set eyes, broad nose, prominent forehead
- Slow growth
- weak cry during infancy
- heart defects
- seizures
- any form of retardation
- difficulty to swallowing food
- Because the distinctive facial features they children that are born could be diagnosed with it just by how they look
- Ultra sound
- X rays by looking for bone or internal mutation
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Fragile X
- Some degree of intellectual disability or learning problems
- Behavioral problems, such as difficulty paying attention and frequent tantrums
- Autistic-like behaviors, such as hand flapping and hand biting
- Delays in learning how to sit, walk and talk
- Speech problems
- Anxiety and mood problems
- Sensitivity to light, sounds, touch and textures
Fragile X can be diagnosed using the person’s blood for the analysis of the FMR1 gene. This DNA test, available since the gene was first identified in 1991 can detect Fragile X in normal carriers and in those affected, but it cannot tell from that analysis if the child is or will be intellectually impaired or the severity of many of the symptoms.
Treatment
Standard treatment includes special education, speech, occupational, and sensory integration training; and behavior modification programs. Surgical correction of heart defects is sometimes necessary.
Huntington's Disease
Signs and Symptoms:
People who are affected by the disease don’t start showing symptoms until they are between the ages of thirty and fifty. The disease slowly worsens. Some symptoms are…
· Poor memory
· Depression or Mood swings
· Lack of coordination
· Twitching or uncontrolled movements
· Difficulty walking, speaking, or swallowing
· In later stages people need help doing very simple things such as getting dressed
Diagnosis and Detection:
When a woman is pregnant there are two different ways to find out if the baby will have the disease. One way is taking a sample from the fluid around the fetus, and the second way is to take a sample of the fetal cells from the placenta. Once the child is born doctors can test for the disease by doing neurological and psychological tests, or they can do a genetic test, which will tell if the child has the Huntington’s gene mutation. However, the genetic test cannot tell when the child will get the disease.
Treatments and Therapies:
The treatments that are out there do not slow the disease, but they can make a person who has the disease more comfortable. There are medications that can ease the feelings of depression and anxiety. Other types of medication can control the involuntary movements. There is also physical and speech therapy that can help a person with the disease live a more normal life.
Prevalence in the Population:
In the United States about one in every thirty thousand people have the disease. It is less common in Asians and Africans.
Life Expectancy:
Once a person has been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease they have about fifteen years left of their life.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- a small head
- fair skin
- eczema
- body odor