In Which I Discuss Evolutionary Roots

      From class, I have been able to learn that Darwin was not the first to propose the evolution theory and that it does not state that we came from monkeys! There is even the words 'survival of the fittest' to be addressed. Evolution usually takes place on a smaller scale, this concept is called Microevolution.  So let's get started.

     Darwin was actually picking up on his own grandfather's and several other scientist writings and was profoundly influenced by the bible work. After a long journey on the seas, he was able to study island finches and little differences that helped them survive in their part of the island. Though they were all the same bird, some had longer beaks that lived in rocky areas so they could reach food. Some showed different patterning and color to help defend them against predators based on their area of the island. This shows the vast capabilities of the body to adapt and change from one central point.


     Microevolution takes place nearly everyday and shows us that little things can effect entire populations of species and food chains. Its definition is ' evolution on a small scale specific to only one species.'  The important parts to microevolution are Mutation, Migration, Genetic Drift, and Natural Selection. Mutations are when two parents look the same, but create a child that is wildly different. This is achieved through a series of recessive genes. Migration deals with populations within a species relocating (probably to a better area that they are adapted to) leaving the original species with a majority of one type. Genetic Drift is when by pure chance of those recessive genes, an influx of the mutation becomes prominent within the population. Finally, Natural selection is the ablility to survive longer based on ones genes. A tan mouse will be safer in the sand than a black mouse, yet a black mouse will be safer on lava rock than a tan mouse.

This picture actually does break it down nicely. A lot of Darwins' prime examples stem from beetle colors and population.

In Which I Explain DNA Structure

     DNA is what makes us humans up. Our incredible bodies are made up of seemingly simple structures. To begin explaining what the structure of DNA is, I will show you a very familiar ladder looking picture.

     At this point in time, I would like to direct your attention to the thing labeled base pair. A base pair will always be made up of the four letters G,T,C, and A (Green-Cat, Ass-Tan). A stands for Adenine, T stands for Thymine, G stands for Guanine and C stands for Cytosine.  In my little rhyme, I specifically paired G with C and A with T. These are the only things that can be paired together, but there is an infinite number of combinations within the helix that bases can repeat and be lined up to produce proteins that create    characteristics. 

     Nucleotides are groups made of sugars and phosphates joined to a single base that are connected through covalent bonds and to make up a chain. This chain is paired to another (by matching appropriate bases) to make a base pair through hydrogen bonding in order to make the double helix you know and love. 

     This 'simple' process rebuilds and rebuilds upon itself to make human beings... which is the tightest thing ever. In order to replicate itself, The DNA will go through a process and unzip to a certain point, leaving the nucleotides alone again. But there is good news! Newer nucleotides and bases will be attracted to the old strands and connect to them through hydrogen bonding. They continue to unzip and reconnect almost infinitely, creating life and sequences! This picture will easier explain the replicating method of DNA.

Source- http://www.blc.arizona.edu/molecular_graphics/dna_structure/dna_tutorial.html

             http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/dna_replicating.php

In Which I Reflect on Sci-Fi Gold

     GATTACA. You're probably already well aware of these four letters being arranged in all caps. This specific arrangement of Green-Cat-Ass-Tan happens to title the 1997 Sci-Fi masterpiece. I already loved this film for it's talented cast consisting mostly of Jude Law, but the incredible story line really takes me to that possibly near future. Some amazing points were addressed during this film that I'd like to review and explain now. Here we go.

Thank you JLaw for that sassy and judge-heavy transition.

     Terms from the movie...

         De-gene-erate: This word is used to refer to naturally born children, those who were not touched by the hands of genetic science. This is considered a negative thing as they are almost always donned with some kind of failure within their make-up, therefore resulting in earlier death or incapability to keep up with what is now considered normal. 

         In-valid: In-valid refers to those who are turned away from the mainstream opportunities of the lab children. In-valids are not allowed in fancy clubs or higher level jobs. The 'god children' are treated much like Black people were treated in the 40's and the segregation era... Separate but [not so] equal. 

        Borrowed Ladder: This refers to what genetically modified people see as the scum and scabs of the earth. People who are natural born and use the identity and genetic material of the more privileged society in order to climb the corporate ladder and reach their dreams. This term has a clever play on words as it refers to a borrowed ladder of success and a borrowed genetic ladder (like the image of the DNA strand that looks like a ladder!) Borrowed genes. 

     We use the words 'degenerate' and 'invalid' in today's society and they are used in much the same situation. They are very derogatory and are used to refer to those who do not have the opportunity that normal or special people have. It's clever how the movie was able to link these negatively commonly used words to the genetic future society.

     Vincent's reasoning for leaving his family...

     Once Vincent was able to beat his genetically perfected younger brother in a swimming contest, he knew that it was possible for him to rise to the same level as everyone else and achieve his true dream. He immediately left so that his family wouldn't hinder his assumed quest for destiny. He tore his face from the family portrait to signal total disconnect and to show them his wish that they forget him, because one day, he'll reach his dream and he will not be Vincent. He'll have to be someone else.

     The meaning of the 12-fingered pianist...

     Though this famous pianist was genetically perfect, something went wrong with the sequencing and he ended up with twelve fingers. After his birth, many probably considered him a flop and disregarded his perfect genetic make-up... that is until he was able to play a song only accomplish-able through the use of 12 fingers, making him a celebrity, a hope, and a huge middle finger to all those who considered him an invalid or genetic failure. The insertion of this character aided in providing hope to the story line to all those who were dealt the wrong hand when they didn't deserve it.

    

     Favorite Character, would I want to be them?...

     [The Real] Jerome Morrow is of course my favorite character; not just because of his painfully good looks, but because of his dark sense of self. He at first seems to give zero damns about the whole black market borrowed ladder involvement. He realized a long time ago that his life as he knew and wanted it is over and his situation was too fatefully perfect for him not to get tracked down by one of the shady people on the sinister side of genetics. Jerome had given up and was too perfect to even successfully kill himself. Jude Law was given the most tragic character of the movie. He warmed up to Vincent and focused his entire being on providing DNA for his dream life, while still battling the overpowering will to die. I would never want to be in that dark of a mind set. He was so sarcastic and cynical while still haughty and full of personality (i.e. sass). To be that tortured in his half-life is the most depressing part of the entire world of GATTACA. 

     The doc knew!!...

     In the end, we see doctor Lamar give whom he knows to be Vincent and obvious pass into the world beyond. He changes his ID to Jerome's and says, "I never did get to tell you about my son," this is something he has mentioned to Vincent since the first time he met him. From this we know that Dr.Lamar's son must have been a failed genetic modification or a God Child who had incredible potential, but he lacked "the one criterion: Genetic Perfection." Were I to be the Doctor, and I had an 'imperfect' son, I would definitely do the same as he did. To love someone so much only to see their dreams crushed daily because you chose not to change their natural existence. If I recognized someone succeeding as much as Vincent was, I would do everything to assist him in order to make up for the failure I put on my child. Making Vincent's dream come true would substitute making my own son's dreams come true.

     Possibility of GATTACA tech in our world...

     It is more than possible for GATTACA-like society to arise in our world very soon. Technology is becoming insanely intelligent every single day... I mean for God's sake we can touch a piece of glass and it does exactly what we want it to! That's friggin incredible. We are closer everyday to being able to removing the threat of disease and early death from tomorrow's generation. Something this personal and major is always met with conflict. Are we attempting to play God? How can we take it upon ourselves to redirect fate? Would this lead to people being all the same and lacking any kind of special qualities? So many diseases are being met with cures every single day, in a very short time, I may be able to see my own children free from all terrifying and life-threatening diseases.

An appropriate ending yes? NO.

   

In Which We Genetically Analyze Greg and Olga

     Greg and Olga are a young-ish couple who are ready to have children, but with their family history, they are worried that their child might have a disease. They hired a geneticist to analyze and study their family based on letters they had written about their known relatives, health conditions and relationships. With this information, I have been able to put together their family tree (pedigree) to show the different variables.

     As the key more or less clearly shows, only a few of their family members have been infected with FVIII and MD. One couple showed that FVIII skipped a generation, meaning Greg and Olga's child will most likely not have that, as both have a sibling with FVIII. As for MD, It hasn't seemed to carry over at all, so as a conclusion, Greg and Olga will most likely have an FVIII and MD free child.

     I did my own tiny pedigree based on the ability to taste a chemical on a paper or not (this taste is only obtainable if you carry this certain gene). I tested the family I could reach and then made a larger pedigree for visual aid. 

This here is the key to show what's going on in the upcoming Pedigree.

     

     As you can see from my pedigree, my immediate blood family can all taste the nasty paper, therefore the gene required must be dominant and prevalent in my family. Most everyone in the class could taste it, as well as my adopted father. It must be a common gene in most people!

In Which I Discuss Genetics

     We might not all have the working knowledge of genes that a geneticist with a PhD would have, but we still have a general knowledge. "He gets his eyes from his mother!" "Toby's freckles are a family trait!" "Well, I inherited my curly hair from my mother!" We're talking like scientist without even knowing it. Now some things (like rolling your 'r's' and musical ability) are kinda sketchy, as it is not yet proven that those things can be inherited through genetics (i.e. it's all hokey). As for genes and DNA, how does it all work?
     To get a general idea of what genetics are I have made a sort of graphic organizer to show you the basics.

     Also relating to genetics (specifically Alleles and genes passed on) is the Punnet square. Each little phenotype for parts of DNA and genetics is determined by these little boxes. As was listed in the results, the dominant is Capitalized (or mixed) and recessive is lower case. A punnet square shows all the possibilities and outcomes. Pretend the flowers and genotypes represent the possession of freckles and the punnet square may make more sense.

     So with a little vocabulary and a hint of working knowledge, follow this link to see how this applies to makin babies!

In Which I Explain Mitosis and Meiosis

     You are fully aware that in order to be considered life, you must be able to do a few simple processes; those being ordered structure, growing, use of energy, responsiveness, change and adaption, and finally- reproduction.
      That last process is going to be our main focus, specifically the reproduction of cells. In generalization, cells go through a process that allows them to copy and eventually split themselves to make to new cells... and inevitably start the cycle all over again. It goes through the processes of Interphase (centrosomes and nucleus line up on opposing sides of the cell), Prophase (alike pieces of chromosomes connect in the familiar x shape called centromeres with miotic spindles), Prometaphase (centrosomes go to either side and start to attatch and organize the chromosomes), Metaphase (Chromosomes are completely aligned), Anaphase (miotic spindles pull apart the two halves of the centromeres to their respective sides of the cell), Telophase (A divider is put down between the two halves and we begin to see the full splitting of two cells) and Cytokinesis (the process of the complete split into two bodies).

I know how hard that was, so this image is going to show you everything I just said; but it will prove that I didn't even have to type that... Enjoy.

     This little image shows the length of time each of these processes take in order to fully complete the cell cycle.

     With the wordiness aside, we can talk about Meiosis a little bit and what is the difference between the two.  Meiosis has a slightly different process to achieve the same product. But Meiosis happens in life (humans yeh) and mitosis happens in plants (tulips yeh). This image is going to sum this all up nicely and save you some reading.

In Which We Discuss Designer Babies

     With all this talk of genetics and what we pass on to our children, you may be curious as to how we can use that to make the 'perfect child'. We can sort of reach that right now actually through the process of Artificial Insemination (A.I). This process takes the sperm cell of a male donor and is medically inserted into the awaiting mother/customer's egg. Alternatively, women can be surrogates (basically an oven on loan for the natural parent's ((or donor)) sperm and egg) and egg donors. 

36.4% of pregnancies happen this way. True fact.

     When looking at sperm donors extensive profiles and features, those in the A.I. program can choose very closely what they want in their child (Blonde hair, green eyes, freckles, musical or sport ability). There is one organization that only takes Nobel Prize winners sperm donations. Now an interview with the mother of one of these Nobel Prize sperms is a dog breeder (which must make big money because I'm sure that sperm is super expensive) and she lives in a small little home with her grown up Nobel Sperm baby. This fairly young man has a high IQ, but appears to have little interest in using it to benefit  the rest of the world. He plays sitar.

Totally not actually the Sperm Boy but really... You're glad you got to see this picture.

     As for the future, scientists would like to justify the altering of baby genes as a way to save our species from fatal illnesses. Though considerably less selfish than designing babies for beauty, we can't just live and let be, LET THERE BE NO MORE DISEASE! Science may be pretty close to this, but that's why we need these things. One day we may be able to perfectly engineer every human being... Buy then how could we be unique?......Well what is science without a little controversy eh?

     People consider genetic altering (and even occasionally A.I.) to be a sin, a way of playing God more or less. In the scientific sense, all that is happening is the placing and moving of different parts of a gene. It's a great concept that can one day remove cancer or awful genetic diseases from our human make-up!