Transcription and Translation

Transcription: Produce a copy of RNA from a DNA strand

1.       Overall DNA strand: upstream (promotor region) where TATA box is found in DNA

2.        transcription unit is the bubble where the RNA is created

3.        downstream (terminator) where AAAUAAA box is found in RNA

4.       In transcription unit, DNA strand unwinds: one strand is antisense/template strand and is transcribed, other is sense/coding strand and is not transcribed

5.       RNA nucleotides being to grow in 5 to 3 direction, complementary base pairs from template/antisense strand (A-U) (T-A) (G-C) (C-G)

6.       RNA is fragile because: Single stranded, double hydroxyl groups therefore more reactive

7.       Gap-Cap (G) at very beginning and Poly-A-tail (AAAA) at very end of RNA stabilizes it

8.       If errors occur, only errors in protein which are not as significant as an error in DNA, which would change genetic makeup. Therefore, RNA transcription is faster

9.       Specific nucleotide in DNA template/antisense strand signals transcription to stop.

10.   RNA detaches from DNA strand, mRNA strand releases and DNA reforms

Translation: synthesis of protein from mRNA template

1.        Initiation factor proteins assemble mRNA and initiator tRNA

2.        Ribosomes, large and small subunits, attach to mRNA strand

3.        Within the ribosomes are sites where the tRNA can bind to

4.        tRNA bind to peptide (A)-tRNA with amino acid which is added to polypeptide chain as it enters the P site (P)-growing polypeptide amino chain. The tRNA, without its amino acid exits via (E)-unchanged tRNA without amino acid and gets ejected.

5.        First amino acid (AUG) starts in P site whereas all others begin at A site

6.         As the tRNA enters the P site, the amino acids attach to the previous amino acid in the A site and create a long polypeptide chain

7.         The ribsomes, tRNA process and Polypeptide chain continues to grow 5 to 3, until it reaches a stop codon (UGA, UAA, UAG)

8.         At the stop codon, the polypeptide and translation machinery detach and release factors cut the the polypeptide from the last tRNA

9.         Polypeptide chain is released into the ER

10.     The polypeptide chains are assembled or packaged together in the ER

BLOG 2: Write a 500-word reflection on the article "Genetics by Numbers".

From the article, you learned about the difficulties (competition, politics, corruption, greed, pursuing of own interests, education, etc) that scientists face in trying to collaborate with each other to obtain the most accurate results. It has been established that the collaboration must be done for future SNP research. Then, how do you think these difficulties can be overcome and will there be further ramifications? VIDEO FROM THE SEMINAR 

As discussed in class, the only way for scientists to strongly and effectively conquer SNPs is by collaboratively working together. However, it is in our human nature to be selfish and competitive therefore, inhibiting scientists to making scientific discoveries quicker. As a result, scientists need to set aside their competitive differences for the common good of science.

First off, the information collected and discovered should be shared among the scientific community so others can provide and aid in the SNP research. This allows for smarter and efficient research instead of having individual groups doing the same experiment over and over again. Furthermore, the human genome is extremely complex and lengthy. As Kevin said, if a person were to type 100 letters per minute, it would still take 50 years for that individual to completely type out the human genome. In this sense, how can you expect one group to label SNPs when the genome is complicated and extremely long? Therefore, if scientists work on an international level, this large work load can be distributed and SNPs can be quickly found.

An example of SNP collaboration in an international sense was shown in the video. There is a large establishment that studies SNPs among Australia, UK, United States and New Zealand. These SNP chips, created with the aid of 19 countries, is a genetic tool that enables scientist to track SNPs. These SNP ships will be placed in the sheep genome to track genetic variations. The reason this establishment is functioning so well is because many people have decided to put their competitive differences aside and work for the common good of science.

Another topic that was spoken in class was whether or not having the ability of knowing your SNP list is a positive or negative. According to me, this SNP list is a “double edged sword” in which it can provide both positive and negative attributes. The positives are the fact that you have the knowledge of your SNPs; you can prepare for the future, whether preparing for an illness or an illness-free life and can lead to future medicine by analyzing the SNP. The negatives are the knowledge of a life-threatening illness such as cancer or psychopathic behavior; being discriminating for having an illness or medical centers causing fear to uneducated patients. To me, I believe that knowing your SNP list would cause more positivity than negativity as a person can prepare for the future and it is something that they should know about, it is information that makes us, us.

On the contrary, the revealing of the SNP list is something that an individual has the right to do or not. They should not be pressured or feel obligated to because the SNP list is something private. So it begs the question, what if employers or insurance companies want to know your SNP information to ensure their company will be okay. I believe that the BEST negotiation between privacy and publicly with private and personal SNP information is providing a small list of the most life threatening illness or disease that people may not desire such as having a 99% chance of having psychopathic behavior

To ensure a promising future for SNP research, scientists must work together to achieve this goal and set aside competitive motions. As for the ability to attain other people’s SNP information, it ultimately is an individual’s choice to tell unless there is a check-mark for a highly negative SNP on a negative SNP list that the government and health system can provide. 

Deaf by Design

Blog 1:  Write a 500-word reflection on the article "Deaf by Design" and the video "Sound & Fury" answering one or more of the following questions:  Is it more of a blessing or a curse to have the ability to alter our genetic codes?  Do the deafs have as much right as the rest of us to abort a fetus that is, in their view, disabled?  Is "disability" a relative term?  What constitute to a person's disability? Is it in Heather's best interest to be raised as the only hearing child in the family? Justified.

Science has evolved over time and has improved our health in various ways. One of the more recent scientific advantages is the ability to genetically modify DNA. This advance in science is great as it can possibly eliminate negative mutations, disease and screen for other concerns parents and doctors may have. However, the power to manipulate DNA is also a curse as some may wish to “create” their child; it may reach a point in which people ask whether or not there is the right to choose our future children’s hair or eye color.

Although this idea seems extreme, it is something that is creating controversy that can be exemplified in the article Deaf by Design, in which the idea of genetically manipulating DNA to ensure a deaf child is born to deaf couples. In my view point, I believe that genetically modifying children to be deaf is not right as it is taking away one of 5 senses that all humans deserve to have. In some way, it is creating a disabled child; which leads to the question what does being disabled mean.

According to dictionary.com a disability is defined as a physical or mental handicap, especially one that prevents a person from living a full, normal life or from holding a gainful job (1). In this sense, being deaf is a disability since “normal” people can hear and being deaf may prevent those from attaining or maintaining a job. This idea of living a difficult and harder life was even seen in the video “Sound and Fury” when the grandfather admitted it was difficult for him to get a job and how it was also difficult for the father to get friends. I believe that being deaf or blind or any loss of the five senses is a disability as it inhibits quality of life. The difference is accepting the disability and cooping with it in harmony, which is what the deaf community has done so well. They have dealt with their situation so perfectly that they have forgotten that they are at a disadvantage from “normal” people. Yes, their culture and way of live is more intimate and expressional but ultimately, their life is harder and at a disadvantage and, from the movie, each person had difficulty in their life but accepted it because they had no other alternative.

On the contrary, a technological procedure called the cochlear implant, an electronic device that is surgically implanted to allow deaf or hard-of-hearing people the ability to hear (2). This device was the main conflict in the film, Sound and Fury, where a young 7 year old girl, Heather, wants this implant to hear but the parents are against it in fear of Heather losing her deaf culture. I understand her parents view points but I firmly agree with the grandmother’s statement in which she cares for Heather’s future. Just like how a family may migrate to Canada for a better life, Heather should be raised as the only hearing child in the family. At 7, she already knows she wants the implant, she wants to hear and she will inevitably use her ability to hear to help her family. Additionally, hearing, to the deaf community, is like another language. Something that she would use to aid her in the future but ultimately, she would be strung back to the deaf community since her entire family is deaf thus, no other way of communicating. It is like the immigrant child who speaks English but automatically switches to their primary language when they enter the home because that is their only way of communication in the home. Furthermore, the cochlear implant is something that can be removed therefore allowing become deaf whenever she wishes.

All in all, science should continue to advance but be cautious when giving people too much power in DNA changing, having a disability can become a blessing once a person accepts it and a cochlear implant can give individuals, like Heather the ability to hear which can greatly improve hard-of-hearing people.

(1) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disability?s=t

(2) http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/coch.aspx