...GENETICS RESEARCH/SOURCE ANALYSIS ASSESSMENT DUE – 1/12/2011 WEIGHTING – 15% TASK- There are 2 Parts to this assessment. Part 1 involves individual research of a specific topic. Part 2 is a 1 hour written examination based on an article given to you a night before the assessment date. The examination contains questions which, in order to answer them, require the information which you have researched. PART 1 - Research/Source analysis task on Gene Therapy. Gene therapy has the potential to treat a number of conditions which hitherto have been untreatable. However, gene therapy has not yet been fully developed and their may be some ethical concerns concerning this form of treating disease. In your research consider the following points: 1. What is gene therapy? 2. What are the advantages of gene therapy as opposed to conventional therapy for some disorders? 3. What procedures are used in gene therapy, eg., what is a vector? 4. Are there some types of cells which are more suitable for gene therapy than other types? 5. What are some conditions in humans which could be potentially treated with gene therapy? 6. Are there any conditions in humans which are being successfully treated with gene therapy on a routine basis? 7. Does gene therapy have any practical potential? 8. What is diabetes? How many kinds of diabetes are there and what are the differences between them? 9. Are there any ethical concerns surrounding gene therapy? ...
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... Fifty years later in 2003, National Institute Health accomplished mapping of 32,000 genes of the human genome. Gene mapping was a significant research that enabled researchers to focus on gene specific diseases and birth defects. More than 1000 research projects started inward voyage discovery of human kind rather outward exploration of the planets. Clinical research involving human beings have greater potential for risk of misusing the technology. Potential for misusing the genetic research and fear of unknown long term effects on the successive generations have sparked bioethics debates. Like abortion, gene mapping is a very controversial subject and both sides have strong views. For example, should a woman abort the pregnancy based on the abnormal genetic screening results? Genetic technology provides an enormous power within our grips and with this enormous power comes following the ethical standards. Ethical standards should be followed involving human subjects. Genetic screening standards should align with four ethical principles of: • Respect for the human autonomy, dignity, and obtaining informed consent • Genetic screening should cause the minimal amount of harm to the subject • Provides maximum benefit to the subject • Genetic screening should be available to all the patients of a certain population considered high risk for a certain disease or condition Purpose of this paper is to discuss the correlation between genetic screening, four ethical principles, and...
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...The Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering Research & Position Paper Table of Contents DNA Fingerprinting/ Genetically Modified Foods --------------------------------------------------- p. 3 Gene Therapy/Cloning------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ p. 4 Stem Cell Technology------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ p. 5 Position Paper------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 6-7 Bibliography-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 8-10 Evaluation Rubric----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- p. 7 DNA Fingerprinting DNA fingerprinting are tests that help to identify and analyze a person’s DNA. The term “fingerprinting” is used because finger prints, like DNA, vary from person to person and no two people have the same DNA or fingerprints. So, when scientists identify a person’s DNA, it can only be linked back to one individual and can help to obtain information about that specific individual. DNA fingerprinting can be done through many different ways. Some ways are through blood samples from a vein or heel, saliva samples, skin samples, or hair samples. The purpose of DNA fingerprinting is to help link family members together, find things that cause diseases, to help aid in crime scene investigations, and to...
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...In the progress of understanding of human biology why complex diseases like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and psychiatric disorders are so difficult to predict and treat, or why one individual gets a disease but an identical twin remains perfectly all right, scientists have now discovered one vital clue to unravel the riddle. Human genome is a collection of 4 million gene switches. Some reside in bits of DNA that once were discarded as ‘junk’ but that turns out to play critical role in controlling how cells, tissues and organs behave -- the junk DNA is often referred to as the ‘dark matter’ instead. As a result of a huge project involving 440 scientists from 32 laboratories around the world, the discovery is considered as a major medical...
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...Anatomy and Physiology 2, SCI 136 Research project # 40904000 Muscular Dystrophy Definition Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of more than 30 genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles used during voluntary movement. The word dystrophy is derived from the Greek dys, which means "difficult" or "faulty," and troph, or "nourish." These disorders vary in age of onset, severity, and pattern of affected muscles. All forms of MD grow worse as muscles progressively degenerate and weaken. Many patients eventually lose the ability to walk (“National Institute,” 2011). Some types of MD also affect the heart, gastrointestinal system, endocrine glands, spine, eyes, brain, and other organs. Respiratory and cardiac diseases may occur, and some patients may develop a swallowing disorder. MD is not contagious and cannot be brought on by injury or activity (“National Institute,” 2011). Method(s) of diagnosis Muscular dystrophies are diagnosed through both the patient’s medical history and a complete family history to determine if the muscle disease is secondary to a disease affecting other tissues or organs or is an inherited condition. It is also important to rule out any muscle weakness resulting from prior surgery, exposure to toxins, current medications that may affect the patient's functional status, and any acquired muscle diseases. Thorough clinical and neurological exams can rule out disorders of the central and/or...
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...genetic engineering are still in the experimental stages, but some processes that deal with bacteria, natural produced drugs and plants have gained approval from agencies such as the Federal Department of Agriculture. The most controversial matters about genetic engineering is its potential us in human beings. This brings rise to many ethical and moral issues about genetic engineering, which we will discuss. In general there are three techniques used in the manipulation of human genes, they are cloning, somatic cell manipulation, and human germline manipulation. In general, cloning consists of creating exact copies of an individual’s DNA and creating a new organism containing the same DNA. This new organism will have the identical characteristics of the copied individual. Somatic cell manipulation (gene therapy) is simply introducing new genes into somatic cells, which contain a disease or aliment in order to heal or cure the infected cells. In general, germline manipulation is altering genes in the...
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...that Kills After doing research on the effects of the disorder Huntington’s disease, it is easy to understand what a disease like Huntington’s will do to an individual way of life. Imagine being thirty years old with a good job, a loving spouse, maybe a couple of kids and an all-around pretty good life. Then imagine one day your boss writes you up and sends you home because he/she suspects you of being intoxicated. A person in this situation could, in months and years to come, learn from a simple blood test that he/she is the victim of a genetic disorder called Huntington’s disease. The ramifications of this illness are endless and affect not only the individual with the disorder but entire families and communities as well. At this time there is no cure or even any significantly effective treatment. However, as with many genetic disorders, research is being done in in this day in age that may promise to one day lead us to such treatment or cure. Huntington’s disease is a neurodegenerative or genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and some cognitive functions, typically becoming noticeable in middle age. It is much more common in people of Western Europe descent than in those from Asia or Africa. The disease is caused by dominant mutation on either of the two copies of a specific gene, located on chromosome 4. The Huntington gene normally provides the genetic code for a protein that is also called Huntingtin. The mutation of the Huntingtin gene codes for a different...
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...Rett Syndrome Joseph Lee 4th Period Rett Syndrome is a disorder which affects the nervous system and is found almost exclusively in girls. One in 10,000-20,000 newborn babies are born with Rett Syndrome, making this disorder very rare. Rett Syndrome is often described as autism, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and various anxiety disorders wrapped into one. In this paper, I will discuss what exactly Rett Syndrome is, who discovered it, how he discovered it, what its causes are, what the symptoms are, the disorder’s course, and possible treatments for the disorder. Said Dr. Rett at a conference regarding the disorder which bears his name: These three words summarize best our task: To live, to love, and to learn. We are aware of the fact that many mysteries of this syndrome still remain undisclosed, and therefore, for the time being, we have no option but to live with it. However, the children with their very special ways give us enough impulse to share their lives. It is a further mystery of this syndrome that the affected children render it easy for us to love them. A dominating factor in the care of such children is that they understand us and we understand them. Their appearance and the sparkle in their eyes make it easy to love them. Daily care for them and working with them gives us grownups strength, enabling us to learn the special treatment required, thus furthering our own development. To...
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...Hemophilia There are hundreds of different genetic disorders. Hemophilia is a sex- Linked disorder that affects the way a person’s blood clots. A sex-linked disorder has to do with the XX chromosomes of the mother and the XY chromosomes of the father. These genes have more functions than just identifying the sex of the person. Sometimes there are genetic mutations to these genes or certain traits that are passed down from parent to child. When a normal healthy person gets injured there blood clots or thickens so that they will stop bleeding and make a scab to protect the wound and begin the healing proses. Platelets are tiny elements made in the marrow of your bones. They flow though the blood stream waiting for bleeding to occur. After the body detects bleeding, it floods the damaged area with platelets. These platelets go through a chemical reaction that makes the outside of the sticky. They begin to stick to the damaged area and each other. This forms what is known as a white clot. The second thing that happens in the blood clotting procedure is many blood proteins in the thrombin system get activated when the body detects bleeding. When these proteins are activated they go through many chemical reactions to produce fibrin. Fibrin is a sticky string like substance that covers the wound in a Genetic Disorder 3 Web-like pattern. This is how a red clot forms. The web like design traps many red blood cells in it and that’s how it gets its red color. When someone...
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...introduction of CRISPR, this question has been asked repeatedly. CRISPR brought more than the possibility of one-day eliminating genetic diseases, CRISPR also brought back this ancient belief that one day we will live in a society where humans are genetically enhanced. Although created and endorsed for therapeutic purposes, Jennifer Doudna, the co-discoverer of CRISPR fears this technology may one day turn into a nightmare. However, as Dr. Lovell-Badge puts it, “genetic engineering doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition. There is a middle ground to stake out with laws, regulation and oversight.” (Gene editing) Thus, if lines were to be drawn beforehand of what may or may not be designed with genetic enhancement on one side and gene therapy on the other, this technology could be used for its intended purpose. Before this paper does draw lines, genetic enhancement and gene therapy must be defined. There are many definitions connected to both terms, the following definitions provided will be used for the purpose of this...
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...Thesis Statement: Tissue Engineering's recent developments and advancement in technology has benefitted the medicinal needs of 2010 with new age therapies and methods. Outline: 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Definition of Terms 1.1.1 Tissue Engineering 1.1.2 Cloning 1.2 Brief History 1.2.1 Tissue Engineering in the 1980s to 2000s 1.2.2 Effectiveness and Plans of Usage 1.3 Objectives 1.3.1 Medical Advancement 1.3.2 Therapies 1.3.3 Methods 1.4 Scope and Limitations 1.4.1 Discoveries from the 1980 to 2010 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Medical Advancement 2.1.1 Progress and Developments 2.2 Therapies 2.2.1 Autografting 2.2.2 Allografting 2.2.3 Xenografting 2.2.4 Bioartificial Devices 2.3 Methods 2.3.1 In Vitro 2.3.2 In Vivo 3.0 Conclusion Tissue Engineering, a scientific field that is focused on the creation of new tissue in replacement of those deteriorated by age, sickness or injury, thereby enhancing the overall performance of the afflicted area (Johnson, 2010). It is a continuously expanding field, due to being a study that affects proliferation of cells and prolonging the life of a human organ (Vacanti, 2006). Tissue Engineering is not limited to medicine, but also includes several branches of sciences, such as molecular biology, bioengineering, nanotechnology; this is because of the different characteristics of different tissues. For example, recreating a pancreas means a tissue must be constructed to make insulin; this is a special function...
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...cells blocks the blood flow, causing painful attacks and sometimes stroke. Due to their different shape and chemistry, they are controlled by many free radical processes. This paper will talk about the frequency this disease, inheritance pattern, genetic changes, current research and/or efforts to develop vaccine, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell anemia....
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...ISSUES PAPER Date 28 March 2008 Subject ISSUES PAPER: Emerging Technology Table of Contents Introduction 1 Communications Technology 2 Green City 2 Nanotechnology 2 Personalized Medical Monitors 2 Robotics 2 Mind-controlled interfaces 3 Personal Networking 3 Smart buildings 3 The future of bio-technology 3 Introduction History is full of life-changing inventions, the printing press, electricity, the telephone not to mention the foundations of medicine, transportation and computers and the Internet. It is well known that technology, coupled with knowledge and innovation have the potential to alter traditional concepts of the urban community. The cities to benefit from these changes are those with strong appeal for artists, creative individuals and younger educated people. The cities which have this creative skill base will be able to adopt and develop new technology. Historically, Melbourne has a long history as a manufacturing city. However with the rise of China and Asia there has been a steady decline in the manufacturing industry in Victoria. Melbourne has revived itself as a knowledge city with higher education arguably being a key factor in Melbourne’s current and future prosperity (Committee for Melbourne, 2007). Can Melbourne leverage from its historical base in manufacturing and knowledge to be a leader in emerging technology? It is well known that a city which can adopt new technology will excel...
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...Summary Magnetic nanoparticles have allowed for many breakthroughs in cancer therapy. They are currently being implemented with cancer diagnostics, which allows healthcare professionals to image where cancerous areas reside in the body. For example, magnetic nanoparticle have been utilized in conjunction with MRI scans to greatly increase the image contrast, leading to the detection of small and otherwise undetectable prostate cancer metastases. Additionally, nanoparticles are being used as a physical means of destroying tumorous tissue by the use of Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia. This technology uses the power of magnets to oscillate iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles to create heat in the form of kinetic energy and has shown to drastically reduce the size of brain tumors when compared to patients who have no treatment at all. Beyond their use as diagnostics and physical tools to destroy cancerous tumors, magnetic nanoparticles are also used as a delivery agent for gene therapy. For example, magnetic nanoparticles have shown to increase the half life of the various biological matter such as DNA and RNA so that it can reach the intended target before the body’s immune response destroys the magnetic gene delivery system. In the future, research will be focused on pharmacokinetics of the nanoparticles, ensuring the nanoparticles can stay in the body for longer periods of time and that the body reacts in a positive manner to the magnetic nanoparticles. Introduction ...
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...Weaver Clayton Professor Mindy Duffner English 1030-11CN 3 March 2016 The Chance to Live Again Therapeutic cloning has the potential to treat several degenerative diseases, thereby defective genes could be replaced and help improve the lives of millions. However, cloning in the human sense has had a difficult start. DNA cloning has permitted the development of modern biology, in particular within the last forty years. In this time frame the world has passed from theories to actually cloning genes. Subsequently, The University of Utah Health Sciences did a study on the history of cloning: Mitalipov and colleagues were the first to use somatic cell nuclear transfer to create a human embryo. …In this experiment, researchers took a skin cell from a patient and fused it with a donated egg cell. Key to the success of the experiment was the modification to the culture liquid in which the procedure was done and to the series of electrical pulses used to stimulate the egg to begin its division. Following the cloning controversy of 2004–2005, in which South Korean scientists falsely claimed to have used somatic cell nuclear transfer to create embryonic stem cell lines, the scientific community demanded much stronger evidence that the procedure had actually been successful. (Learn. Genetics) Subsequently, many states in the US began to prohibit the use of therapeutic and reproductive cloning. Regardless, cloning should be decriminalized, with the stipulation that serious regulations...
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