Scientists attempt to find genetic causes of many diseases

Tracey Peake. April 13, 2014. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140413140007.htm

In North Carolina State University, Scientists are attempting to create a roadmap towards finding the genetic cause of many diseases. Their current research creates a new understanding of how genetics and the environment affect gene expression. Creating this roadmap is quite difficult as many genes are involved in causing diseases. Genes may not act directly and may be turned on by other genes. In addition, some genes that are turned on to the maximum level, however others are barely on. DNA and the environment influence changes in how much a gene is turned on. Fred Wright a UNC professor states that everyone has the same genes. However according to him it's hard to distinguish between heritable genes, genes controlled by the DNA, and genes altered by the environment. It's important to know the difference between heritable genes and environmentally altered genes to find the genes that cause certain diseases. Two professors from UNC studied identical twins in order to determine the heritable, DNA controlled, and environmentally affected genes. Identical twins have DNA that is exactly the same, therefore allowing the ability to recognize the heritable genes and compare genes that may cause diseases. They recognized that diseases are usually related to heritable genes. This study was eventually published. According to the Professor Dorret in Netherlands this study demonstrates many new ideas in gene regulation and diseases. In addition, Dorret states that twins play a large role in genetic discovery. 

This article is relevant to the genetics unit we studies in the second quarter. We studies about gene regulation, or how genes are turned on and off. Genes are turned on when a certain gene allows protein synthesis if it's on and doesn't if it's off. In one case using the sugar lactose, protein synthesis is turned on and off using the lac operon. When lactose is not present an inducer binds to a part of the operon called the operator and stops protein synthesis. When lactose is present, its particles bend the inducer out of shape. It's not able to bind to the operator, which allows transcription and translation or protein synthesis. We also studies the inheritance of genes in sex cells through meiosis and fertilization. Genes present on DNA chromosomes are replicated in interphase, and eventually divided into four diploid cells. DNA is eventually transcribed and translated which creates functional polypeptide chains if no mutations are present. This leads to the creation of proteins. In addition, we studied about how many environmental factors can affect the genes of organisms. One example is changes in skin color due to the amount of ultraviolet radiation in that environment which affects the skin color gene. 

Shruthi Manjunath