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Cracking the Code of LifeBy: Grace Trainor
What is the Human Genome Project?
Decoding the Human Genome—meaning interpreting the genetic code
The DNA Sequencing is used to determine the exact sequence of bases (A, C, G, T) in a DNA Molecule
Goals of the Project: To discover what the instruction code is telling scientists and to understand the differences in DNA and where/what certain alleles are located on the chromosomes
Knowing the code tells us…(1) What genes will be passed down, (2) How the DNA works and what it carries
http://goo.gl/nK4gMt
Now, Locate the Genome
Contributions that the Human Genome could make…
A lot of genetic disorders occur due to a single base change (displacement of one single letter—A, T, C, G—can lead to many deficiencies and a change in the genome)
With the Human Genome, scientists would be able to find out what exactly is going wrong with the sequence of DNA, genes, and proteins
The information would also tells us what people are at risk for certain diseases, early on (such as TaySach’s and Cystic Fibrosis)
Timeline of the Human Genome Project
http://goo.gl/AVfZVZ
Who is helping with the Human Genome Project?
CRAIG VENTER
Scientist and Entrepreneur—FIRST to sequence the Human Genome
Created company CELERA: holds machines that decodes genome at an incredibly fast pace (take ONLY 2 YEARS to complete)
Company created competition between private
and public companies—race to see
who can decode the genome first
Private: Receive $$ from investors and information
may by private
Public: Receive $$ from government and free
information to everyone
http://goo.gl/lCJMwx
Don’t Forget!
Not only is studying the genes and genomes important, but also PROTEOMES
What is Proteome, you may ask?
The collection of Proteins
Why is Proteome important, you may ask?
Genes make up ALL proteins AND proteins do all the work in the cell
Studying the Genes—must understand Proteins (vice versa) to discover functions in the body
Fun Facts: Did you know…
50% of the genes in bananas are in HUMANS!
ALL HUMANS share 99.9% of their DNA
98% of our DNA has a largely unknown function (based on the 2001 documentary), however Scientists now challenge this belief by stating that 80% of our genes ARE active
Read this article from Times Magazine for more information: http://healthland.time.com/2012/09/06/junk-dna-not-so-useless-after-all/
And YOU can watch this AMAZING documentary RIGHT NOW!
http://video.pbs.org/video/1841308959/
For even more information, Visit…http://www.genome.gov/10001772
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