ask a geneticist

Ask A Geneticist

When I was reading "Ask A Geneticist" I discovered many interesting facts about chimps and humans. I learned how chimps and humans are 98% the same because we almost have the same number of genes except, where the two genomes that have the codes for genes are 1.2% different. Chimps have more chromosomes than humans do because one human chromosome is equivalent to two chimp chromosomes.Humans and chimps are very similar since our genes are similar and genes make proteins but we are different because of the amount and in what part of our body these proteins are made. 97% of the genome directs where the genes are made, therefore that what makes us different. I learned that with comparative genomics will leave a better understanding of the future. Each question gets harder and harder but the answer is very interesting, for all the reading. I also discovered that instead of having DNA on one long srtand it is split up for more difference. Since everyone's DNA is majorly different and when we keep on reproducing we get a lot of diversity. If we had DNA on one strand then there wouldn't be that much mixing. Also, human's DNA is all split up because of how we produce offspring. The bacteria in our body makes new bacteria, thus, when we make new bacteria they unzip in two with each one getting a copy of the same DNA. Each species has different sets of DNA, and us, humans are just more complex. Finally, when I was reading the third reading I learned a lot more facts. I learned that chromosomes basically help organize genetic information. We have 46 chromosomes and close related to us are chimpanzees who have 48 chromosomes. Different chromosomes contain different genes, and each chromosome is differentiated by numbers starting with the largest chromosome being 1 and the second largest second, etc. Doctors and Scientists dye different chromosomes to understand different diseases and proteins. No matter how many contrasting genes you dye you will find out that each come in pairs, which are basically replica's of one another. I also figured out that each human has 22 pairs of autosomes which are the pairs of chromosomes except for one. Also, every organism has sex cells. In females there are two identical sex cells and in male there is one which is smaller and odd shaped. After reading all the text, I understand a little more about genetics but figured that there is much more to be learned.

wooden bowls

Wooden Bowls
The story "Wooden Bowls" teaches you a lesson about treating others the way you want to be treated, the golden rule. The couple in this story do not care how their grandfather feels when he eats alone. They only care about the frustration they will have to go through when they clean up the scraps he drops. The couple is being selfish and do not care even when the grandfather has tears. Suddenly when they find out they are teaching their son that you should eat apart from your family, they see how harsh and rude they are being to the grandfather. Their son puts them in their grandfather's place and they realize what they have been doing over cleaning up a couple of scraps. This story relates to CARES because the couple feels empathetic towards the grandfather at the end of the story. They don't care how the grandfather feels eating all by himself but they care about the mess the will have to clean up. They want to set a better example for their son and they felt bad about how cruel they were, then they feel empathetic. The couple then starts as a family again without worrying about cleaning up the scraps . This story is connected to CARES because the couple feels empathetic.

Basic Genetics HW

Basic Genetics

When reading the Tour of the Basics, about " What is Heredity?" and "What is trait?" I learned many facts about myself and others. Our physical traits, behavioral traits, and predisposition or a medical condition, are all brought down to us from our genes, but the enviorment around us can affect some of our traits or even completely change them. For examply, if someone has black hair but goes out in sunny weather a lot then you hair can become a lighter shade and that mean that your trait is changed. Also, if someone in youir family is diabetic, then you have a greater chance of being diabetic to however, if you control how much sugar you eat then you can perhaps have a less chance of being diabetic. You might realize that you are a lot like yout family, but they aren't the only ones that make you who you are, the enviorment around you shapes you too. Traits can be passed down from generattion to generation, and your child may have traits you didnt have.

In "What is Heredity?" there were lots of interesting details that explained why you are like what you are. Every human has two sets of 23 chromosones (46), and when a child is born they have one set from each of their parents. Each child can have very unique sets of chromosones but they must get one of each chromosome. Every human is different from each other in their own way but inside every human is actually alike.