Need New J(G)enes Trivia Quiz

Answer: William Bateson

Although Gregor Johann Mendel, an Austrian monk, had studied the inheritance of garden peas and published his findings in 1866, his work was either not noticed or it was ignored. William Bateson, a British biologist, founded and named the science of genetics. In 1900 during his own experiments he came across Mendel's publication.

Answer: A unit of inheritance

The genes are located on the strands of a chromosome and the numbers differ for each species of plant or animal life. Desoxynucleic acid (DNA) is the basic material in the genes. Each human gene carries several different physical, chemical, biologic or behavioral traits that are inherited from the parent.

Answer: Lyosine

The fourth nucleotide base in the DNA is cytosine. The nucleotide bases vary in their sequences and this determines the genetic properties.

Answer: Somatic gene modification

Basically there are two types of gene {therapy;} namely, somatic cell gene modification and germline gene therapy. Somatic gene modification involves techniques to correct the {disease;} but not alter the gene defect. If stem cells correct her defective bone marrow cells and they produce normal red blood cells, the anemia will be {corrected;} but, her defective gene will not be altered. If she survives and has children, they will inherit the defective recessive trait for Fanconi's anemia.

Answer: 21

Human Chromosome 21 is small and has only 225 genes. However, despite its small size and relatively few genes; it is of great importance due to when there are three copies of it instead of only two. This causes Down Syndrome which occurs in 1 in 700 births.

Answer: Replacing bad genes with good genes

Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common serious, often fatal, genetic mutations. The autosomal recessive allele is present in 1 of 20 Caucasians. The U.S. government has approved the use of healthy genes made in the laboratory for use in patients with CF.

The problem involved the delivery of these new genes into the lungs of CF patients. Liposome (fat cells) have been used to carry the new genes. The healthy genes have been added to a modified adenovirus solution and used as nose drops to carry the material to the lungs.

The solution has also been administered to the lungs through a bronchoscope. The intent is to change the character of the protein that causes the thick mucous selections in the bronchioles. There is no intent to change the defective gene.

Answer: Gene splicing

Specific genes (DNA) that direct the organism to produce a specific hormone, such as insulin, can be combined with the DNA of a second organism to produce a recombinant DNA by gene splicing. This recombinant DNA can be transferred into harmless bacteria that multiple rapidly and produce human insulin. The DNA from the original donor can not be transferred directly to the host organism.

Answer: The genotype is the complete genetic information

The geneotype is a {major;} but not exclusive determinant of a person's phenotype. The genes determine a person's physical, biochemical, and somatic cell functions. The environment, nurturing, education and many other favor change the phenotype, The genes determine when the the so-called 6 year molars erupt.

The environment, culture, eating habits, personal dental care, etc change the phenotype and this will determine when the molars disappear.

Answer: A ewe's somatic DNA was transferred to an enucleated ova of a 2nd ewe

This experiment was conducted by the Scotsman,Ian Wilmut and his colleagues. From 277 cell fusions they obtained 29 viable reconstituted ova.These were implanted into 29 different surrogate ewes. The gestation period for sheep is 148 days. On or about the 148th day ONLY ONE fetus survived and was delivered as a living newborn lamb, she became the famous DOLLY. Thus, of the other 28 reconstituted ova some failed to develop or died as fetuses during various days of the pregnancy.

This high failure rate and some possible flaws in the experiment casts considerable doubt and skepticism about the genetic engineering called cloning.

Answer: They have identical fingerprints

Identical human twins occur in about one in 250 births. They have precisely identical nuclear genomes, mitochondrial DNA and at birth share many identical physical and biochemical characteristics. Due to different pressures on their extremities and other stochastic factors during gestation, they have similar but not identical fingerprints.

After birth identical twins may not be the same height or weight and they usually develop different behavioral characteristics.