The Effects of Genes Regulating Production of Brain Tissue on the Development of Alzheimer's Disease

In a recent study that focused on cell-type shifts in the human brain that could potentially lead to Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, researchers found specific genes that correlated to the functionality of cells in the human brain and the impacts they could have. To do this, the study sampled from 1270 deceased individuals that suffered from ASD, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's, respectively. To isolate what genetic factors influence cell type shifts in brain tissue, RNA sequencing and methylomic data were compiled from each individual. It was determined that the loci CTP_PC5 on Chromosome 17 contains the gene P2RX5, which codes for the functionality regulation of endothelial cells in the brain. There is a wealth of evidence that indicates that loss of endothelial cells contributes to Alzheimer’s disease, which makes the discoveries made through this study incredibly important. 

Upon reviewing individuals with ASD, the researchers did not find a genetic correlation between microglia amount and ASD polygenic score. However, PGS did turn out to help predict the occurrence of schizophrenia, which is marked by a decreased amount of oligodendrocytes.

Clearly, this research is paramount in understanding how genetics influence diseases like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and ASD.

Sources:

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn7655

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29777097/

Would you like to know if you would develop Alzheimer's?

No one anticipates developing a disease throughout their life but too many of us have experienced or have seen family with the difficulties of an illness. What if there was the possibility to predict what age someone would develop Alzheimer’s disease? Futurism magazine defines the disease as a “progressive deterioration of brain function”, over 5.5 million people are diagnosed in the US, as well as 200,000 suffer from early-onset Alzheimer’s.A genetic test that can calculate age-specific risk of Alzheimer’s development has been created by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and University of California San Francisco. The method consists of searching for mutations in genes found in DNA, there are 31 markers, separately the genes would not lead to any abnormal effects, although when established together Alzheimer’s can be predicted to occur in someone’s future. APOE (Apolipoprotein E), the one gene stands out among the rest because with the mutation there is a 15% increase of chance of getting the disease.

The genetic research and testing has opened a new opportunity for the medical field. Pre-testing will lead to using medication for prevention and control. Being able to help someone prepare for their future, but with benefits there are always concerns. Such as, job discrimination if one day the human gnome is required for job applications will someone hesitate to hire someone if they know that the person has a higher chance of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Overall, this research has led to amazing insight into the development of Alzheimer's disease and will continue to flourish as more people donate their DNA. I think this research will be beneficial for patients to have a piece of mind knowing they are doing all in preparation for themselves and their loved ones. For example, if you know that you are going to developed Alzheimer's, if you wish you can stare medication for prevention can be administered, prepare your family when when you may no longer be able to communicate all you would like, spend time doing things that you love and just enjoy life. Knowing that you have something does not always have to be bad news, it allows for appreciation all the little things in life.

https://futurism.com/a-new-genetic-test-predicts-if-and-when-youll-develop-alzheimers/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/03/21/genetic-test-can-tell-age-person-likely-develop-alzheimers/

Virginity and Genetics

        I absolutely believe that losing your virginity is a conscious decision impacted by peer behavior, an individual’s surrounding environment, and their upbringing. I believe there is no way genetics can impact when individuals have sex for the first time. There has been research performed to prove this opinion wrong. Researchers found that differences in DNA can justify as much as a quarter of the variation in the age in which individuals lose their virginity, with other factors (religious beliefs, family background, peer pressure, personality, outer appearance) being the other three quarters. Thirty eight sections of DNA found to affect the age were virginity were genes that drive reproductive biology. These genes usually release sex hormones and even affect the age of puberty. Although genes do affect the release of hormones and the age of puberty, I do not support the research that genes affect the age at which an individual will lose their virginity. I would like to see more research in the topic before accepting or failing to accept the hypothesis.

Early riser or night owl?

      A recent study suggests that being an early riser or being a night owl could be influenced by your genes by observing and comparing the genomes of about 90,000 subjects. In this study, 15 genes were discovered to either be in favor or against “morningness”. I see myself as a night owl and definitely not a morning person. My father is the same way. However, my mother is definitely an early riser and not a night owl. My two brothers (one younger and one younger) are definitely night owls similar to my father and I. I would like to read further into this to see if it could be sex linked or just a normal autosomal inheritance. I would like to know whether being an early riser is a dominant or recessive gene. The article also discusses how some genes may have to blueprint of some sleep disorders. My family on my mother’s side suffer from many different sleep disorders, and I believe I may suffer from some as well. This article has sparked my interest into digging deeper into the research and data displaying information on sleep and inheritance.

Some Cultures Hardwired for Vegetarian Diet

         An article from Discovery News talks about how some people have adapted to vegetarian diets better than others. I personally love to eat meat and found this article interesting to read. Based on what their ancestors ate, people have more of a tolerance for meat in certain areas compared to others. My family is from the Mediterranean and Europe. I do not have a lot of family from northern Europe where their culture has adjusted to the vegetarian diet and evolved the genetic mutation known as rs66698963. Honestly, I’m happy I am not from areas where the mutation have evolved because I cannot imagine not being able to eat a nice steak or a burger in the summer. 

         I think it is so fascinating that genes can vary so much depending where you are from. Genes from people from other states in America alone vary so much alone that thinking at a larger scale and comparing individuals from other countries baffles my mind. The mutation has such an affect that if individuals with the mutation stray from their vegetarian diets, they could have a higher risk than others for heart disease, colon cancer, and a variety of additional health problems associated with inflammation. But also think about this: if what your ancestors at affects your genes and your lifestyle now, how can your lifestyle affect the generations after you?

Here is another article about cultural differences in vegetarianism. 

Anorexia: genetic and environmental risk factors uncovered

           Anorexia nervosa is a major problem in today’s society and is ranked with the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disease. I am very passionate about self-health and helping others know their worth in this crazy world. Most people battling anorexia see themselves as being overweight, even when they are underweight, and they obsess about eating, food, and weight control.

           This study, led by Lori Zeltser, PhD, from Columbia University Medical Center, pointed out that although many previous animal models of anorexia have included some variables that are valuable, but there were not any that could incorporate the social stress and genetic components of anxiety and anorexia that likely contribute to anorexia in humans. Anxiety and anorexia play hand in hand in most cases that humans struggle with. Zeltser and her team exposed adolescent mice to no less than one copy of the BDNF gene variant, which has been linked to anorexia and anxiety in mice and humans. The researchers, also, put the mice on a calorie-restricted diet, and some were exposed to social isolation stress as well. I think it is so interesting that with both factors, there was such a drastic change in behavior, but with only one factor applied or the other, there was very little change. It fascinates me how actions that are displayed in humans such as anorexia, responses to peer pressure, and even a desire to be thin can be easily replicated in mice. It is shocking how such a complex species, such as humans, can be studied by testing not as complex species, such as mice.

How Genetics Can Influence The View on Homosexuality

 Last year on June 26, 2015, gay marriage in the USA was deemed legal, and the entire country was a flurry of excitement and activity for the rest of the month, if not for the rest of the year. However, just because something is legal does not mean that everyone accepts it at face value and is completely supportive of it.

That is where Mark Joslyn and Don Haider-Markel, researchers at the KU Department of Political Science, come in, showing a different and more promising outlook on the perceptions of homosexuality as it pertains to genetics. After gathering data from a 2014 survey of 1,010 Americans and compiling it for a study for the Social Science Quarterly journal, it was discovered that there is a social behavior at play called immutability that convinces people that behaviors are not chosen, but exist as they are, so there is no changing it.

How does this relate to homosexuality? Joslyn and Haider-Markel found that when people perceive homosexuality as an immutable genetic situation, like receiving a certain hair color or eye color when an individual is born, these people were more likely to see homosexuality in a different and more positive light then they would if it were attributed to a certain environment or the choice of the individual.  In these cases of genetically immutable homosexuality, people thought that it was more acceptable, and this has been the trend examined over the years. This type of genetic attribution could be the reason for the increased support of gay marriage and the events of June last year.

As Joslyn explains, "the genetic attribution [is] thus a key factor in challenging the status quo and helped produce the tremendous changes we see today regarding gay rights." If all goes well and more research is conducted, then this type of genetic attribution could be used to reduce the stereotypes for many other groups. Things like intelligence of certain races or how certain people act if they are part of an ethnic group could be examined and lessened, even relieved, which would be beneficial to the global community. It would allow people to see each other more as humans and equals instead of being biased against them. A good deal of progress has been made, and hopefully even  more will be made in the future,