Designer Babies

Genetically modifying embryos to have certain desired traits is far from being done. The ability to select different traits is much more difficult than targeting genetic diseases. This is because genetic diseases can be caused by a single mutation, while selecting certain traits is influenced by multiple genes. Shai Carmi said how it is much more accepted to alter a baby if it is for a disease versus an outward identity. Also traits can be very unpredictable, even if altered.

In my opinion, I do not think genetically modifying embryos should be allowed with the purpose of a "designer baby." I think it is acceptable to modify in the interest of the health and well being of a child, but to completely change their characteristics should not be okay. If somebody wants to change the way they are, it should be decided by them, not their parents. Also all life should be accepted the way it is, parents should be happy with the way their baby looks without genetically modifying them. I hope this is never something that is available to the public when it does become successful.



https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2019-11-21/designer-babies-a-long-way-off

Related Article:
https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies

The pit behind your ear

Posterior helical pits (PHEPs) are an uncommon trait that appear to follow an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. PHEPs were linked to different syndromes when they were first examined; three were directly associated with ear pits, BWS, SGBS and RTS. The syndromes where more frequent in families with this trait, however in many cases, no relationship between the two phenotypes was observed, suggesting that they are not directly linked. After those observations were made, many studies have been conducted to try to reveal the connection between PHEPs and the syndromes, but the results are unclear.
A study focused on PHEPs and BWS demonstrated that PHEPs are inherited as an independent trait but there's still a type of linkage with BWS, possibly representing causal heterogeneity. Currently it is suspected that there might be an unknown site of mutation in the chromosome that causes the syndrome, and ear pits might be linked to that one instead, but that is yet to be probed.
I find this fascinating because my family possesses PHEPs and as of now, no one has been born with any of the syndromes, but I wonder if it could happen in future generations? Also, the ear pits were passed to every family member, from my grandfather all the way to my youngest cousin, except for me, perhaps I'm adopted.

The Largest-Scale Genetic Study of Chinese People to Date

Data from noninvasive prenatal testing for fetal trisomy (condition that can cause Down Syndrome) was used by scientists in order to determine and predict past and present characteristics of people in China. The testing analyzes free floating bits of fetal DNA in the mother's blood. This test occurs in China and costs only $100 compared to high quality, whole genome sequencing which costs $1,000 per person. Using the cheaper testing method came with a cost by covering only 10 percent or less of the person's genome, while the more thorough test covered 80 percent or more. Designing custom software and using heavy computations and statistics made up for the leftover analysis.

The resulting data represented nearly every Chinese province which eclipsed many genome-wide studies which include only tens of thousands of participants making this the largest scale genetic study of Chinese people. A total of 141,431 individuals participated. Some information they reported included data showing that more northern than southern Chinese populations contain a mutation of FADS2, a gene involved in metabolizing fatty acids, which indicates a diet richer in animal content. This helps explain the type of food that they eat in their area based on their resources and climate. Also, DNA that was not aligned to the human genome against a database of viral sequences were found in order to diagnose viruses, most commonly identifying hepatitis B and other viruses that can affect pregnancies. In addition, 48 gene variants associated with height and 13 with body mass index were collected by analyzing the height and body mass index of their samples. Doing this reveals associations between genes and specific traits through noninvasive pregnancy testing. This data collection on evaluating prenatal testing is still moving forward today for more than 3.5 million Chinese people.

This type of research seems very promising and intriguing to me as they can continue this type of data analysis for other races, not just Chinese. Since I am Filipino, I'm hoping they can expand their data collection in the Philippines so I can learn more about genetic characteristics and their history. Each race should receive this type of testing which can lead to predictions in human traits of fetuses.

Evidence Shows That Your Genetics is Linked to the Development of Insomnia

This study looked at individual genes that cause the development of sleeping problems. It showed evidence of a genetic link between insomnia and certain psychiatric disorders and certain physical conditions. The study was run by Murray Stein from the University of California. One of the major culprits of loss of sleep is insomnia, 20% of Americans have problems sleeping. Insomnia greatly effects a person’s health in a negative way, which puts stress on the healthcare system. Insomnia has been linked with many long-term health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, PTSD, and suicide. Past studies have shown that traits like insomnia can be inherited. Understanding the molecular foundation for insomnia is key to being able to develop new treatments for this sleep disorder. This study shows evidence that insomnia is somewhat heritable. The study found a link between insomnia and depression and a strong link to type 2 diabetes. These links propose that there is a genetic trait that is common between these co-occurring phenotypes. The evidence from this study supports the evidence found in previous studies.



After reading this article from ScienceDaily, I looked for some more research on the linkage of insomnia to genetics. I found an article on another study that found seven genes that were identified as a link to insomnia. This study found similar evidence, to the previous study, that also linked these genes with certain psychological disorders. This study also found a link to two other common sleep disorders - periodic limb movements of sleep and restless legs syndrome.

Great White Sharks and Tuna Share Common Genes That Allow Them To Be Top Predators

Great White Sharks and Tuna have evolved independently from one another for 400 million years. Despite this, scientists from the Imperial College London looking at these two species have found evidence that suggests that these two fish have similarities in many of their genes that allow them to be dominant predators. Genes linked to traits such as quick swimming behavior, metabolism and the animals ability to produce energy were passed down in both groups and expressed in both. These common genes amongst species that evolved independently of each other could help researchers determine the relationship between genetics and physical traits.

Physical traits are difficult to link directly to specific genes as gene expression can be different in every individual. Tuna and Great White Sharks live completely separate lives but both are top predators with similarly expressed genes. Examining two different species with comparable gene expression is extremely valuable for scientists to find the link between the genes a physical traits on display. In order to do this, the team members on this project collected muscle tissue from sharks as well as tuna to see all the genes that were expressed. In doing this, it was able to be determined that genes could be seen in both species that were associated with different functions such as a higher metabolism being selected for in these sharks. This could spark more questions to be asked on genetic expression and its link to physical traits.

Sickle Cell Trait Has Possible Link to Chronic Kidney Disease Among African Americans

A large multicohort study, conducted by a research team at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, found a possible association between sickle cell trait (SCT) and chronic kidney disease (CKD.) African Americans with a sickle cell trait do not develop sickle cell anemia but instead carry a single copy of the gene that is known to cause the disease. Sickle cell anemia is a disease that is characterized by misshaped red blood cells (sickle cells) that are sticky and stiff leaving the blood vessels more prone to obstruction. In contrast, SCT is less severe where only in very rare cases do people develop deformed red blood cells as a result of severe dehydration.

The researchers noted a gap in knowledge regarding possible conditions influenced by SCT. They highlight that African Americans have a disproportionately higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease and progression to end-stage renal disease (ERD.)  “SCT may be an important and unrecognized risk factor for renal disease in this population.” The study analyzed 5 US population based studies involving 2,233 African American participants 1,248 of which has SCT. 2,233 individuals had CKD, with 19.2% of individuals with SCT and 13.5 without the condition.

These findings imply that there is a higher risk for developing CKD in African Americans with SCT. In addition, researchers found that individuals with SCT have a faster decline in the rate at which fluids are filtered through the kidney. Further, 31.8% of people with SCT experienced albuminuria, a sign of a kidney disorder characterized by excessive protein in urine.

This study suggests the need for more research on kidney disease and other renal complications. Kidney failure is the 8th leading cause of deaths in the US. 90% of people with stage 3 CKD are unaware (Kidney Fund.Org, 2012.) This article is specifically significant to me because I have family members who have complications with their kidneys and who are on dialysis. If there is a better way to detect possible links between genes and the development of kidney disease perhaps possible interventions and medications can decrease the number of people affected in this vulnerable population.  

 Article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285322.php

Additional Link: Kidney Fund. Org. (2012, August 12). Kidney Disease Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/assets/pdfs/akf-kidneydiseasestatistics-2012.pdf

Metabolic Genetics Research Paves Way to Treating Diabetes and Obesity

Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin properly, which is called insulin resistance. Over time, your body isn't able to keep up and can't make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes found in people today, affecting around 29 million people in the US alone. Of the people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, about 80 to 90 percent are also diagnosed as obsess. By breaking down a complex condition, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, into its metabolic proteins and processes, it has been found that by examining certain proteins, along with the genes that encode them, that contribute to said condition scientist can come up with new drugs that target the metabolic processes that aren’t working correctly.

Jennifer E. Below, PhD, of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health stated, “In fact, genes that affect the same process at the protein level can end up influencing multiple traits in tandem.” After working with several colleagues, Dr. Below found that genes that control someone’s circadian cycle affect sleep quality and have the possibility of putting them at risk for diabetes. "Findings such as this highlight the importance of capturing the array of effects of genes, rather than treating each analysis as independent. Traits don't exist in silos; they are richly connected and interacting, and we benefit by acknowledging this in our genetic analyses," Dr. Below said.

Research was focused on a community where Type 2 diabetes and obesity rates have not changed much over the past few decades. The researchers sequenced the genomes of over 1,400 people and focused in on relationships between traits that affect diabetes and obesity, allowing them to pick apart the functions of lifestyle and environmental factors, incorporating how the traits affect each other. With further research, Dr. Below looks forward to examining families to look over the rare genetic variants that could be present in larger numbers than in the general population, some of which could have a huge impact on disease.

This article caught my attention because my grandmother had Type 2 diabetes, though was not obese.  It is quite exciting that researchers are using metabolic genetics to find new ways of treating those with these conditions. This research has the potential of helping millions, seeing as so many people are affected by these conditions today, and for that reason I can’t wait to see what further research can bring.

Article Link          Related Article 

Genetic trait for alcoholism

This article by Randy Dotinga discussed how a genetic trait is linked to alcoholism. It’s suggested that variations in the genetic makeup of alcoholics can affect how much they consume. Scientists believe that the key might be the brain’s control of serotonin. Dr. Robert Philibert, director of the Laboratory of Psychiatric Genetics at the University of Iowa, said the genetic blueprint that people inherit from their parents account for an estimated 40-50% of a person’s risk of becoming an alcoholic. Scientist looked at the DNA of 275 alcoholics who had sought treatment. Almost 80% of them were men and all were of European descent. The researchers found that the differences in the gene that affect serotonin levels in the brain coincided with the amount of alcohol consumed by the drinkers. The scientists believe that serotonin is crucial to human moods and emotions. Low levels of serotonin can lead to depression. This article is controversial because there hasn’t been enough research to prove that serotonin is responsible for alcoholism. This research could help doctors understand who might be at higher risk of becoming an alcoholic and help treat the person.

East Asian Traits and the Genetic Component

NY Times & Examiner. Recent research by Joshua Akey and Dr. Kamberov shows that East Asians evolved differently from other human beings through the EDAR mutated gene. This gene is specifically responsible for the Eastern Asian characteristics of small breasts, more sweat glands, different teeth, and thicker hair. Researchers engineered a strain of mice with the same gene found in Eastern Asians. When the mice were grown, they found thicker hair shafts, additional sweat glands, and less breast tissue. Despite the promising results researchers have yet to figure out how these genes are passed down from generations. This gene causes a great degree of pleiotropy so how natural selection played a part in its prevalence is interesting. Since , by evolution standards, there can only be speculation, researchers are left to guess. Additional sweat glands provides a better mode of thermoregulation. However, East Asia is particularly cold. A more likely explanation , via sexual selection, is that East Asian men were more attracted to women with thicker hair and smaller breasts, two visible traits brought upon by EDAR.  Dr. Kamberov goes on to explain that each trait could have been adaptable at different periods of time throughout history.

To better understand recent human evolution the "Broad Team" attempts to scan the human genome. Its hard to pinpoint the genes since the scans identify large portions of the genome. Each race has its own section of unique DNA relative to things like the geographical area, cultural difference, and sheer chance. These visible variations can be found in almost every species and eventually leads to divergent evolution over a large period of time. This article is both enticing and dangerous. It can possibly feed into the idea that race is real, if interpreted incorrectly, which I'm sure it will.

DNA Reveals Who We Are

This article is in relation to DNA and all the information it can provide us with. This Article also refers to companies that are making strides to take DNA samples (in this case saliva) and for a fee of 1,000 dollars you would be able to tell what types of hereditary defects your child has as well as yourself if you are intrested in answering a long set question you have always wondered about why you might not like the taste of a particular food, or why you have that ever so annoying twitch you can't seem to get rid of.



This article was published on November 17th, 2007 so many new advances as well as gains have been made in this feild of study and they are able to now tell you what your child will inherit or wont in regards to the good and bad things ofthe genes you may carry. Sometimes however it is best to let nature take its course and not reveal everything because then that takes the suprise out of finding out over time as well as can make you worry each day if you find out your child or you have a hereditary disease that can cause alot of problems.