Kelsey Quackenbush per.7
Science Research HW 5
September 28, 2009
Article 1
1. Editors of Salem Press. Genomics. Magill's Medical Guide, 4th Rev. ed. Salem
Press. 2008. eLibrary. ProQuest LLC. MANHASSET SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. 28
Sep 2009. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
2. This article was about genomes and how they affect model organisms and
how it can help aid in learning about humans. They tested several organisms
including fruit flies, c. elegans, mice, E. coli etc. This genome-sequencing
project was also used to aid in future experiments with DNA and which genes
cause certain diseases. Also, it stresses at the end that finding a diseasecausing gene is not to be confused with finding a cure.
3. This is important to society because it is important for scientists to find ways
to test DNA related problems on model organisms that will benefit further
research. Also, experimenting with DNA and genomes of humans and other
organisms with similar genomes can help scientists link certain genes to
some diseases as stated above.
4. In May, 2006, British molecular biologist Simon G. Gregory, along with more
than 160 of his colleagues, published the sequence of human chromosome 1
in the journal Nature, this being the last human chromosome to have its
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequenced.
5. In the lab I know that previous students have worked with fruit flies and c.
elegans but I am not completely positive we have the equipment to conduct
experiments about DNA.
Article 2
1. "Worm Genome Completely Sequenced." Industries in Transition. 01 Jan 1999.
eLibrary. ProQuest LLC. MANHASSET SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. 28 Sep 2009.
<http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
2. This article was about C. elegans and their use in lab studies. Also, this article
detailed the uses of the information gained by these experiments. This type of
worm has major functions of any other animal, including embryogenesis,
reproduction, digestion, and excretion. About one-third of its cells are neurons,
which function in essentially the same manner as those in human beings.
Therefore the C. elegan is probably the most thoroughly understood animal in
terms of cellular development, anatomy, and genome content.
3. This article is important to society because of the breakthroughs in science it
can foretell. For instance, "Half of the disease genes in humans have identifiable
counterparts in this worm," says Francis Collins, director of the National Human
Genome Research Institute. Some proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease, for
instance, were originally identified by analogy to worm proteins. Also, Axys
Pharmaceuticals is among the companies that use the worm as a model system
to promote human drug discovery.
4. The sequence project was directed by Robert H. Waterston, a professor at
Washington University Medical School, in collaboration with researchers at the
Sanger Center of the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, U.K.
5. Previous studies at Manhasset High School have been done using C. elegans.
Article 3
1. Travis, John. "Worm offers the first animal genome." Science News. 12 Dec 1998.
372. eLibrary. ProQuest LLC. MANHASSET SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. 28 Sep 2009.
<http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/curriculum>.
2. This article is about C. elegans and their genomes, and the affect this has on our
society. In the journal, investigators announce that they have essentially
finished sequencing the worm's genome, making it the first multicellular
organism whose full set of genes is known. Gary Ruvkun of the Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston says "The worm genome, being the first animal
genome, becomes the brightest lighthouse for the navigation of all animal
genomics." Also, compared with viruses, bacteria, or yeast-the other organisms
whose genomes have been sequenced-the microscopic C elegans much more
closely resembles complex animals, including people.
3. This is important to society because it can affect treatments for certain diseases
and also agriculture. Waterson says "Because C. elegans has so many genes
shared with humans . . . we can figure out what they're doing in C elegans and
apply that to a whole myriad of human genetic issues," says Waterston. Also,
Scientists also hope that knowledge of the C elegans genome will help people
deal with worms that cause human illnesses and agricultural problems.
4. The sequencing of C elegans DNA, led by scientists at the Sanger Centre in
Cambridge, England, and the Washington University School of Medicine in St.
Louis, began about 8 years ago.
5. C. elegans have been previously used in students experiments.