Human Genetics
This section will concentrate on human genetic diseases and some of the
recent advances in biotechnology that will affect us in the future.
A)
Web site name: Learn. Genetics
Web URL http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/singlegene/
Click on “Cystic Fibrosis”
1)
Which chromosome has a defective gene that causes cystic fibrosis? _____
2)
Which chemical does this protein help to move in and out of cells?
____________________________
3)
Why do people with cystic fibrosis often suffer from poor nutrition?
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4)
How do doctors diagnose cystic fibrosis?
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5)
What are carriers of cystic fibrosis resistant to?
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6)
How many Americans carry the cystic fibrosis gene? ________________
Click on “Single-gene disorders” at the top of the page, then click on “Sickle
cell disease”
7)
Which subunit of hemoglobin protein is affected by sickle cell disease?
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8)
Which organ is “often destroyed” in these patients? __________________
9)
List three symptoms of sickle cell disease:
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10)
How is sickle cell disease treated in babies and young children?
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11)
How long do sickle shaped blood cells last? _____________________
12)
Apart from Africa, which other areas in the world have a high rate of sickle
cell disease? _____________________________________________
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Once a particular gene has been found, the only way to cure the genetic disease is
through “gene therapy”: replacing the defective gene with the normal, correct gene.
B)
Web site name: BBC News
Web URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/3075919.stm
Read “Bubble boy bounces back”
13)
What did this rare inherited condition X-SCID do to Christopher?
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14)
What does SCID stand for? ______________________________________
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15)
Which chromosome does this disorder affect? ______________________
16)
Why was he barred from seeing other youngsters?
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17)
How was the artificial gene inserted into his body?____________________
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18)
Is this treatment a complete cure? _________ Explain why:
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19) Why will their unborn daughter not suffer from this disease? ____________
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C)
Web site name: University of Utah
Web URL: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cloning/clonezone/
Read “The History of cloning”
20)
What did Hans Dreisch’s experiment with sea urchins show?
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21) What animal’s eggs did Hans Spemann use in his experiments in 1928?
___________________________________
22) What animal was cloned by nuclear transfer in 1952? __________________
23) Why are eggs from mammals harder to manipulate than eggs of frogs or
salamanders? __________________________________________________
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24)
What big advance did Ian Wilmont and Keith Campbell make in cloning?
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25)
Which two endangered species were cloned in 2001?
_______________________________________________
26)
When was the first use of somatic cell nuclear transfer to produce an embryo
as a source of stem cells? ______________
D)
Web site name: BBC News
Web URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/1740879.stm
Read “Pig cloning race hots up”
27)
What are the tissues or organs of these pigs designed, or engineered, for?
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28)
Why are pigs good candidates for “xenotransplantation”?
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29)
What problem could be caused by xenotransplantation?
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30)
Which human disease are the PPL scientists hoping to cure?
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E)
Web site name: BBC News
Web URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3554474.stm
A new technique called “therapeutic cloning” involves taking a cell, like a skin
cell, from a patient, putting its nucleus into the cytoplasm of an egg and then
growing cells that are genetically identical to the patient. Unlike “reproductive
cloning”, which would produce a baby, therapeutic cloning would only produce
cells that would be put back into the patient’s own body.
Read the article “Scientists given cloning go-ahead”.
31). Which three diseases could therapeutic cloning be useful for treating?
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32). How long will it be before patients could receive stem cells? ____________
33). Where do the eggs for therapeutic cloning come from?
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34). What alternative does the pro-life group suggest?
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35). What is the punishment for reproductive cloning?
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36). Do you personally think that research in therapeutic cloning is a good idea?
Explain your answer: ___________________________________________
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