Author Topic: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated  (Read 4466 times)

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Lakira

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[Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« on: October 29, 2009, 05:56:29 PM »
I've started a blog called Genetics Made Complicated which focuses on genetics, biotech and the intersection with society.

Come argue with me! :D
« Last Edit: October 31, 2009, 12:03:42 PM by Lakira »

PhaedrusXY

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #1 on: October 29, 2009, 05:57:33 PM »
Interesting. I'll try to take a look at it, when I have time. :D
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #2 on: October 29, 2009, 06:19:21 PM »
hows for some hijacking..

i watched an excellent video on epigenetics.

how real world environmental factors can become inheritable genetic factors.

they also skimmed over some drugs that can remove these epi factors.

as im not a geneticist or prone to do full blown scholarly research in my spare time, im left wondering in lots of related areas...
[spoiler]
such as they didnt mention epi stuff related to non animals. i assume plants, bacteria and the like also have the epi markers

is it reasonable / feasible to strip all epi markers from the genes and grow the thing as a clean slate or are these markers a fundamental thing for making the machine work?

what are these drugs that strip epi markers, do they clean the whole slate or just certain markers? hows bout adding markers?

i didnt see that they described the composition of the markers, like the ctag of dna..

in conclusion, im glad im not a geneticist... [/spoiler]
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Lakira

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2009, 07:03:36 PM »
Having not seen said excellent video (link? name?), I can't speak to specifics. But here are my off-the-cuff proclamations as someone with Authority. (I pause briefly for your mockery....)

Epigenetics does occur in non-animals.

Some epi markers are fundamentally required for proper functioning. Example: human females are actually genetic mosaics because while we have two X chromosomes, some time during development one of them is shut down. (We're mosaics because the one that's shut down is random, as far as we know.) This obviously affects which genes will be expressed. In case you've ever wondered why males aren't screwed up despite having only one X chromosome when females have two, that's part of the reason - females don't functionally have two (although evidence suggests that two is important during some parts of female development.

Epigenetic markers are typically chemical alterations to the DNA. Example: you add a methyl group somewhere. The drugs are simply chemicals that facilitate a reversal of said additions/alterations. I know there are drugs and chemicals that will make alterations to DNA, but this is generally considered DNA damage because they are applied randomly. Epigenetic markers aren't random.

I have a sneaking suspicion that there are loooooots of markers, many of which we don't understand. So, can't really speak to that.

altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #4 on: October 29, 2009, 07:07:26 PM »

I have a sneaking suspicion that there are loooooots of markers, many of which we don't understand. So, can't really speak to that.

thats never stopped me :)

i'll see if i can dig out that video...
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altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2009, 07:12:37 PM »
The goal of power is power. - idk
We are not descended from fearful men. - Murrow

The Final Countdown is now stuck in your head.

Anim-manga sux.


Lakira

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2009, 11:15:58 PM »
Awesome! Thanks.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #7 on: October 30, 2009, 11:41:25 PM »
such as they didnt mention epi stuff related to non animals. i assume plants, bacteria and the like also have the epi markers
I'm sure plants do. Bacteria certainly have methylation systems, but those are often part of the bacteria's defense system for destroying foreign DNA. I don't know if they use them in the same way eukaryotes do (in gene regulation). Lots of bacteria have enzymes that cut DNA at certain sequences, and their methylation system makes sure that these enzymes don't cut up their own DNA.

Quote
is it reasonable / feasible to strip all epi markers from the genes and grow the thing as a clean slate or are these markers a fundamental thing for making the machine work?
They seem to be fundamental. Craig Venter's research group has tried to remove the DNA from an organism and replace it with synthetically created DNA. This didn't work originally, and I suspect it is because it was missing epigenetic factors. I don't recall if they've succeeded at this yet. I think they got closer, but not quite all the way.

Quote
what are these drugs that strip epi markers, do they clean the whole slate or just certain markers? hows bout adding markers?
I'm not sure. I'd have to know the specific drug and markers.

Quote
i didnt see that they described the composition of the markers, like the ctag of dna..
Methylation and DNA packaging are the main two (that I know of), which probably are not unrelated.

Quote
in conclusion, im glad im not a geneticist...
I have a BS in recombinant genetics, but I don't study this stuff specifically. My brother and law does, though.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

PhaedrusXY

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2009, 12:26:08 AM »
by the way, your link in the first post is broken now...
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2009, 02:53:01 AM »
"http://www."http.com//geneticsmadecomplicated.blogspot.com"" isnt gonna work... needs a little less http and .com
The goal of power is power. - idk
We are not descended from fearful men. - Murrow

The Final Countdown is now stuck in your head.

Anim-manga sux.


Lakira

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2009, 12:04:15 PM »
Oh bloody.... I suck.

Fixed! And thanks.

altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #11 on: August 24, 2011, 10:09:31 PM »
so my mother has bought tests for us from genebase,

anyone care to interpret results, so i dont have to get a degree in recombinant genetics to know what the hell this thing says.

The goal of power is power. - idk
We are not descended from fearful men. - Murrow

The Final Countdown is now stuck in your head.

Anim-manga sux.


altpersona

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Re: [Self] Genetics Made Complicated
« Reply #12 on: August 24, 2011, 10:10:22 PM »
also, thread necromancy ftw
The goal of power is power. - idk
We are not descended from fearful men. - Murrow

The Final Countdown is now stuck in your head.

Anim-manga sux.