What's On Your Mind the 18th - Page 497

Big_Boss · 8th October 2008, 10:22pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Genetic research is a MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAASSIVE field. Certain bits of it are controversial, sure. But saying genetic research might be taboo is a bit like saying physics is taboo because nuclear energy is contentious.

What do you mean by "gene transplanting"?

Well since the human genome has been completely mapped (they did finish that didn't they?) they'll have discovered genes for different traits. I was just wondering if you know of any research done in to transplanting different traits into people through gene therapy. Or is that just pure science fiction?

ElegantlyRotten · 8th October 2008, 10:25pm

Well, I couldn't be feeling any more different to what I was feeling this time last night!

Fallenblackrose · 8th October 2008, 10:27pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Not just gene silencing, but fixing "broken" genes too.

Yeah i could only find brief mention of it (i think it was from Queenslands Uni's CICR) but then this was some time ago.

*LesMTS* · 8th October 2008, 10:31pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Boss

Well since the human genome has been completely mapped (they did finish that didn't they?) they'll have discovered genes for different traits. I was just wondering if you know of any research done in to transplanting different traits into people through gene therapy. Or is that just pure science fiction?

For the most part it's not as simple as one gene for one trait. Do you know what a gene is and what it does? Not wanting to sound patronising, I just don't know your level of knowledge about this stuff so I don't know where to pitch my answers to your questions. Scared of sounding patronising on one hand and too complex on the other.

Exit_W0unds · 8th October 2008, 10:33pm

How can this potato be out of date? silly, silly asda.

Big_Boss · 8th October 2008, 10:34pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

For the most part it's not as simple as one gene for one trait. Do you know what a gene is and what it does? Not wanting to sound patronising, I just don't know your level of knowledge about this stuff so I don't know where to pitch my answers to your questions. Scared of sounding patronising on one hand and too complex on the other.

My knowledge isn't too great on the subject though I'd like to say I know a little more than the average person. As far as I'm aware human cells are made up of strains of DNA formed in a double helix, which in turn is made up of 22 or 23 (I can never recall) sets of chromosomes. If I remember right the genetic codes are in the chromosomes?

Feel free to correct me when it comes to the science bits, I love learning things and if you go over my head I'll tell you to slow down

*LesMTS* · 8th October 2008, 10:36pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Boss

My knowledge isn't too great on the subject though I'd like to say I know a little more than the average person. As far as I'm aware human cells are made up of strains of DNA formed in a double helix, which in turn is made up of 22 or 23 (I can never recall) sets of chromosomes. If I remember right the genetic codes are in the chromosomes?

Feel free to correct me when it comes to the science bits, I love learning things and if you go over my head I'll tell you to slow down

Aye, the genetic codes are in the chromosomes, but do you know what the codes do?

Mwezzi · 8th October 2008, 10:38pm

The lecturer assumed everyone understood what Rhesus meant in terms of blood type.
The books all explained it in terms only a haematologist would understand.

My mother pulled on her old knowledge from her PhD research biology days, dug through a few of her old texts to double-check, and in 5 minutes had managed to give me a good basic understanding of both the blood type and a complication that can arise from it during pregnancy, thus trouncing a practising doctor and TWO haematology textbooks.

THAT'S WHAT MUMS ARE FOR.

Big_Boss · 8th October 2008, 10:40pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

Aye, the genetic codes are in the chromosomes, but do you know what the codes do?

If I recall correctly they determine physical traits of a person (possibly potential too) and there are theories abound (or so I'm led to believe) that some codes have direct affect on personality.

Again feel free to enlighten me if I'm wrong.

Christie. · 8th October 2008, 10:41pm

fucking make a deal with burnett already, this is killllling meeeeee :[

Rhöna of the Rhein · 8th October 2008, 10:46pm

yaaas! this phone even has the original version of snake! belter!

*LesMTS* · 8th October 2008, 10:50pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Boss

If I recall correctly they determine physical traits of a person (possibly potential too) and there are theories abound (or so I'm led to believe) that some codes have direct affect on personality.

Again feel free to enlighten me if I'm wrong.

They tell cells how to build protein. That's all they do - well, that's not aaaaall they do (for one example they can produce things that never become protein but affect how other proteins are made/if they are made) - but telling cells how to make protein is the main thing without getting into frontier research.
The way these proteins interact with eachother determine traits in various exceedingly complex ways. And there is no single protein that can have a "direct", specific effect on personality.

Big_Boss · 8th October 2008, 10:53pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by LesMTS

And there is no single protein that can have a "direct", specific effect on personality.

Thanks for clearing that up. Does the above sentence pertain to the nature vs nurture theory.

*LesMTS* · 8th October 2008, 10:58pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big_Boss

Thanks for clearing that up. Does the above sentence pertain to the nature vs nurture theory.

Nature and nurture is the most sensible way to think of personality, I guess.
For a simplistic analogy think of taking two genetically identical plant seeds and letting them germinate and develop in two different environments. Nature sets the limits of the parameters, nurture ascribes their values.

endless psych · 8th October 2008, 10:59pm

^Not really.

Genes (probably) don't being sensible about it) determine behaviour but they do influence it. They might prove to be a kind of computer program for how we react to certain things however. (Nature and nurture I suppose - or nature and reaction (but that seems excessively behaviouristic))

Then there is the idea of the extended phenotype (but despite Dawkins (he who wrote it) protestations I'm not sure its not a little bit deterministic) which suggests that genes influence behaviours that have effects on other organisms and their enviroment.