After Reading the introduction, respond to the following questions. Your response should be written as a discussion. Remember to respond to at least one other post in at least one paragraph.
1. Why do you think genes that make people sick are still in the gene pool?
2. The author talks about the environment and conditions of our ancestors as it relates to our genes. How do you think the environment of our ancestors help shape our genes?
3. What are transposons and retrotransposons?
4. Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms.
5. Discuss the role of mutations in evolution.
6. What do you think the author means whe he says, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history".
1. Why do you think genes that make people sick are still in the gene pool? Because the desease might not be as harmful as it starts but evolves, even stroger as it survives.
ReplyDelete2. The author talks about the environment and conditions of our ancestors as it relates to our genes. How do you think the environment of our ancestors help shape our genes? Well, the author said that other organisms in the envirnment effects us. These are viruses, bacteria and many other microorganisms. The other thing is change in weather and climate, which change a person's surroundings.
3. What are transposons and retrotransposons? They are parasitic viruses and genes.
4. Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms. The world changes a organism by the different diversity of life on Earth. This life is in the environment and weather, and changes are shifting of weather patterns which change food source, temperature and organisms itself.
5. Discuss the role of mutations in evolution. When mutations are not good for an organism they don't pass a time of evolution because they don't survive, but when a mutation or change is good, it helps the organism to go through the next line of evolution. This mutagen helps the organism survive and produce.
6. What do you think the author means whe he says, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history". I think the author is saying that your DNA doesn't represent you exactly, but it is the history of the past lives of your ancestors over time.
Noahk I am not sure where you found your definition for transposons and retrotransposons, but you need to explain a little more. I do like your thougts on evolution.
DeleteSurvival of the Sickest is sort of interesting so far, although I have not gotten far enough to divulge myself in it. I did not know much about evolution or why it had continued, however I have learnt that evolution occurs as organisms try to improve the odds for survival and reproduction. The interaction and intermingling of organisms create an offspring who may have inherited traits from prior mutations and interactions, which leads to the survival and reproduction of a mutation which results in it spreading in the gene pool. ''When (a mutation) hurts an organism's chance of survival or reproduction, it dies out,'' however, some bad mutations may survive as perhaps it's mutation does not have a sufficient effect or severe impact on a person, therefore it would continue mutating and staying in the gene pool. Because of the small effect the bad trait has, it is therefore advantageous and it will continue to resuscitate and spread through out the gene pool. The irregular pattern of the environment had influenced our ancestors to adapt to the climatic changes, which has thus caused us to be adaptive of many weather conditions. When a mutation affects an organism's chance of survival, the trait will be prevented from passing on and thus it will die out. When a mutation affects the organism in a positive way, it will continue to reproduce and spread in the gene pool. Retrotransposon are jumping genes that are not found on the same chromosome. Transposons are genes that move from one location to another on a chromosome. By the quote, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history", it means that DNA is a representative of your actual life; your ancestors, the way how the environment affected their genes and the many adaptions they have had to make to survive.
ReplyDeleteSydney, I enjoy how you write. :)
DeleteI agree with you in that the author of Sickest takes a unique approach to the way DNA is used in daily activities by the body and delves a into the immune system a little with hemochromatosis. Mutations and the way DNA responds, it's pretty cool.
I really like the way you described your answers, Sydney. I completely agree. Like you said, I dont know much about evolution but I do think that I have a pretty good round-about idea of what it is. I also feel that our DNA has our history written all in it, and is a direct reflection of the things our ancestors endured.
DeleteI was hooked as soon as I started reading. The questions that arise make you think quite a bit. But to answer your question, why are genes that make us sick still in the gene pool? I think they are still in the gene pool, tying into our most recent chapter, because they people of future generations may build up an immunity per se. Because previous generations are harmed by the disease and/or infection, the gene staying in the gene pool allows their children and children's children to eventually build up an immunity over time, thus making it extremely important and beneficial that the gene stay in the gene pool.
ReplyDeleteThe climate in certain parts of the world allow people to build up an "immunity" to native illnesses, meaning their genes mutate in order to adapt to the climate that they live in. This also makes people more susceptible to diseases that are found in completely different climates, because your genes have not adapted. Transposons are known as "jumping genes" because they are DNA sequences that move from one location on the genome to another. Retrotransposons are transposons that are copied and move through the action of RNA intermediaries. Evolution is a term for organisms that "adapt" genetic traits to allow them to better survive and reproduce in the environment, not about traits that weaken organisms. Mutations are what evolution is all about. Mutations occur in order for the organism to better survive in the environment that it lives in. When bad mutations occur, the gene dies out. But, when a good mutation occurs, a new trait is created.
"DNA isn't destiny, it's history" to me means that our ancestors have made our lives what they are and makes us more suitable to survive and reproduce successfully in our environment. Without them going through what they did, we would be much more susceptible to harmful viruses, infections, and diseases. And we must be the building blocks for future generations in order for them to live happy, healthy lives.
I agree strongly with your answers to the questions . Especially number one , i think that the harmful genes remain around to help future generations be able to have an "immunity" to them.
DeleteI actually disagree with you response to number one. I believe that these harmful genes remain because they are recessive which allows it to hide out and spread through the gene pool. If the genes were dominant that would pose a disadvantage for the organism because complete expression of said gene could possibly cause infertility of death before reproductive age. I don't think this is meant to acquire immunity but rather the gene insuring its own survival.
DeleteWhen i first started reading , i really didn't expect the book to be that interesting but the more i read the more i didnt want to put the book down . One of the questions asked was Why do you think genes that make people sick are still in the gene pool? I think this is because it takes a long time,for evolution to remove a harmful gene from the pool , so just because its there now doesn't mean it'll be there forever. The 2nd question was The author talks about the environment and conditions of our ancestors as it relates to our genes. How do you think the environment of our ancestors help shape our genes? I think the environment our ancestors were in before helped us to be able to adapt to the conditions we face now . The 3rd question was What are transposons and retrotransposons? They are parasitic viruses and genes such as bugs , fungi , bacteria , protozoa , etc. the 4th question was Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms , i think evolution is basically an organism's ability to adapt to certain conditions by adapting genes or traits to help them survive . Question 5 Discuss the role of mutations in evolution. Mutations basically benefit evolution a whole lot because mutations basically create the change genes need to start be able to start adapting,. The last question was What do you think the author means whe he says, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history".i think the author means that DNA can teach u a lot about the past .
ReplyDelete1. Why do you think genes that make people sick are still in the gene pool?
ReplyDeleteBecause the genetic mutations don't always work for the right species. For example. antibiotic-resistant bacteria become resistant for their own survival, which isn't great for us humans.
2. The author talks about the environment and conditions of our ancestors as it relates to our genes. How do you think the environment of our ancestors help shape our genes?
It 'taught' our genes what were factor that it needed to avoid and mutate against.
3. What are transposons and retrotransposons?
cause mutations
increase (or decrease) the amount of DNA in the genome of the cell
retrotranspoons occur in RNA and transpoons occur in DNA
4. Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms.
The planet needs evolution to maintain the balance of the world ecosystem to prevent overpopulation through survival of the fittest.
5. Discuss the role of mutations in evolution.
Mutations are used in genetics to get rid of unwanted or to make better certain traits of a organism to ensure contiuation of the species.
6. What do you think the author means whe he says, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history".
DNA changes based on what happens around us. So, it isn't as important as to where it is going because its uses by the body will maintain relatively constant.
1. I think these genes are still in the gene pool because they are necessary for the balance of like here on earth. If each and every living animal were perfect with no genotypical errors, the rate of death would be much lower, overpopulating the earth.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the enviornment in which our ancestors endured helped to shape the strength of the genes in which they passed on to their children, grandchildren, and so on.
3. Transposons have the ability to alter their position in the genome, which often times leads to mutations and deletions. These are made of DNA. Retrosposons are very similar to transposons except they are made of RNA.
4. Evolution is the method in which plants, animals, and billions of other species have changed and adapted, as did the earth, for millions of years. Species that dwell among the earth are constantly evolving.
5. Mutations throughout evolution have led to small as well as more obvious changes throughout billions of species, altering both the phenotype and genotypes of these species.
6. The author means that DNA isnt here by chance. It gas evolved and gone through many changes to be what it is.
I agree with you about your answers for four and five. I think evolution has gone on for billions of years and organisms are also still evolving today. Also for number six i agree, i think DNA shows how it has changed to help us survive and reproduce.
DeleteThis book was quite interesting. I love how he looped in the story of his grandfather which made it more personal and created an awesome segway for the technical information which is quite skillful. (1)most harmful genes are recessive mostly due to the fact that if they were dominant the carrier of the gene wouldn't live long enough to produce offspring therefore recessive genes allows the gene to hide out in the gene pool and spread endlessly.
ReplyDelete(2) I believe that specific pressures caan give rise to certain mutations that are potentially harmful but help provide some form of immunity to the current environment that is creating said pressure. This has been observed with sickle cell disease and malaria. Sickle cell anemia give you natural immunity against malaria but SCA is harmful as well. the body has to pick the lesser of the two evils.(3) many mutations are caused by transposons and retrotransposons which are sequences of DNA that hop around.transposons move around through DNA randomly while retrotransposons is the same thing but within RNA.
4. Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms.
(4&5) evolution arises to make an organism more fit to its environment more likely to reproduce which allows the mutated advantage to persist. Just as resistance to heat or cold allows plants to live on in their regions there is oscillation in prey/predator populations due to one group acquiring an adaptation that allows one to out-compete the other. The presence of these pressure, be it weather related or habitat related allow organism to become more fit.(6) DNA is literally a biological bank vault that stores all of the information of previous generations as well as the obstacle we had to overcome biologically to survive and persist.
I agree... Adding a personal segway into the story made it seem more personal and interesting. I also like the way how your phrased that DNA is a biological bank vault. Really metaphorical.
ReplyDeleteSydney and William I liked how you framed your answers to the questions. Good Job.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, Ms.Clarington please forgive me for my extremely late post. It won't happen again.
ReplyDelete1. Why do you think genes that make people sick are still in the gene pool?
2. The author talks about the environment and conditions of our ancestors as it relates to our genes. How do you think the environment of our ancestors help shape our genes?
3. What are transposons and retrotransposons?
4. Explain evolution in the context of the planet and interactions between organisms.
5. Discuss the role of mutations in evolution.
6. What do you think the author means whe he says, "DNA isn't destiny, it's history".
As I sat in class and listened to everyone talk about this book, I became interested in it. When i finally picked up the book to read it, it was hard to put it down although I was quite sleepy at the time. Usually I am not interested in reading books about science but this book caught my attention quickly. Everyone has their opinions about genes and DNA, some peoples' are more scientifically correct than others, but my opinion is basically based off what I've learned in school. From reading this book, I believe that our genes that we consider "bad" haven't always been "bad". What I mean by this is that all of our genes were useful at one point, but now through evolution our bodies have changed and some genes we do not need anymore. Though these genes were once useful, they are now harmful to our bodies; like the genes that cause hemochromatosis. The environment, to me, plays a major role in our genes. Like for example, in America we are more immune to some diseases that in other countries are vulnerable too. Like Edward mentioned, in Africa malaria is a prominent disease but also Sickle cell anemia is. If one has sickle cell anemia, in Africa specifically, this person will not contract malaria. I believe African peoples genes mutated and evolved in response to the growing malaria-contracing population. From my research i found that transposons is a segment of DNA that can replicate its self, while a retrotransposons interact with RNA. Evolution is the process of an organism changing for the better over time. Mutations are not always a bad thing, they can be beneficial a lot of times. Specifically for plants and organisms, mutations occur to enable them to reproduce and survive better. If a gene does not behoove your survival or reproduction strategies, then the gene is disabled. "DNA isn't destiny, its history." This quote is quite powerful and can mean different things. I interpret this quote to mean that DNA doesn't define you, but it does show you where you came from. Just like we learn about our history and how our country started and how our country is changed, our DNA is the same way. If DNA was like pictures, we would be able to see how it has innovated itself over time.