Dissecting the complex diseases

Article Abstract:

The techniques of molecular biology have enabled enormous strides to be made in the elucidation of the mechanisms of some ''simple'' genetic diseases. Foremost among the techniques which may be used to locate human genes on particular spots of chromosomes is the technique known as restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs, pronounced ''riflips''). With the more traditional method of determining the linkage between known genes and a suspected disease-causing gene, investigators simply had to test for lots of different known genetic traits. However, the RFLP technique is somewhat like creating specific genetic traits especially designed to follow in genetic research. Rather than look at traits, the geneticists look at big segments of DNA which have been trimmed precisely by special enzymes. How these enzymes trim the DNA among the individual members of a family tell the researchers how the chromosomes, and the deleterious gene under investigation, have been passed through the generations. While this technique has dramatically speeded up the research on ''simple'' genetic disease, namely those that result from the inheritance of a single gene, the ''complex'' genetic diseases provide an enormous challenge to geneticists. Unfortunately, simple genetic diseases are relatively rare, and the vast majority of human health problems fall into the complex category. For example, a disease like heart disease has a clear genetic component, and having parents who lived till 103 bodes well for an individual's health. But some of this genetic heritage may be cancelled by smoking and obesity, to name only a couple of factors. Consequently, any researcher looking for a gene that contributes to heart disease will find individuals without the gene who have the disease, and many individuals with the genes who are perfectly healthy. This is in contrast to a disease like cystic fibrosis, where all sufferers are certain to have inherited the CF genes from their parents. And, as if this complication were not enough, most investigators feel that complex diseases like heart disease and cancer are likely to result from the interaction of many genes, not just one. Diseases that are thought to have complex genetic components include cancer, heart disease, schizophrenia, manic-depression, high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Most geneticists feel that the effort to elucidate the genetic components of these diseases will be greatly aided by progress of the Human Genome Project, which is attempting to provide a standard map of the entire set of human genes, against which comparisons of potentially defective genes may be made. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information)

Methods, Usage, Diseases, Genetic aspects, Chromosome mapping, Heredity, Human, Human heredity, Linkage (Genetics), Restriction enzymes, DNA, DNA restriction enzymes, editorial

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How DNA replication originates

Article Abstract:

The process of DNA replication has much room for error as the number of base pairs in one strand is great, the process is not sequential and the replications are distributed to numerous chromosomes. Researchers have found one group of proteins that could ensure accurate replication.

DNA, Chromosome replication

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Plants, like animals, may make use of peptide signals

Article Abstract:

Recent research has found that plants use peptides to regulate cell activities as animals do. Peptides had been thought too big to penetrate plant-cell walls. The function of the peptide ENo40 in corn is analyzed.

Peptide regulatory factors, Plant cellular control mechanisms, Plant cell regulation

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