2011 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
The 2011 National DNA Day Moderated Chat was held on Friday, April 15th, 2011 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. NHGRI Director Eric Green, M.D., Ph.D. and genomics experts from across the institute and around the nation took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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Sorry for the delay folks, the chatroom is now open. Feel free to send your questions. Happy chatting. |
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Which human chromosome contains the highest number of genes?
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Now entering the chat is our expert Don Hadley! He is currently researching the components of a genetic counseling session, including how people are informed of genetic disorders and how they make decisions regarding genetic testing. |
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Our expert Kris Wetterstrand has entered the chat to answer your questions. She is the Scientific Liaison to the Director for Extramural Activities. For over ten years she has managed the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) grant portfolio, having participated in the Large-scale Sequencing Program, which managed the Human Genome Project, and the Human Microbiome Project, an effort to sequence the DNA of microbes (e.g. bacteria) that live in and on humans and the ENCODE Project, an effort to identify functional DNA elements in the human genome. Her background is in population genetics and molecular evolution. |
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what part of the human genome excites you the most?
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Now entering the chatroom is Phyllis Frosst. She is the Director of Collaborative Operations at the NIH center for translational therapeutics. She currently works on projects such as the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Diseases (TRND) program. |
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How close are we to designing traits in our childern? And what are the risks?
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Should health care practitioners perform genetic testing of an unborn fetus when the results might lead its parents to abort the pregnancy?
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What is a typical day for you at work
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Should physicians and health counselors tell patients that they might be at high risk for developing an illness because of their genetic makeup when there is no effective treatment or cure for that disease now?
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Now entering the chat is Michelle Snyder. She is a genetic counselor who works for the Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center where she helps people find useful information about genetic and rare diseases. GARD is funded by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR). |
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Barr body usually has shape (it is not round). How can this happen?
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Durring replication DNA moves through replisome. How can such huge nucleic acid and protein complex (chromosome) be moved?
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What happens to the fetus when it's in the uterus?
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Now entering the chat is Donna Krasnewich, M.D., Ph.D. She is very knowledgeable about diseases resulting from inborn errors of metabolism. |
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Can genetic technology be used to grow a limb in a human adult?
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My 19 year old, with 2q37.3 deletion continues having seizures, other than traditional meds, any help on the research side?
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Are there events when methylation induces gene expression?
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What is your opinion on Genetically Modified foods?
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What is genetic counseling?
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Can we add human DNA to primates to give them speech?
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What is a rare disease that you come across often?
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What are the risks of changing the DNA to genetically modify a human fetus to certain traits?
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Do plants and animals have different types of genes?
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How can the biomedical community use genetic information to improve standards of patient care?
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How can you breed out blindness in a working species?
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If you move a cancerous mass, why does cancer come back?
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The majority of the males have heart disease in my family. Only one female has been known to have heart disease and pass. Why is this so?
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What do you enjoy most about your job?
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What is the function of the spindle?
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Could you clone humans. ? If so, is it safe. ?
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What will be the most important genetic discovery in the next 10 years?
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In my family there have been cases of breast cancer the last 1 or 2 generations. Could I be at risk for breast cancer?
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If you want to do a personal scientific experiment in a lab, in which you work, would you be able to do it for no cost?
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Can you examine DNA and tell if a person has a chance of getting a type of genetic disease, such as cancer, or not?
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When did we start research into stem cells?
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What is 2q37.3 deletion?
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How did you become interested in the job you are doing?
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Where do the different cells and tissues your body come from?
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What did the Human Genome Project accomplish?
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How do you feel about what you do as a scientist?
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Are there any disease that sex-linked from the father?
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Could we genetically engineer humans with animal characteristics in the next 10 years?
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Will genetically modifying a human be viable in the near future?
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Do you think cloning will be apart of our future in about 50-70 years? Why or Why not?
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How many total different traits are coded by DNA itself?
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In the future, will we be able to change the DNA to affect the features or looks of our childern?
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Is there a cure for Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy?
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Do you think there are things that scientists are hiding from us? Things that could change the future?
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How are genes related to ALS?
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Do you see a need for students to study DNA and biotechnology?
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We watched the movie Gattica in our science class. Do you think this could actually happen in the future?
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What is a must read book for geneticists?
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Is there a book that I can read to find out more about DNA?
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How do you get testicular cancer?
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My sister has autism and what would be the possible chance that I would have a child with a disability like her.
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Can we mix DNA from two different species and make a new species?
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Why is lupus so hard to determine?
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Can stem cells be used for medicine?
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Is an animal's DNA anything similar to a human's DNA? If so, how?
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DNA is double stranded. When one strand codes gene, what does the other strand code for? Is it "meaningless"?
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Why do cancer cells not respond to the signals that control their growth rate?
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Retinoblastoma is caused by the missing RB1 gene. Is there anyway to inject this missing gene into the patients that are diagnosed with Retinoblastoma?
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Could Gene Therapy used to cure Gigantism?
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Why is DNA so important to the human body other than it holding heredity and other important things?
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What type of education do you need to pursue to get an occupation in your field & other fields dealing with genetics? Classes in highschool etc. ?
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Could you combine animal cells/genes/DNA to a human, to cause the human to obtain or have animalistic characteristics?
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How close are scientists to finding a cure for cancer?
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Q: [ edit] How far away are we from using stem cells to treat diseases like alzheimer's?
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Now entering the chat is Corina Din-Lovinescu. She is a program analyst in the Office of Population Genomics Office at NHGRI. |
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Could you have the same human genes as another person, even if you are not related to them?
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In my family there have been several cases of breast cancer. For maybe the last two or three generations there haven't been any cases. Could it be that the cancer in my family ha died off?
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I read in an article that geneticists have found the miniaturizing gene that produces toy dog breeds. My students were asking if it's possible for that gene to one day be used to produce other mini animals. I think some of my students would like to have the mini giraffe you see in the DirectTV commercials ; )
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How do you get slow metabolism??
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Dr. Frosst-What is the biggest Punnett Square you have ever done? How long did it take?
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Is getting breast cancer kind of the same concept as getting testicular cancer?
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For non-science students, why is learning about genetics, DNA, and DNA technology an important topic?
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What is the most important thing for kids to know about DNA?
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What is the chemical make-up of DNA?
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What are differences between copy number variations (CNV) and insertions/deletions (indels)?
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Why do identical twins get the same DNA, but fraternal twins do not?
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Today is my birthday! I'm 19. How is DNA affected over time? How many good years do I have left?
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Can you combine DNA of different species to produce a new species?
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If people have been working on genes so long, why haven't we found a cure for all kinds of cancers?
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What is DNA?
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Do you have a cure for depression?
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How close is our DNA from our nearest primate relative?
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How are transgenic organisms useful to humans?
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How accurate are paternity tests?
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How does the DNA of turtles differ from the DNA of that in a human?
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How did Rosalind Franklin suspend a single strand (or did she?) of DNA to photograph via X-ray diffraction?
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How much is restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis used today? What technologies are replacing this?
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Now entering the chat is David Bodine. He currently investigates the genetics of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (PHSCs) to improve the effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation and to find better ways to use these unique cells for gene replacement therapy. |
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Ms Wetterstrand-How did scientists first find out about DNA?
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Is it possible to clone a human being?
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Are there any new genetic diseases that have been recently discovered?
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Mr. Hadley- What sorts of genes are activated by age?
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As of now, we do not know wether or not cancer is genetic or caused by evironmental factors. If it is genetic is there anyway for us to do a non invasive test on a fetus to predetermine the infant's chance at developing cancer at a later date?
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How much of your DNA is similar to your parents?
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Now entering the chat is Anne Madeo. She has an M.S in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan and currently working at the NIH as a genetic counselor. |
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What kind of DNA do you study at your job, human DNA? If so, how do you get the DNA?
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How does fertilization work in plants?
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain disease and to my knowledge there is no "cure" just medications to help ease the pain. Is there a cure being developed? And is it possible to be passed down in genes from generation to generation?
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In identical twins, the DNA is the same but the epigenome acts differently. So if you were to clone a human, would the epigenome behave the same in the clone?
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Why are most mammals diploid?
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What are some basic facts of dna?
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Two of my great aunts have gotten breast cancer not long after turning 60; one of my great uncles has died from lung cancer; my great grandpa did too (of course he smoked, but my uncle did not); and my great grandmother died from Alzheimers. Am I at a high risk for any of these?
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Is it possible that almost every single person is related to one another in some sort of way?
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If you have a disorder in your DNA could you take it out and repair it?
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What is a developmental delay? Are Parkinson's disease or schizophrenia considered a developmental delay?
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Now entering the chat is Elliott Margulies. He uses new DNA sequencing technologies to sequence and analyze human genomes and incorporates information about comparatives genomics to learn how differences between human genomes relate to human health. |
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Two words: Benjamin Button. Could one person really age backwards? If so, how long would this person expect to live?
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Are traits that are considered "attractive" or "beautiful", in one specific person, genetically influenced?
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What is the difference between polymorphisms and heteromorphisms?
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Which chromosomes are associated with bipolar disorder?
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Now entering the chat is Vence Bonham. He currently researches the ethical, legal, social and policy implications of genomic discoveries, particularly health professionals' and lay persons' understanding of race, ethnicity and genetics. |
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I watched a movie where scientists tagged a gene for spots on the wings of flies with a glowing molecule. In the future, can we tag people with glowing molecules and have parts of their body, like their hair, glow?
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What education do you need to become a geneticist?
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Are there any genes for will power? Is will power is an epigenomic phenomena?
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What education do you need to become a geneticist?
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125 |
Using the "Seven Daughters of Eve" Theory, because all humans descend from one shouldn't the incidents of genetic disease caused by inbreeding be higher?
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126 |
Can DNA form into other shapes besides a double-helix?
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Why did we want to decode the human genome?
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What does James Watson do nowadays? Is he still doing research or enjoying retirement?
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What is a basic difference between gene knockout and gene silencing?
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When humans age, the cells stop dividing and start to die. Radiation causes uncontrolable growth in cells. Can we use low amounts of radiation to keep cells growing for longer life in humans?
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Would it be possible to genetically modify animal cells to make them photosynthetic?
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I'm interested in a job like yours. What educational and occupational path did you take to get to this job?
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Of all the genteic disorders there are, why is it that we can't yet determine the chances of a person getting a disease and then begin treating them earlier on and maybe lengthen their life spans?
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There is a variability in the number of chromosomes among organisms, but do they look the same as human chromosomes?
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Why is there no "cure" for cancer?
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I welcome Elliott Margulies, I ask him if i design a new sequencing technology, what parameters should I consider
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How are pseudogenes formed?
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How many cancers do you know about that you can name off of the top of your head?
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What is still unknown about DNA's structure and function?
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We saw a video that talked about one gene for speech. Are there other genetic influences on speech?
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Are there any genetic differences between people of different races?
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How does cancer cause damage to DNA? I have a family history of cancer!
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Is hip dysplasia in humans a hereditary disorder? Or developmental?
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What problems with the thyroid gland are hereditary?
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Are diploid genomes more evolutionarily conserved or haploid genomes?
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I am most interested in how the base pairs match together. Do you think there were ever any other ones in the ancient past or were there only ever the four that we know and love today. Okie dokie!
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Is it difficult to find a job in the genetics/ molecular biology field?
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148 |
How does transcription work?
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How are you doing today? What are you doing other then this today? :D
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What is the main objective of bioinformatics: Iis it using the programs of others and writing papers or creating your own algorithms?
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Have there been any developments toward a cure for Fraunbergism, which is an x-linked disorder resulting in fatigue, general irritability and extreme thirst?
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152 |
RNA plays a role in protein synthesis, but what does it do in our bodies that helps us out? What could happen if we didn't have it in are bodies?
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153 |
What are some types of foods that have genetically modified?
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I heard we share more DNA with cows than with primates. Do you suspect this is why we all find cows milk so delicious? If there is a connection, more research of the pig's genome should be in order because, oh boy do people love bacon!
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I'm interested in becoming a neonatal nurse and would like to know if it would be a good idea to learn more about DNA?
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156 |
What genetic qualities does HIV have that make it so resistant to the discovery of vaccine treatments?
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I am so glad that Dr. Elliott Margulies, is responding me.
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158 |
Is there any way when I eventually have children to put DNA in them to make them a super athlete?
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159 |
Genes work in a particular environment. Can a plant gene be expressed and work in animals?
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Why are blue eyes more commonly seen in Caucasians as compared to people of a race that have darker skin?
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Is there anybody studying a new cancer therapy based on cell fusion?
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What is the current research concerning development of treatments/cures for STDs like herpes?
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When people have surgery and have metal implanted in them to help with whatever is wrong, how does the body not try to expel it or try to form around it or break it in any way?
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164 |
Can we design synthetic genes? I mean brand new genes?
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is Genome imprinting is a epigenomic phenomena
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166 |
Why is DNA made up of so many chemicals? Does this contribute to its physical strength?
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167 |
How far along are we in understanding the role of micro RNAs in cancer? Have the different genes been identified? Given that the levels of miRNA found in cancer cells is lower than normal, would it be possible to devise a way to up regulate miRNA expression in these patients and thereby attempt to treat the illness?
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Some people say that genes depend on the signal. So they think signaling pathway is more important than gene structure? What do you think about it?
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What are some of the latest successes with gene therapy?
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what are the genes of thoughts and dreams (i mean desires). or the thoughts are related to epigenomics
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Throughout all your years studying genetics and DNA, are you still amazed by what you study? What amazes you the most?
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172 |
Why is it that my whole family can tan, but I have really pale skin?
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173 |
One of my aunts had cancer, then her grandson had cancer, now one of her daughter's have cancer, does this mean cancer is a genetic thing in this family? And if so, does that mean that I could have it in my family line?
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There is so much buzz around sequencing systems of late. seems that its becoming a race to who can develop the next best technology. In your lab, what systms are you and your technicians using to sequence DNA and RNA and what do you think about the competition in the sequencing space among vendors? Do you plan to buy any new sequencing technologies in the near term future? Thanks
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Is the actual science of DNA Haplogroups for Anthropology/Ethnology and genealogy differ from Forensics and Medicine? Are the results interchangeable?
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I love to sing - Whether it's karaoke, at my desk, or in the shower. I've even recently made an internet video. Do you suspect that this is genetic?
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Many people consider biotechnology (molecular biology) as magic: putting genes together and making a super creature. Biotechnology is a science; we have to follow laws of biology, what do you think?
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I have researched about pluripotent stem cells and their use for skin cells. Is it possible to use stem cells to rebuild major body tissues and organs without having the body reject the transplanted cells?
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Now entering the chat is Heather Junkins. She currently works in the Office of Population Genomics on a variety of projects that aims to promote the application of genomic technologies to population-based studies. |
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Is it possible to get a mutation from a spider bite?
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What is the latest application of DNA research?
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Dr. Schwartberg -I sometimes suffer from bad migraines; is this inheritable? My mom has them too.
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185 |
What is a parallel telemere quadruple structure and how does the function of it differ from a double helix?
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Now entering the chat is Michael Dougherty, Ph.D. He is currently the director of educational activities for the American Society of Human Genetics (www.ashg.org/education). Before joining ASHG, He taught genetics and biochemistry at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and studied the formation and transmission of prions, protein-only infectious agents that can cause disease in humans. |
187 |
How you define gene in this post-genomic era?
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are the karyotypes of other animals similar to humans?
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Hi, Westview is now ready to participate! :)
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Can some restriction enzymes not cut the right nucleotide sequence?
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What is recombinant DNA?
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How can gene sequencing better our everyday lives?
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193 |
Why did you decide to introduce transgenic animals?
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What do you use (like tools) to make a clone?
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195 |
Why did you chose to become a scientist?
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196 |
How can we define dominant or recessive in terms of modern molecular biology or genomics?
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Who created the very first medical device of biotechnology?
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How long did you have to study in college to get to the position that you are at now?
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If your interested in a career in biotechnology, what steps do you need to take?
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200 |
Is the radiation in the cells of the people from Japan going to pass down to further generations?
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201 |
Could gene therapy be used to control a person's DNA?
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202 |
How do we know if mutation is happening in our DNA?
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203 |
How long does it take the restriction enzymes to cut DNA?
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204 |
How many genomes have been sequenced as of today?
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205 |
Why is DNA in a double helix?
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206 |
Can you provide good resources for the lay person that describes the origin of living things on earth through how homo sapiens evolved from a common ancestor with the great apes?
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207 |
How old were you when you first got into biology?
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What are the bad affects of cloning humans?
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209 |
Do you see preimplantation genetic diagnosis becoming more common? What are the genetic disorders that they are most commmonly screening for?
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I recently read up on a person named Henrietta who produced the as far as I know first strain of Immortal cells, Can these cells be manipulated in a way to remove the cancerous nature and be applied to prolong life or the youth of the body which in return would lengthen life of a human being? or is this already being done?
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What is the Microbiome project and what is it useful for?
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212 |
What can we expect to see from recombinant DNA experimentation in the future?
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Can we still use term "mental retardation" or should we now use "intellectual disability"?
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Can a human genetically mutate to turn their skin color to red? Or any other color?
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Now joining the chat is Lucia Hindorff, Ph.D. She currently is working with a number of investigators around the country on a program that is designed to take the most promising genetic variants from recent studies and learn more about them in large populations with extensive data. |
216 |
What dose mitochondrial dna do?
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217 |
What is the most challenging/ridiculous challenge u have faced?
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218 |
Do you realize the insurmountable problems we face due to an overaging society as summarized in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS2PS6bPeLY and do you agree with me that we need a Manhattan Project on genetics-based regenerative medicine to hold up this extremely serious issue?
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Will certain food with DNA cause mutations?
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Can DNA prevent us from having mutations?
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221 |
Will scientists eventually be able to clone humans successfully?
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222 |
What is the most extreme and deadly type of DNA mutation?
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223 |
I have a DNA joke for you: Three DNA strands walk into a bar, ask for menus, and order food. When their order was brought out, one of the strands was obviously upset. The bartender then asked "why the long face?" The DNA strand then responded: "No replication fork! Stop lagging man!" Funny huh?
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224 |
How far along are we until gene therapy is available?
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225 |
How did you know that the DNA was so long?
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226 |
How many different forms of cancer have been discovered?
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227 |
Is diabetes hereditary?
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228 |
What is the best way to celebrate DNA day?
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229 |
Do DNA mutations get passed down through generations?
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230 |
Is ADHD an inheritable trait?
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231 |
Why did you choose to pick your career involving DNA and Genetics?
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232 |
Can you clone humans withought malfunctions in the future?
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233 |
Has viral DNA been put into other organisms before?
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What are some common mutations in DNA?
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235 |
Is the DNA in the mitochondria differant from the DNA in the nucleus?
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236 |
What is gene therapy and how would it be used as a treatment for cancer?
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237 |
How expensive is biotechnology?
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238 |
Has there ever been a time that you were afraid to answer the question if someone had cancer or not?
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239 |
Do you think cloning is a good idea?If so why?
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240 |
What is that .1% that makes each individual different?
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241 |
What is the length of DNA?
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242 |
Are the Japanese being affected by the radiation, or is their DNA being mutataed?
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243 |
What are some mutations caused by radiation?
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244 |
what happens to your DNA when you smoke or drink?
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245 |
Who discovered how to clone?
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246 |
What do you know about the human genome project?
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247 |
What will come of DNA in the future?
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248 |
What does the human genome project have to do with us?
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249 |
There's a lot of talk about genomics for personalized medicine but it seems like a lot of the information we know about only applies to certain ethnicities, ie, more studies done on Caucasians than Asians or mixed race. What do you think it'll take to get more ethnic groups involved in the studies to get to the point where personalizing your medical care via DNA is plausible for everyone?
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250 |
Is there evil DNA? For example, does Osama bin Laden have evil DNA?
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251 |
What was the first clone?
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253 |
When DNA splits and become RNA why does one of the nitrogen bases become uracil?
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254 |
Why does arginine have six codons and methionine has only one?
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255 |
A mutation is in fact an adaption. What do you think?
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256 |
How many years of school do you need to work in this field?
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257 |
Are we ever going to save lives with cloning?
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258 |
Can a human be mutated and get superpowers?
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259 |
Can cloning come with side effects or deformities?
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260 |
I have JDM (Juvenile Dermatomyositis and it is finally in remission. I wonder if there have been any discoveries in the DNA research that would help my doctor understand how I got JDM and how to cure it or at least better treat it than with all those steroids.
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261 |
What comes of a mutation in DNA or genes?
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262 |
If cloning humans became possible, what problems could it create?
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263 |
What interested the founder of DNA to question the shape of DNA itself?
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264 |
We sequenced the human genome. But exactly whose genome?
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265 |
How many gene disorders do humans have?
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266 |
What are some examples of successful gene therapy in the area of immune disorders. We have a little girl in class that was diagnosed with JDM at the age of 5 and all her friends (the entire class) is fascinated with DNA and how to cure such disorders. Thanks in advance!
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267 |
With respect to the Human Genome Project, what percentage of our genes do you believe will be cataloged?
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268 |
How do we know what DNA is made of if we cant see it?
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269 |
Do you believe that human cloning is ethical?
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270 |
How does radiation affect our genetics?
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271 |
How was DNA discovered?
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272 |
Who started the first DNA Research? How did it all start?
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274 |
What are the side effects of the karyotype 48 XXYY?
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275 |
Does "race" have a genetic basis?
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276 |
Charlie Sheen claims to have "Adonis DNA" and "Tigers Blood". Given his lineage (and lack of stripes), I suspect he has neither. How do the experts weigh in on this?
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277 |
How accurate are the current tests to determine one's athletic aptitude?
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278 |
What can you tell me about the human barcode project (a science competion in NY at urbanbarcodeproject.org)?
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279 |
How is animal cloning useful and who benefits from it?
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280 |
When was the first clone created?
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281 |
What are some dangers of genetic engineering?
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282 |
My mother has had two heart attacks and bypass surgery at 48. My great mother had a pacemaker and died at 76. My great mothers sibling all died of heart related ilnesses. My father died at 38 of a heart attack. My maternal grandfather died of a heart attack at 78. I am 15 and already have high blood pressure and also I have a thyroid problem. What do I have to think about health-wise? I feel fine.
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283 |
How are animals being genetically manipulated?
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Now entering the chat is Belen Hurle. She studies primate genomes as a means to enhance our understanding of human evolutionary biology. |
285 |
Since we know more about DNA, are we able to cure diseases?
|
286 |
Bacteria have proteins for compacting DNA (something like histone). Are they modified?
|
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Now entering the chat is Flavia Facio. She is a Certified Genetic Counselor who spent over three years working in the field of cancer genetics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. |
288 |
Can we ever mix human DNA with animal DNA or is it impossible?
|
289 |
Can you use genetics to jump higher?
|
290 |
How do we get those who aren't studying biology interested in learning more about DNA and Genetics?
|
291 |
What happens if a woman has an extra X and how would this effect her?
|
292 |
What is an Ashkenazi Jew?
|
293 |
Who were the first people to discover DNA mutations?
|
294 |
Are any of you familiar with the movie My Sister's Keeper and if so is this possible today?
|
295 |
Have there been experiments in human/primate hybrids?
|
296 |
Does depression have a genetic basis?
|
297 |
How many different genes are on the X Chromosome?
|
298 |
What was the first thing to be cloned?
|
299 |
How will knowledge of DNA be able to change people's lives?
|
300 |
Who was the first person to clone something?
|
301 |
When scientists first sequenced the entire human genome ,whose DNA was used?
|
302 |
Why does tanning in a tanning booth increase your risk of developing skin cancer?
|
303 |
If DNA contains all of our traits will DNA eventually be able to create a new human or organism?
|
304 |
Without genes, what would happen to us?
|
305 |
Students/society put so much emphasis on visible traits (skin color, hair color, eye color). What percentage of our genes relate to these traits versus the more important physiological traits?
|
306 |
Have you actually ever seen a DNA molecule?
|
307 |
Can we bring back the dead with the help of DNA?
|
308 |
Why do we have DNA?
|
309 |
What are some diseases that can be cured with gene therapy?
|
310 |
What do you belive is the most promising societal contribution for genetic engineering?
|
311 |
How close are we to preventing cancer by changing our DNA?
|
312 |
Is it possible for a person to be cured of a genetic disease through changing their DNA after birth?
|
313 |
What do you know about GM Foods?
|
314 |
Can you make a zombie?
|
315 |
Are there are genetic research studies for Alzheimer's disease?
|
316 |
Do geneticists work closely with pharmacologists to create new drugs?
|
317 |
Are enetically engineered foods good for you?
|
318 |
What genetic disorders have you found cures for?
|
319 |
Since we have discovered DNA, besides gene therapy what else can scientists do to fix mutations in a person's DNA?
|
320 |
What do you think about a national DNA database of all who are arrested, not just convicted of crimes?
|
321 |
Does every person have the same pattern of DNA?
|
322 |
How big is a chromosome?
|
323 |
Is it possible to alter someone's genes to alleviate genetic diseases such as Rhuematoid Arthritis?
|
324 |
What is the different between DNA and RNA?
|
325 |
This fall I will be entering my freshman year in college under a biochemisty major; however, I am also interesting in earning at least a minor in creative writing or journalism. Are there any writing related scientific fields?
|
326 |
How does stem cell therapy work?
|
327 |
My Mom had ovarian cancer. My grand mother, great grandmother and two of my great, great mothers also had problems that resulted in hystrectomies. Is the tendency to have female reproductive problems hereditary? Do I have to be watchful for myself?
|
328 |
Is it possible to remove DNA strands from a human surgically? And if so, does removing the DNA affect the traits a person already possesses?
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Now entering the chatroom is Les Biesecker, M.D. He currently directs a clinical and molecular genetic research program of inherited diseases. |
330 |
Could addiction be a genetic trait or disease?
|
331 |
How does cell transfer work?
|
332 |
If a person who has a genetic disease receives gene therapy and eventually has children, will their children inherit the disease-free genes or the diseased genes?
|
333 |
How does steroid usage affect your DNA?
|
334 |
Is it possible that the human traits we consider negative (greed, envy, deceit) are or were adaptive in our past? How could I test this theory?
|
335 |
Why are some individuals more prone to getting certain disorders than others?
|
336 |
Do you believe that in the human body all the cells have the same genome?
|
337 |
Is homosexuality genetic?
|
338 |
How were the DNA bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine discovered? How were they named?
|
339 |
How is it possible that one person may not look like anyone in their family, but they are compared to looking like another person whom they aren't even related to?
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Now entering the chatroom is Arjun Prajad, Ph.D. He is a post-doctoral Fellow working in bioinformatics at NHGRI. |
341 |
Many people throughout the world have some type of OCD or fetishism, does that stem from mutations in their DNA? Or is it purely a nature vs nurture situation?
|
342 |
Have you personally seen any impact on research/practices that was caused by the practice of gene patenting?
|
343 |
Is it possible to genetically enhance a human with traits from other organisms?
|
344 |
Pseudogenes can cause NAHR - non-allelic homologous recombination. Can multiple alleles cause non-allelical recombination too?
|
345 |
Is intelligence genetic?
|
346 |
Would would cause a child who was born perfectly normal to develop and become epileptic after 4 months of age?
|
347 |
How is it that people from different countries look so different when we all started from 2 people? (Assuming Christianity is right)
|
348 |
Is it possible that adenine and guanine could be complementary?
|
349 |
Do you believe that stem cell research has much promise or do you think it was hit a plateau?
|
350 |
Is DNA acidic, basic, or neutral?
|
351 |
Is making photosynthetic yeast possible right now?
|
352 |
Can a cloned rat have cancer if the original rat did not have cancer?
|
353 |
How are you able to differentiate genes from one another?
|
354 |
if I put blue dye in DNA and the DNA was cloned, would the mutated DNA creature become blue?
|
355 |
I once read a book called "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. The book focused on a girl with cancer, and her parents created a "designer" child, making all of the girl's traits the exact same in her sister's, so that when her sister needed a transplant, transfusion, or whatever was needed, they could use the sister. Have you ever heard of something like this? Is it even possible?
|
356 |
If it was possible to clone a cloned rat, what problems would it cause in the cloned rat?
|
357 |
Do you think its ethical to clone "perfect babies?
|
358 |
What did the human genome project accomplish?
|
359 |
What are the pros and cons of animal cloning?
|
360 |
I want to be a biomedical engineer. What career possibilities are there in that field that deal with genetics?
|
361 |
Suppose that I found a person who claimed she was my long lost sister. Can we match my DNA to hers to confirm that we are truly long lost sisters?
|
362 |
When (what year) was DNA discovered?
|
363 |
My family has noticed that there are a lot of DNA surname projects. We used results from a DNA project to make a connection when no traditional records existed prior to 1840. The family had a long life span. Is this in their genes or environment?
|
364 |
If there can be a mutation in a gene that causes a physical change, is it possible that there can be mutations that cause a difference in sexual preference?
|
365 |
do all people have the same size cell for instence does a taller person have the same size cell as a smaller person
|
366 |
Are there some cases where the DNA isn't located in the genes, but instead in the chromosomes?
|
367 |
Does marijuana usage affect your genetics in any way?
|
368 |
I'm doing a report on transgender America and want to know if there is a specific genome that codes for transgender?
|
369 |
Do Ultra Violet (UV) rays cause damage and mutations that could be passed down to offspring?
|
370 |
What is epigenetics?
|
371 |
What is research and study like outside a laboratory?
|
372 |
Will the radition in Japan perrmanently affect the inherited DNA in generations to come?
|
373 |
What makes DNA and how is it formed?
|
374 |
In Alzheimer's, since we now know that the brain shrinks 10 years before it appears, and the MRI marker, could we someday prevent Alzheimer's and in turn prevent dementia?
|
375 |
Besides rats and flies, what other animals are used to study DNA?
|
376 |
Eventually are we going to be able to find a way to regenerate limbs? If so, wouldn't the risk of regenerating more than one limb be high?
|
377 |
why is dna day so important
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Joining the chat is Dr. Dan Kastner. He is a physician and a researcher who became the scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute this past summer. He began his career at NIH in 1985, where he has studied the genetics, pathophysiology, and treatment of inherited disorders of inflammation. He discovered disease genes that have led to life changing treatments for patients. |
379 |
What exactly is the human genome project and is it finished?
|
380 |
How does radiation actually cause mutations, and what kind of mutations can occur?
|
381 |
How long have you been studying DNA?
|
382 |
What organisms have been approved to be genetically engineered?
|
383 |
What types of activities are likely to affect the epigenetic traits I pass on to my children?
|
384 |
What happens if DNA doesn't replicate and leave the nucleus?
|
385 |
Why do different analysis methods like sequencing or arrays show different variation?
|
386 |
I was diagnosed with Glaucoma at the age of eight, and have been told that it is more well known in adults. How is it that I developed this at such a young age? Will my children in the future have a high chance of developing Glaucoma at a young age, as well?
|
387 |
How rapidly does DNA change per minute? If we are growing everyday.
|
388 |
Is it possible to use a embryonic stem cells from a different species by removing its nucleus and replacing it with a that of an adult stem cell?
|
389 |
Could a child of two dwarves be of regular size?
|
390 |
With the nuclear drama in the ocean waters surrounding Japan, would the radiation mutate the fish? Like, Blinky from The Simpson's? :)
|
391 |
Is there a genetic component to human behavior?
|
392 |
How do mutations occur if the process of coping genes requires the complimentary nucleotide to be created?
|
393 |
Is it ethical to make baby clones for the reason of harvesting their organs for transplants?
|
394 |
How does the cell know what introns to splice out of RNA?
|
395 |
How can creatures like starfish regenerate body parts? Would it be possible to insert that part of the starfish's DNA into humans so we can regenerate body parts also?
|
396 |
My mom had breast cancer, does that mean I'm going to get it too?
|
397 |
is human cloning against the social ethics?
|
398 |
How many base pairs make up one strand of DNA?
|
399 |
Is it possible for a person's skin to change color based on a specific food they eat constantly?
|
400 |
Can you please explain how sunbathing (or some other bad exposure) doesn't end up causing a disease until much later in life? Why is there such a delay between when someone is exposed to a hazardous element and when they get a disease?
|
401 |
Does tRNA get expressed from DNA just like mRNA and is the anticodon somehow separated from the surrounding nucleotides? How does the specific tRNA pick up the correct amino acid?
|
402 |
Is epilepsy genetic, or can i be aquired?
|
403 |
What is normal research like in a lab on a daily basis?
|
404 |
Why does DNA keep going and never end?
|
405 |
Do you think it will be possible for parents one day to be able to create a designer child? Like being able to pick eye and hair color.
|
406 |
What are some things we can do to prevent Alzheimers?
|
407 |
Can a gene become extinct?
|
408 |
What attracts acetyl groups to certain parts of DNA?
|
409 |
How is dna involved in protien synthesis?
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|
411 |
Is cancer gentic?
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View Second Half of Transcript >>
Posted: April 15, 2011