Questions tagged [genetics]
Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with the transmission and variation of inherited characteristics.
2,051
questions
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Is DNA actually like source code repository?
So after reading articles like "People Use Just 8.2% of Their DNA" etc., and thinking a bit... I got this idea:
What if DNA is actually like a software source code repository? You know, it has "...
2
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1answer
44 views
skin colouration in thalassemia
Now when i was studying about thalassemia, I read that anaemia is its major characterstic. I can understand that fact. But it was also written that the skin gets pale.
Wikipedia says that the skin ...
1
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0answers
25 views
Absorbance anomaly
The standard concentration for absorbance of 1 for ssDNA is 33 ug/ml, while for RNA it is 40 ug/ml. I can't find the reason for the difference in this value for these two macro-molecules. My professor ...
0
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1answer
31 views
What are primary reasons for the failure to localise/anchor sequences in genome assemblies?
My question concerns the incorporation of individual sequence reads into chromosomes during gene sequencing projects, especially those with larger genomes such as Drosophila melanogaster or Homo ...
0
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0answers
24 views
Control of protein by DNA sequence with respect to RNA polymerase
I want to know how can a particular base sequence like the TATA box in the -10 region of a gene is able to regulate a protein's function like RNA polymerase? What kind of interaction really occurs?Is ...
-2
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1answer
45 views
What is the gene for height?
Height doesn't seem to be linked to sex, which is surprising. I have seen ways to predict children's height and it involves taking the average of both parents height. Upon my search, I did not find ...
0
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1answer
59 views
x-linked recessive inheritance and correlation for males
I was inspired by a discussion in this thread. Wikipedia lists a number of disorders linked to recessive genes on the x-chromosome. One typical example is red-green color blindness. Now wikipedia says ...
4
votes
4answers
173 views
What's the benefit of the average human body temperature?
Why would the body choose a resting temperature of 36.1c to 37.2c? It seems a very inefficient mechanism of survival considering the typical ambient temperatures on Earth. If there is a benefit to ...
1
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1answer
63 views
How to download different kinds of data from NCBI eutils?
I have been researching NCBI eutils and wish to get some 'big data' from it. I know that I can construct queries to query one of (I think) 8 databases, like this:
...
0
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1answer
282 views
Maximum recombination frequency [duplicate]
During the process of crossing over, Why is the maximum possible recombination frequency between two genes equal to 50% and not more than that?
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0answers
81 views
The space of all human DNAs [closed]
This is both a math and biology question but I think it makes more sense for a biologist to answer it. My question is: what can be said, if anything, about the space of all possible human DNAs (for a ...
0
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0answers
27 views
Is Wikipedia a good source of taxonomy? [duplicate]
I have been quite interested in biology lately,and I would like to know whether it is a good choice to look up taxonomic information there.
1
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1answer
40 views
If DNA methylation inactivates genes, does DNA demethylation activate them?
DNA demethylation can be passive or active. The passive process takes place in the absence of methylation of newly synthesized DNA strands by DNMT1 during several replication rounds – for example, ...
0
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1answer
68 views
Possible combinations in the Meiosis' Telophase 1
As you might already know
Meiosis is the process in eukaryotic, sexually-reproducing animals that reduces the number of chromosomes in a cell before reproduction $^{[1]}$
One of the reasons why ...
1
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1answer
25 views
Repopullation after a mass extinction [duplicate]
Is it possible to restart the whole human species with less than 10 individual.
let say that the whole human species was wipe out of the surface of the earth by a catastrophe only 8 different couple ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
What is the difference between Regulatory Gene and Modifier Gene?
If both controls the expression of another gene by physically or genetically interacting with the target gene, which attributes make "Regulatory gene" different from "Modifier gene" or vice-versa?
0
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0answers
50 views
The Viceroy Evolution Paradox [duplicate]
The viceroy butterfly generates a toxin compound which make it distasteful to predators. Biologists agree that the viceroy must have developed this trait as a passive defence mechanism to prevent ...
9
votes
2answers
468 views
What was the biological mechanism that allowed Tarrare to eat so much?
Are there any conjectured mechanisms that cause Tarrare's extremely oversized stomach and abdominal cavity? Along with his superhuman appetite of course. Whether from a medical perspective or a ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Interpretation of genetic results
Result of genetic testing indicated: c.341del, p.Thr114Lysfs*37.
The c.341del probably means:deletion at the cDNA 341 nucleotide.
Buy what does the second part:p.Thr114Lysfs*37 ?
2
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0answers
129 views
what is the difference between homozygous and heterozygous duplication?
In a genetic test result it's written
homozygous duplication
or
heterozygous duplication
Does it mean four copies of the ...
1
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0answers
71 views
Does the law of independent assortment apply to homologous chromosomes or alleles, or both?
My textbook is giving me two definitions
1st def: "random orientation of homologous chromosomes at the metaphase plate in meiosis 1."
2nd def: "alleles for one gene separate into gametes ...
0
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1answer
64 views
How do biologists discover information from fossils? [closed]
I have a query about the study of fossils (palaeontology). Let me know about the study of fossils. How do biologist discover "DNA" information from dead and old fossils such as a dinosaur? (answer ...
0
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0answers
20 views
What are the issues with excessive tandem repeats in replication?
Why is it that tandem repeats like CAGCAGCAG cause primer-template misalignment and diseases like Huntingtons disease? By my understanding, too many such repeats can cause strands to form hairpins and ...
0
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1answer
202 views
Do all gene mutations in pathogens lead to more harmful consequences for humans?
It seems that the concern we always hear is that bacteria and viruses mutate to dodge our treatments either through random mutations or survival of the fittest. Do harmful living things ever mutate to ...
0
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1answer
93 views
Can I train my non-dominant hand and make it dominant?
Are our dominant limbs decided on birth or is there some way in which I can train my non-dominant hand and make it as coordinated as my dominant?
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1answer
87 views
Is evolution theory falsifiable by whether mutations result in a loss or gain of genetic information? [closed]
If I understand the theory correctly, evolution revolves around the process of adaptation of a being to its environment which results in the increment of survival and reproduction chances for that ...
0
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1answer
38 views
What does Ercc1-/- / DAT-Cre+ mean?
I really need to know what Ercc1-/- / DAT-Cre+ mean. I think the 1st part means that the mice don't have the Ercc1 gene (knockout). But what about DAT-Cre+?
This question arised from reading the ...
1
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1answer
84 views
Why not self pollination for finding the genotype instead of test cross?
Test cross can tell us what's the genotype of a plant is. But we can know that even by self pollinating the plant. For example,
If a garden pea plant has the genotype TT, then self pollinating them ...
0
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1answer
40 views
How are mitochondrial diseases like MERRF inherited?
I am doing a project on the disorder MERRF in Mitochondrial DNA. I have to make a pedigree and explain how it is transferred on from generation to generation. I know that it is inherited maternally, ...
2
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0answers
58 views
What are the different types of SNPs?
When I search for this online I get answers such as substitutions, deletions, insertions etc. But I mean in the sense that I have been reading different terms infront of the word SNP such as: lead SNP,...
0
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1answer
55 views
How can inbreeding be used for selecting mutations?
I understand that inbreeding, after a number of generations of crossing genetically related individuals eventually yields homozygotes, however I can't seem to understand how it can be used for ...
4
votes
3answers
152 views
What makes an E.coli an E.coli, genotype or phenotype?
According to this paper, among 61 strains of E. coli they studied only 6% of the genes are common in all. Which means that the overwhelming majority of the genes are not shared.
And wikipedia ...
1
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1answer
42 views
Have there been new discoveries concerning the perception of taste for the last 10 years? [closed]
What are the last discoveries concerning the perception of taste for the last 10 years?
We discovered the 5th flavour: umami.
Also the 6th and 7th: oleogustus and starchy.
Anything else?
Maybe in ...
6
votes
1answer
142 views
Are all genetic disorders inherited?
I know that genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis are often passed down through generations and are therefore classified as genetic disorders, but if a mutation occurs spontaneously, which for ...
0
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1answer
73 views
Can environmental pressures affect genes in one generation? [duplicate]
Environmental pressures are the catalyst of evolution. Pushing a species to adapt to changes therein. My question is can these mechanisms cause significant adaptation over one generation(parent-> ...
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1answer
52 views
What impedes the understanding of genotype/phenotype relationship without statistics? [closed]
Most genetic research tries to establish a relationship between a certain genotype and certain phenotype.
To me this is like trying to understand a system as a black box, where you try to establish ...
1
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0answers
22 views
What genes in a plant determine whether a stem is erect or climbing?
I was randomly reading this Wiki article on Jasmine and this question crossed my mind after reading the following lines:
Jasmine can be either deciduous (leaves falling in autumn) or evergreen (...
1
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1answer
104 views
What exactly does the phrase “chimerical sharing” mean in this abstract?
The Gizmodo article Australian Siblings Are Semi-Identical Twins, Some of the Rarest Humans Ever links to the new paper in NEJM Molecular Support for Heterogonesis Resulting in Sesquizygotic Twinning ...
0
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1answer
64 views
Inheritance of partly genetic conditions
Suppose Anne has a condition like OCD, that has a significant genetic component. Neither of Anne's parents have OCD, though. Does this mean that each of Anne's OCD genes were carried by at least one ...
3
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0answers
190 views
Regulation of LBD33 genes Arabidopsis. If LBD 33 gene is up-regulated by auxin then why does expression decrease when increasing auxin concentration?
I have a question regarding the regulation of lateral boundary domain genes in Arabidopsis (specifically LBD33). I am an undergraduate student trying to understand the results of a lab where I measure ...
5
votes
2answers
86 views
How do transgenic transformations cause off-target phenotypes?
I read that transgene insertions can cause off-target mutations that result in a phenotype being overly ascribed to the transgene, e.g. the increase of lifespan being ascribed to Sir2 overexpression (...
0
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1answer
37 views
What does (G+) (G++) in terms of male mutation rate and male-heterogametic XY-system?
What's the expression for $\alpha_m$ in case of male-heterogametic XY systems (G+)?
Derive the corresponding $\alpha_m$ expression of for (sic) male-heterogametic XY systems (G++)
I have ...
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0answers
97 views
Do primates have genetic predisposition to dominance hierarchies [closed]
I’m looking for some evidence to prove (or disprove) that primates are genetically predisposed to dominance hierarchies. I would appreciate any pointers/references to scientific literature.
PS:
The ...
1
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2answers
133 views
GEN file format, SNPs and alleles
I have a few questions I can't seem to get a straight answer to, regarding the .gen file format and also biology in general.
The ...
0
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0answers
16 views
How would you use PGAl to select for mutants of beta galcodosidase gene (z-) and permease (y-)?
How would you use PGAl to select mutants of beta galcodosidase gene (z-) and permease (y-)? Or do you just use PGAL to grow these mutants after you've isolated the mutant gene and inserted it into a ...
-1
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1answer
84 views
The organisms of the same species with a different number of chromosomes [closed]
I am looking for some specific creatures. The organisms of the same species that have different chromosome numbers. Just like male grasshopper (23 chromosomes) and female grasshopper (24 chromosomes).
...
1
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0answers
36 views
Projects in DNA Computing [closed]
I am physicist and have recently heard about DNA computing. I want to work in this area.
I want your ideas on a "feasible but new project" (maximum time I can put on the project: 6 Months ), I can ...
0
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1answer
52 views
Question regarding when it's a homoplasy in a phylogenetic tree
If you have 2 organisms that both come directly from the same common ancestor on a phylogenetic tree, and that common ancestor does not have trait "x", is it possible for both of its direct ...
1
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1answer
66 views
Would our body adapt to changes that are not in our DNA?
If a person was to undergo a treatment or surgery at a very young age, that significantly reduced their final height, would the rest of their body adjust to the sudden change? If not; because our arms’...
1
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2answers
97 views
Linked genes outcomes in offspring
This question is from a genetics session in my university:
The test cross between a plant with smooth and yellow seeds and a plant with wrinkled and green seeds gives the following results: 140 ...
