DNA LAB (online)

Part 1. Your Personal Chromosome

1.       My chromosome was number 6.The  eight genes on my chromosome are:

1. Hemochromatosis is a disorder of iron metabolism wherein the body retains excess iron.  Excess iron is deposited in a variety of organs leading to their failure, and resulting in serious illnesses including cirrhosis, hepatomas, diabetes, cardiomyopathy, arthritis, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

2. Opioid Receptor Gene encodes the opioid receptor which is the primary site of action for the most commonly used opioids including morphine, heroine and methadone. This receptor is a membrane of the g-protein coupled protein receptor family.

3. Estrogen receptor is a ligand –activated transcription factor composed of several domains important for hormone binding, DNA binding. It is also responsible for alternate splicing results in several ESRI, Mrna transcripts.

4. Connective tissue growth factor: The protein encoded by this gene is a mitogen that is secreted by vascular endothelial cells. The protein plays a role in cell adhesion in many cell types and is related to platelet derived growth factor.

5. Tumor Necrosis Factor is a multifunctional pro inflammatory cytokine secreted mostly by monocytes and macrophages. The primary role of TNF is the regulation of immune cells.

6. Advanced glycosylation end product is an important receptor for the amyloid beta peptide and it increases in Alzheimer’s disease. This protein is increased in neurons close to deposits of amyloid beta peptides and to neurofibrillary tangles.

7. Vascular endothelial growth factor is produced by many cell types including tumor cells, macrophages, Platelets, keratinocytes and renal mesangial cells.  They also play a role in normal physiological functions such as bone formation, wound healing and development.

8. Interlukin is a pro inflammatory cytokine that is secreted primarily by activated T cells and that has been implicated in several inflammatory diseases. It also stimulates a variety of cells to produce inflammatory mediators.

Genes cite source: "DNA Interactive: Discovering the DNA Structure and beyond." DNA Interactive: Discovering the DNA Structure and beyond. Web. 4 Apr. 2015. <http://www.dnai.org/>.

Pick one favorite of these eight genes.

1.       I found all the genes that I researched were really interesting. They all play an interesting role in our chromosomes. I did find that the one I seemed to relate to is the estrogen receptor and the different conditions that involve the gene like Breast cancer and artherosclerosis.