Module 7 Molecular Genetics

Read

Scientists from around the world have worked together on the Human Genome Project. This was a true collaboration involving contributions from the US, the UK, Japan, France, Germany, China, Canada and other countries.

The goal of the project was to identify the 3-billion nucleotide base pairs that make up the human genome. The project took 13 years (less then the estimated 15 years, due to technology advances) and ended in 2003. The result would be a “sourcebook” for medical science and to eventually help understand and treat over 4000 genetic diseases. The image below shows the human chromosome #1 and the genes that the 246 million base pairs code for! And this is just one chromosome! How else could this be useful knowledge? Some of the potential and current beneficial applications of this project include:

• molecular medicine
• energy sources and environmental applications
• risk assessment
• bioarchaeology, anthropology, evolution, and human migration
• DNA forensics (identification)
• agriculture, livestock breeding, and bioprocessing

In this lesson we will be concentrating on the evolutionary and DNA forensics applications of the findings of Human Genome Project. If you would like further information on the other beneficial applications mentioned above, go to the website and follow the link to “Human Genome Project Information” or do a search for “human genome project” on the Internet.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs (http://genomics.energy.gov)

Watch and Listen

Watch the following video about the Human Genome Project. This video explains the project’s goals, benefits, issues/concerns, and it also introduces the DNA fingerprinting, which will be discussed in the next read section. As you watch, create a list of all of the benefits and drawback/concerns associated with the Human Genome Project. Place this list in your course folder for future reference. Contact your instructor to obtain a username and password required to access the video.

Discuss

Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs (http://genomics.energy.gov)

This image is one of the many posters used to promote the Human Genome Project. The poster describes the areas or fields that will be impacted by the knowledge gained from the Human Genome Project. Choose another of these fields, other than forensics and evolution, to research. You can use this website and follow the link to “Human Genome Project Information” or do your own search on the Internet. Find out how the Human Genome Project (HGP) will, or has, impacted the field of study you have chosen. Create a one-paragraph discussion posting to share with students in your class. Discuss benefits and any disadvantages associated with the use of the HGP information.

Read

The video in the above Watch and Listen section described the process and uses of DNA fingerprinting. Review the tool of DNA fingerprinting, gel electrophoresis, by reading pages 649 and 650 of your textbook.

Self-Check

Through the video and reading above you should now know that DNA fingerprinting has many uses. The most well known use is the identification of criminals in forensics labs. Lesser known uses for DNA fingerprinting are: the identification of harmful strains of bacteria, the diagnosis of inherited disorders, management of wildlife genetic variation, and even the identification of the exact grapes used in a wine. The uses for this technology are endless. Another use of this technology is to help identify relationships between human beings. Given that half of the nuclear DNA of a child originates from the mother, and the other half is from the father, this information and this technology can be used to identify biological parents.

Read the “Thought Lab” titled "Reading a DNA Fingerprint" on p. 651. Answer the Analysis Questions to test your knowledge of DNA fingerprinting. Check your answers with the solutions linked below.