Advancements
Genetic disorders affect millions of people world-wide. Scientists have currently identified more than 4000 different genetic disorders.
There are four main types of genetic disorders. These include:
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single-gene
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multifactorial
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chromosomal
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mitochondrial
Single-gene disorders are caused by a defect in a single gene. Examples include Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis, and sickle cell anemia. Multifactorial disorders are caused by a combination of genes. Alzheimer's, heart disease and even cancer can be influenced by multifactorial disorders. Chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome, are caused by changes or replications of an entire chromosome. Finally, there are mitochondrial disorders in which the DNA of mitochondria, tiny organelles used in cell metabolism, become affected(Genetherapy).
Definition of Gene Splicing: Gene splicing is a post-transcriptional modification in which a single gene can code for multiple proteins. Gene Splicing is done in eukaryotes, prior to mRNA translation, by the differential inclusion or exclusion of regions of pre-mRNA. Gene splicing is an important source of protein diversity.
What is a Gene?
Figure 1: The above figure shows the normal disordered chromosomes.
Gene splicing is a form of genetic engineering where specific genes or gene sequences are inserted into the genome of a different organism. Gene splicing can also specifically refer to a step during the processing of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to prepare it to be translated into protein.
Genes are not expressed without the proper signals. Many genes can remain inactive. With the appropriate stimulation of gene expression, the cell can produce various proteins. The DNA must first be processed into a form that other molecules in the cell can recognize and translate it into the appropriate protein. Before DNA can be converted into protein, it must be transcribed into ribonucleic acid (RNA).
Figure 2: In the above figure is showing a simple example of gene splicing of them taking a section of DNA and adding it to another set of DNA.
There are three steps of RNA: splicing, capping, and polyadenylating. All of these steps help complete RNA trascription so it can exit the nucleus without being degraded. In order to appreciate the role splicing plays in how genes are expressed, it is important to understand how a gene changes into its functional form. Initially, RNA is called precursor RNA (or pre-RNA). Pre-RNAs are then further modified to other RNAs called transfer RNA (tRNA), ribosomal RNA (rRNA), or messenger RNA (mRNA).
This page was created and designed by Nick Cook