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Genes play a key part in determining physical characteristics such as how we look and a variety of other characteristics.
They contain data that defines who you are and how you appear, such as curly or straight hair, long or short legs, and even how you smile or laugh. Many of these traits are passed down through the generations in a family.
Genes (pronounced jeenz) play a key part in determining physical characteristics such as how we look and a variety of other characteristics. They contain data that defines who you are and how you appear, such as curly or straight hair, long or short legs and even how you smile or laugh. Many of these traits are passed down through the generations in a family.
What Exactly Is a Gene?
Traits (say: trates) are aspects or characteristics that are passed down to you — or inherited — from your parents, and are determined by genes. Each human cell has between 25,000 and 35,000 genes.
If both of your parents have green eyes, for example, you may acquire this characteristic from them. If your mother has freckles, you may have them as well since you got the freckle gene. Genes are found not only in humans, but also in animals and plants.
What happened to these crucial genes?
They’re so little that you can’t see them. Chromosomes are microscopic spaghetti-like structures that contain genes (say: KRO-moh-somes). Chromosomes can also be discovered inside cells. There are billions of cells in your body. All living organisms are made up of cells, which are very little units. A cell is so small that it can only be seen with a powerful microscope.
There are hundreds — often thousands — of genes on a single chromosome, which comes in matching sets of two (or pairs). DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid makes up chromosomes and genes.
How Do Genes Function?
Each gene has a specific function. A gene’s DNA contains particular instructions for producing proteins.Proteins are the fundamental components of your body. Proteins make up bones and teeth, hair and earlobes, muscles and blood. These proteins assist our bodies in growing, functioning effectively and remaining healthy. According to current estimates, each gene in the body can produce up to ten distinct proteins. That amounts to around 300,000 proteins!
Genes, like chromosomes, come in pairs. Each of your parents has two copies of each of their genes, but each parent only passes on one copy of each gene to you. Many of your characteristics, such as hair colour and skin colour, are determined by genes passed down to you.
Scientists are very busy investigating genes when there are problems with them. They want to know what proteins are produced by each gene and what those proteins accomplish. They also want to know what diseases are caused by malfunctioning genes. Mutations are the result of changes in genes. Researchers believe that mutations may have a role in lung disease, cancer and a variety of other ailments. Other ailments and health issues arise when genes or chromosomes are missing or have extra components.
Some of these genetic disorders can be passed down from parents. Consider the gene that aids in the production of haemoglobin Hemoglobin is a protein that red blood cells use to transport oxygen throughout the body. If parents pass on faulty haemoglobin genes to their children, the children may only be able to produce a type of haemoglobin that isn’t functional. Anemia is a condition in which a person’s healthy red blood cells are in short supply. One type of anemia that is passed down through the generations is sickle cell anemia.
How Does Gene Therapy Work?
Gene therapy is a relatively young field of medicine, with scientists still conducting tests to discover if it works. It employs genetic engineering technology to treat an illness caused by a gene that has been altered in some way. Replacement of sick genes with healthy genes is one way being researched. Gene therapy studies and other research could lead to new ways to treat or perhaps prevent many diseases.
Conclusion
Gene therapy is a relatively young field of medicine, with scientists still conducting tests to discover if it works. It employs genetic engineering technology to treat an illness caused by a gene that has been altered in some way. Replacement of sick genes with healthy genes is one way being researched.
Each gene has a specific function. A gene’s DNA contains particular instructions for producing proteins in the cell, much like a cookbook recipe. Proteins are the fundamental components of your body. Proteins make up bones and teeth, hair and earlobes, muscles and blood. These proteins assist our bodies in growing, functioning effectively and remaining healthy. According to current estimates, each gene in the body can produce up to ten distinct proteins. That amounts to around 300,000 proteins!
