The term gene, first created by Danish botanist Wilhelm Johannsen in 1909, comes from the Greek word for origin, genos.
The number of genes in an organism's complete set of DNA, called a genome, varies from species to species. More complex organisms have more genes. A virus has a few hundred genes. Honeybees have about 15,000 genes. Scientists estimate that humans have around 25,000 genes.
Each gene has many parts. The protein-making instructions come from short sections called exons. Longer "nonsense" DNA, known as introns, flank the exons. Genes also include regulatory sequences. Although scientists don't fully understand their function, regulatory sequences help turn genes on.
Each gene helps determine different characteristics of an individual, such as nose shape. Full of information, genes pass similar traits from one generation to the next. That's how your cousin inherited grandpa's nose.
Peas in a pod
The "Father of Genetics," Gregor Mendel, was an Austrian monk who experimented with plants growing in his monastery. He studied inheritance in pea plants during the 1860s.
Mendel observed that when he bred plants that had green pea pods with plants that had yellow pea pods, all of the offspring had green pods. When Mendel bred the second generation with one another, some of the baby pods had green pods and some had yellow pods.
He discovered that a trait, or phenotype, could disappear in one generation and could reappear in a future generation.
Individuals have two copies of each gene, one inherited from each parent. Mendel explained how these copies interact to determine which trait is expressed.
In all peas there is a gene for pod color. The pod color gene has green and yellow versions, or alleles. Mendel's green pod alleles are dominant, and the yellow pod alleles are recessive. In order to express a recessive form of the trait (yellow), individuals must inherit recessive alleles from both parents.
A plant that inherits one green allele and one yellow allele will be green. But it can still pass the recessive yellow allele onto its offspring. That's how some of Mendel's pea pods came out yellow.
More to it
Human diseases such as sickle cell anemia are passed down in a similar way.
However, genetics don't always work so simply. Most genetics and instances of heredity are more complex than what Mendel saw in his garden.
It often takes more than a single gene to dictate a trait; and one gene can make instructions for more than trait. The environment, from the weather outside to an organism's body chemistry, plays a large role in dictating traits too.
Lactose Intolerance is inherited worldwide by about 75% of adults to some degree. About 90% of Asians are Lactose Intolerant and usually under 20% of Northern Europeans.
Most of the world's adults suffer, to some degree, from Lactose Intolerance. If your ancestors are mostly Northern Europeans you are not likely to not have a problem, or it is likely to be far less severe.
What can you do about it? Not much, other than avoid those products that affect you or find substitutes. If you think you aren't going to be affected this one time...don't try it. The good news is there are now over the counter medications, simple pills, you can take prior to having that ice cream that often reduces the affect, or in some cases you may not be affected at all. The problem is finding the one that works for you.
Blue Eyes
Did you think blue eyes were disappearing? Not so, they're only 6,000 to 10,000 years old. That's right....we all had brown eyes. This means people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor, according to new research.
The mutation occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago. Before then, there were no blue eyes. Originally, we all had brown eyes. That genetic switch somehow spread throughout Europe and now other parts of the world.
"The question really is, 'Why did we go from having nobody on Earth with blue eyes 10,000 years ago to having 20 or perhaps 40 percent of Europeans having blue eyes now?" It seems that blue eyed people do produce more children. Why?????
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
There is no missing Link
I don't know of anyone who has written about the fact that science is proving much of what is in the Bible. There comes a point where we have to understand that we simply do not know much about our past. Most families know little more than one or two generations and few have any clue as to the personality or nature of their ancestors.
I happen to believe that we did not evolve and, in fact, were quite civilized in the distant past. I'm not sure that the story of man is correct at all. If you study archaeology new civilizations are being discovered all the time and there is little explanation as to how they created what they did. Stonehenge is new, for instance, and pretty primitive compared to so many other older discoveries. The Bible is a guide for all of us. Exactly how we were created and when is the real mystery...but we were created.
The Bible states the Heavens and Earth. That may not mean just this planet. We're a long way off from knowing our true origins but we're getting there.
Humans are very different from other species [not a good word but okay]. There is no missing link because we were created in a very short time. Even the Scientific community has concluded, based on their own findings, that we took quite a jump in a very short time but that's because we are not in the evolutionary line like other creatures.
Evolution exists .....but not in us. The only evolution, in our case, is we're beginning to learn what we have forgotten and that is not evolution but regaining memory. At least that's my theory. You have to wonder why our brain can contain more than we use. We are moving so fast technologically that it is baffling.
I happen to believe that we did not evolve and, in fact, were quite civilized in the distant past. I'm not sure that the story of man is correct at all. If you study archaeology new civilizations are being discovered all the time and there is little explanation as to how they created what they did. Stonehenge is new, for instance, and pretty primitive compared to so many other older discoveries. The Bible is a guide for all of us. Exactly how we were created and when is the real mystery...but we were created.
The Bible states the Heavens and Earth. That may not mean just this planet. We're a long way off from knowing our true origins but we're getting there.
Humans are very different from other species [not a good word but okay]. There is no missing link because we were created in a very short time. Even the Scientific community has concluded, based on their own findings, that we took quite a jump in a very short time but that's because we are not in the evolutionary line like other creatures.
Evolution exists .....but not in us. The only evolution, in our case, is we're beginning to learn what we have forgotten and that is not evolution but regaining memory. At least that's my theory. You have to wonder why our brain can contain more than we use. We are moving so fast technologically that it is baffling.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
You want me to prove there is a GOD? Okay!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Written by Ernest Hatton Jr.
Science is proving there is a God. Instead of being fearful of people who, at this time, claim there is no God we should be confident and assured in our own beliefs. There ARE facts. Each day that passes genetics is proving the story of humans as it links us together [all of us regardless of the religion we practice]. Science once claimed there were eight Eves and then one. That we are descended from one woman. The story of man lies in our DNA and science is proving what we believe.
Were Scientists trying to prove that the ancient stories and the Bible were factual? Of course not... but they have. We are foolish to have so little faith that we cannot feel secure in what we believe no matter how many have to have proof. The proof is coming and it is through science.
Our failure is that we have complicated a simple story told down through the ages by letting man create dogma that is confusing. Instead of keeping our story simple and guided by ten laws we have pitted ourselves against each other by various complicated interpretations of that very simple story.
Then we confuse matters, even more, by failing to realize that everything we believe may not have happened at an exact time and maybe there are parts of our story that are missing. Being insecure about our faith we feel we have to prove everything, or that others have to accept each and every detail.
There are certain truths, which are proven fact. We descended from one woman and science agrees. Many call her Eve. We did not evolve and there is no missing link because man was created in the image of God so we know pretty much what God looked like. How do we know there was no missing link...because the evidence weighs heavy that we did not evolve from another species. Maybe we can't prove every little detail but the proof of the Bible story is there and science has proven the main tenants of that story. We know that the world once had a great flood and so much more.
We've failed to know and tell our story? We haven't been listening as science tells it for us. The destruction of Christianity can only happen if we continue to distance ourselves from other Christians, if we continue to let man muddy the story with his own additions and interpretations of an easily understood story. We are our own worst enemies and it is us who are restricting free thought as we try to control the thought of others because we are not secure in our faith.
We are striking out, we are defaming others, we are not turning the other cheek, we are willing to lie or cheat the minute we leave our places of worship, and we allow and even embrace, the destruction of another's reputation. I have witnessed the wickedness of us and then we wonder why others don't embrace our religious beliefs. It's not complicated....we don't practice them!
We are a confused lot and if we continue our numbers will certainly decrease. We cannot hate and expect others to embrace our religion. Look at our uncivil nation. We are divided by politics and religion and I think we are ignorant about both. We can't have a conversation or listen to other views all because of us...not the Bible or Religion... but because of our many and various interpretations of both and an unwillingness to listen to others.
We have decided which Christians are really Christians and who is going to hell. All because we are not speaking directly to God but instead listening to another person interpret what we should believe.
We don't know our history, which mirrors a lot of what is happening today. We don't know that our founders were not perfect. In fact, just the opposite at times. Still they accomplished great things.
I think we need to judge ourselves and then perhaps others will see the light.
Written by Ernest Hatton Jr.
Science is proving there is a God. Instead of being fearful of people who, at this time, claim there is no God we should be confident and assured in our own beliefs. There ARE facts. Each day that passes genetics is proving the story of humans as it links us together [all of us regardless of the religion we practice]. Science once claimed there were eight Eves and then one. That we are descended from one woman. The story of man lies in our DNA and science is proving what we believe.
Were Scientists trying to prove that the ancient stories and the Bible were factual? Of course not... but they have. We are foolish to have so little faith that we cannot feel secure in what we believe no matter how many have to have proof. The proof is coming and it is through science.
Our failure is that we have complicated a simple story told down through the ages by letting man create dogma that is confusing. Instead of keeping our story simple and guided by ten laws we have pitted ourselves against each other by various complicated interpretations of that very simple story.
Then we confuse matters, even more, by failing to realize that everything we believe may not have happened at an exact time and maybe there are parts of our story that are missing. Being insecure about our faith we feel we have to prove everything, or that others have to accept each and every detail.
There are certain truths, which are proven fact. We descended from one woman and science agrees. Many call her Eve. We did not evolve and there is no missing link because man was created in the image of God so we know pretty much what God looked like. How do we know there was no missing link...because the evidence weighs heavy that we did not evolve from another species. Maybe we can't prove every little detail but the proof of the Bible story is there and science has proven the main tenants of that story. We know that the world once had a great flood and so much more.
We've failed to know and tell our story? We haven't been listening as science tells it for us. The destruction of Christianity can only happen if we continue to distance ourselves from other Christians, if we continue to let man muddy the story with his own additions and interpretations of an easily understood story. We are our own worst enemies and it is us who are restricting free thought as we try to control the thought of others because we are not secure in our faith.
We are striking out, we are defaming others, we are not turning the other cheek, we are willing to lie or cheat the minute we leave our places of worship, and we allow and even embrace, the destruction of another's reputation. I have witnessed the wickedness of us and then we wonder why others don't embrace our religious beliefs. It's not complicated....we don't practice them!
We are a confused lot and if we continue our numbers will certainly decrease. We cannot hate and expect others to embrace our religion. Look at our uncivil nation. We are divided by politics and religion and I think we are ignorant about both. We can't have a conversation or listen to other views all because of us...not the Bible or Religion... but because of our many and various interpretations of both and an unwillingness to listen to others.
We have decided which Christians are really Christians and who is going to hell. All because we are not speaking directly to God but instead listening to another person interpret what we should believe.
We don't know our history, which mirrors a lot of what is happening today. We don't know that our founders were not perfect. In fact, just the opposite at times. Still they accomplished great things.
I think we need to judge ourselves and then perhaps others will see the light.
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