Jul 23, 2008: What could possibly cause a chromosome disorder like trisomy 18? I understand how it happens, but are there environmental factors that can cause the presence of an extra chromosome? Jul 10, 2008: Do boys have different genes than girls? Jul 02, 2008: Has there been any research about people who are fortunate to have very low cholesterol levels? My mother and I both have numbers in the low 120's from year to year, although both of us really do not do anything special as far as diet goes. I love butter and greasy potato chips! Is there any downside to a low cholesterol level? Jun 26, 2008: Do we know how genetics affect survivability? I know several people who have had medical conditions that were expected to be fatal, yet were not. Is it possible that along with the tendency towards certain diseases or bodily malfunctions could the ability to resist the symptoms also be inherited? It occurs to me that the fact that the gene is indeed passed on to future generations is only possible due to an ability for its carriers to live long enough to pass on the defective gene. Jun 19, 2008: How could you make a lab designed gene? Is it possible? Jun 11, 2008: Can you tell other relationships from a paternity test?
Let’s say a man was tested for paternity of a child and the result was 99.99996%, and the man’s brother was tested for paternity of the same child and it came out 0%. Could you still compare the results on paper and tell if the child, man and brother were related only by looking at the results on paper and not doing another test? Jun 05, 2008: I have read that aging happens when genes go bad over time. If human genes did not undergo deterioration, would humans live indefinitely? May 29, 2008: I am curious if there is any evidence that a gene is more likely to be passed on if it is turned on. Also, is an on gene more likely to be affected by mutation? May 22, 2008: Is bi-polar disorder transmitted genetically? Is this considered the only way to get the disease? What are the odds of transmissions to future generations? May 15, 2008: What genetic influences occur in utero with fraternal twins of opposite sexes? Does the male’s testosterone have an effect on the developing female and vice versa? I seem to be ambidextrous with some tasks and my index finger is shorter than my ring finger. May 08, 2008: You stated in an earlier answer that human chromosome 2 is made up of two fused chromosomes from the common human-chimp ancestor. This fused chromosome then spread throughout the human population. Could common design be an alternative explanation? What specifically RULES out common design for the fused chromosome? May 02, 2008: I have been reading a lot lately about all of these new genetic tests that are becoming available. What are the kinds of tests that are out there? When should someone get one of these genetic tests? Apr 23, 2008: What does it mean to get a positive result on a genetic test? Apr 10, 2008: What kind of GMOs are currently on the American market? And what are they spliced from? Apr 03, 2008: Can cancer be cured with gene therapy? Mar 27, 2008: I assume genes control everything about me, including my moods. Can my genes be modified to make me more happy, better able to succeed, better able to meet goals I might set for myself? Mar 20, 2008: What causes the alleles in the genes to be turned off in certain areas of the body where they are not needed? Mar 13, 2008: Would you please tell me if chromosome number is a factor in identifying and distinguishing species? Why is the chromosome number of a potato and a chimpanzee the same? Mar 06, 2008: I have identical twin boys. Both wear glasses for severe farsightedness, one has been found to have astigmatism. What are the chances that his brother will also have one? I understand from your information that their genetics are the same but would this be included? Feb 28, 2008: If we are predisposed through our genetic blueprint to certain illnesses, diseases, then what is the point in taking remedial action to prevent these? Does the process of, say, reducing our cholesterol intake change the inherited DNA through the mutation process? If not, then what is the point in reducing our cholesterol? We're destined to die of a heart attack so we might as well eat what we like. The same applies to that worrying disease Alzheimer's. We are told if we exercise our minds, study a foreign language (which I am in reading about Genetics) it will help to prevent the disease. Yet, if it is encoded in our DNA how can this be changed? Feb 21, 2008: Does meditation have the potential to alter the gene structure, especially in case of any damage? Similarly, does walking (or other aerobics) change the gene structure in any way? Feb 14, 2008: I was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes ten years ago at age 40, but was able to control it with diet, exercise, and oral meds until this year. I am now using "emergency" insulin injections (Humolog) in conjunction with my meals. Is there any hope that stem cell research might have an effect on this disease? Feb 07, 2008: I want to determine if my next child have asthma. I have 2 children, 1 has asthma and one does not, my husband and I both had childhood asthma. Is it possible to study my genes and those of my spouse to determine the chances of my child having asthma? Feb 01, 2008: My daughter is allergic to nuts, are there any new developments to cure the allergy? Jan 24, 2008: My parents are both lactose intolerant. Does that mean when I grow up I will be lactose intolerant? Jan 17, 2008: If your parents are a certain weight, what is the chance you will be the same? Jan 10, 2008: Have scientists been able to link certain genes to eating disorders? Dec 19, 2007: I am a mother of two boys, 3 years and 8 months. My husband has dark brown hair and brown eyes and I have light brown hair and blue eyes and both our boys have red hair. We can trace red hair back two generations, but it skipped our parents and us. How does this happen? Dec 17, 2007: My boyfriend and I have the same last name, and it has become an issue. We actually share an ancestor from 23 generations ago. Should we be concerned about having a child with a birth defect or be concerned about any other issues because we are from the same lineage? Dec 12, 2007: Incest laws seem to be socially rather than genetically based, but I’m guessing there are biological consequences too. So what are the exact genetic risks of two siblings having a child together? Dec 06, 2007: What causes changes in DNA? Do accumulative changes in DNA lead to evolution? Could you explain that process to me. How does the DNA know that it needs to adapt? It is my understanding that the germ cells that pass traits to the next generation are isolated from the cells that are affected by the environment. How does that knowledge and or adaptation get passed to the next generation? Nov 30, 2007: The field of evo-devo has started showing that big evolutionary changes can happen with only limited genetic changes. Changes in genes that control the expression of other genes can have dramatic effects on an organism. A small change in the expression of one protein can create a much larger and different beak in a bird, for example. So evolution does not require invention of entirely new genes -- just tinkering with expression of the ones already in existence.
Question: Is there any indication that these control genes might be unusually susceptible to mutation? Or maybe there are lots more versions of these control genes, creating more places for selection to act on? If so, this would help explain why evolution sometimes occurs very rapidly. Nov 16, 2007: I have a cleft chin, should all my children have one too? It is a dominant gene, right? Nov 08, 2007: Why do people sneeze when they look into the sun? Nov 01, 2007: Can a genetic test tell if my adopted daughter's father is African American? Oct 25, 2007: Is it already possible to have a check of my genes just for prevention? Where? Thank you Oct 18, 2007: What is the latest research on the genetics of Multiple Sclerosis? Oct 11, 2007: Is cancer inherited? Oct 04, 2007: Why is it that older women are more likely to have babies with complications like Down syndrome than younger women? Sep 27, 2007: Your article on chimeras had me enthralled, but could you please explain more in depth how it is possible for 2 zygotes to fuse and actually what should have been two people ends up as one? Shouldn't this be impossible? Sep 21, 2007: Are gray eyes the same as blue in terms of genetics? Sep 14, 2007: I'm curious what is known in regards to DNA about Tourette syndrome. Is it known if this gene is recessive or dominant? Sep 06, 2007: I am blue-eyed, red-haired, fair-skinned and freckled. I am marrying a brown-eyed, black-haired, brown-skinned Indian man. My friend was joking that I would have a kid with dark skin, blue eyes, red hair and freckles. After thinking about it though, I wonder, what will the skin of my children look like? I am guessing brown, but what about the freckles? I have read that they are a dominant trait. What are the odds of freckles coming through? Aug 29, 2007: If evolutionary theories hold true, how did the leap from 24 to 23 chromosome pairs occur from 'apes' to humans? How is it possible for two chromosomes to merge into one, and for the resulting species to survive to breed? Jul 19, 2007: I have heard that the MTHFR mutation can affect whether a woman has a baby with Down syndrome or not. I have also heard that taking folic acid can help. Does the MTHFR mutation also affect men? Can they benefit from extra folic acid as well? Jul 11, 2007: Why is it that some alleles are dominant, and some are recessive!? I have been looking EVERYWHERE and all I find is what, not WHY. Why is an allele dominant or recessive? Jun 28, 2007: I read your article entitled "Don't it make your brown eyes blue? Blue eyes are caused by changes in the OCA2 gene" and found it extremely interesting. I have another combination to throw into the mix. Can you explain the genetics of an individual with one blue eye and one brown eye? David Bowie is one of these individuals. Jun 20, 2007: Why can't mules breed? I understand that a horse and a donkey make a mule but why can't 2 mules have a baby mule? Jun 13, 2007: Are peanut allergies genetic? Jun 08, 2007: I was born without wisdom teeth and my father was as well. My mother, brother, and sister all had them removed. Have my dad and I evolved or would this just be considered a genetic mutation? May 25, 2007: My dad and I want to settle something. Are baldness and other generally male traits caused by dominant genes on the Y chromosome, or recessive genes on the X chromosome? May 18, 2007: I read the posting on how it is possible for 2 non-tongue rolling parents to have a child that can roll his tongue. Prior to reading your web site posting, I stumbled across an article in the April '07 edition of Men's Health. The article was discussing Paternal Discrepancy and stated that one of the "tale-tell" signs was tongue rolling.
I immediately started wondering about my own child. I have no other reason to doubt that I am not his biological father. Neither my wife nor I can roll our tongues, yet my child can. Most of my child’s other genetic traits are the same as mine, and my wife shares a lot of those as well, i.e. Blonde hair, blue eyes, etc...
The article in Men's Health said that 4% of fathers in the U.S. are unknowingly raising a child that is not theirs. I have not mentioned this to my wife, but it is keeping me up at night. Should I pay $100 for a paternity DNA test, or should I just not worry with it at all? May 18, 2007: Why is the combination of red hair and brown eyes so rare? May 03, 2007: I once read that Propecia works by means of gene transcription. What does this mean? Can Propecia alter a person's genes? Apr 26, 2007: What is known about the genetics of schizophrenia? And the genes involved? Are there any genetic tests available? Apr 19, 2007: I am a girl and would like to know if I am at risk for breast cancer. Does it come genetically or it is mostly from the food that you eat in everyday life? Apr 05, 2007: I am a comic book fanatic. So I was wondering what it would take to develop a "super power". Is it possible to develop one using genetic engineering? Mar 30, 2007: How do we know that evolution isn't a hoax? Mar 23, 2007: I believe that I have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and I think it is a result of the alcohol and tobacco use of my mother while she was pregnant with me. If that is true, is it also true that it is now a part of my genetic make-up and something that my children can inherit? Mar 16, 2007: I was looking at a Wikipedia article on Chromosome 1. I was perusing the list of genes on Chromosome 1 and ran across these:
GLC1A: gene for glaucoma
HPC1: gene for prostate cancer
Do these genes have no other purpose than to trigger illness? Mar 09, 2007: My grandfather lived to be 95. My mother is 80 and in good health. what are my chances of reaching that age? Mar 02, 2007: How can stem cell research benefit people suffering from multiple sclerosis? Feb 23, 2007: I want to know how much more dangerous is cloned food than the current genetically modified food? I'm scared of eating it. Feb 15, 2007: Why are some chromosomal abnormalities more devastating than others? For example Trisomy 13 versus xyy. I figure it has to do something with the genes located on those chromosomes but what genes on those chromosomes make it so devastating to have extra copies? Feb 09, 2007: I recently read Natalie Dye's response to a question about chimera DNA. As A Crime Scene Investigator and instructor this piqued my interest and has me wondering about DNA as it relates to bone marrow transplants. Would a person who receives a bone marrow transplant essentially now have two potential sources of DNA, the original pre-existing in the body’s cells and now another from the donor cells of the bone marrow? Feb 02, 2007: I have two identical twin male cousins, let's call them Cousin A and Cousin B. Cousin A is able to have children but Cousin B is not. If Cousin A was to donate sperm to Cousin B's wife, would the child share the same DNA as Cousin B? Would the child have some of the same traits as Cousin B (such as hair, eyes, and height)? Would a paternity test be able to distinguish if Cousin A or Cousin B is the father? Jan 25, 2007: Related to the handedness question: Can you discuss some of the new research that indicates left-handedness appears to be associated with in utero levels of testosterone and genetics? Jan 19, 2007: I recently had my mtDNA done and was determined to be U1a. I was
wondering where to find more information about this subgroup of U. We seem to be few in number. Also my husband was found to be a U8 and I find even less about them. Jan 11, 2007: I’ve seen a few movies where dinosaurs are cloned using “state-of-the-art” techniques. Are any of these scenarios possible? Are they biologically realistic? Dec 20, 2006: How is it possible that I have blue eyes when my father has brown and my mother green? My grandma on my dad’s side had blues and ONE of my uncles does, as well, but I don't know how I got the gene for blue if my Dad's genotype is Bb and my mother's is Bg. Dec 15, 2006: Due to slight changes in their genetic makeup, bacteria have been able to successfully develop antibiotic resistance. Would it be possible for humans to develop this kind of resistance as well? Could we make this process work for us and become resistant to, for example, the mutations caused by cigarette smoke or UV light? Dec 08, 2006: Why am I always hungry and therefore overeat? Is there a genetic component to our appetites? Nov 30, 2006: Hello, is it possible for the results of a DNA paternity test to be wrong and in what circumstances might this happen? Nov 17, 2006: If both the father and mother of a child have the blood type B, what possible blood types could the baby have? And, while we’re at it, what are all the possible blood types for any combination of parents? Nov 10, 2006: Is there a possibility of using stem cells from a relative’s umbilical cord to use for spinal cord cell cure treatment? I saved my niece’s umbilical cord last year hoping there would be a day to use for a cure for my spinal cord injury or if my niece ever has a use for it. Nov 03, 2006: I have the A Negative (A-) blood type. My mother has the A Positive (A+) blood type, and my father has the O Positive (O+) blood type. So, how can I have the A- blood type if both of my parents are + blood type? Could I have gotten my blood type from one of my grandparents? Oct 27, 2006: I am descended from Eastern European Ashkenazi Jews, which are known to be at a much higher risk than all other groups to have genetic mutations and are carriers for diseases such as Tay Sachs and Cystic Fibrosis. They also have a higher risk than the general population of other diseases such as breast cancer, PCOS and diabetes.
I am extremely curious to find out, what did my ancestors do to develop such gene mutations and diseases? Did marrying close relatives cause it? I doubt it because Sefardi Jews also marry often within family and don't have any of the above diseases.
Is it possible for the current generation to cure the mutations or at least prevent it from spreading? Oct 20, 2006: Why do I have freckles? Oct 13, 2006: It seems to me that there are a lot more twins around these days. Is this true? Do scientists know why this is? Oct 06, 2006: All my life I have believed that as humans, we are slowly but surely through the evolutionary process losing our pinky fingers, much in the same way we lost our tails.
My 16-yr-old daughter mentioned it to her Anthropolgy/Sociology/Psychology teacher. He asked her to bring in an article supporting the idea; he'd never heard that being postulated before.
I've spent HOURS looking on the 'Net -- nothing! Many vague references, hundreds of message board posts that make reference to it, but not one article, not one paper, nothing, that either supports or refutes the idea.
I would have thought that our DNA would have mutated to accommodate unnecessary/disused functions of our corporal selves and gotten rid of anything excess. No? Sep 29, 2006: My father has common baldness problem. I am having it too. What are the chances of my kids having the same problem? Sep 22, 2006: When will doctors automatically map your genetic profile so that your treatment to future illnesses can be more accurate and the prevention of serious disease will be accelerated? Sep 15, 2006: I was wondering how it is possible that I ended up with one ear lobe clearly attached, and the other clearly unattached. I have read all about the dominant gene process etc., but it never seems to address how you end up with one of each.
This was first noticed when I got my ears pierced at age 5, in 1978. The lady who pierced my ears was one of the only people in the area who did ear piercing, and therefore had seen many ear lobes before mine, but she had never seen one attached, and one loose or unattached. She was very surprised, and I have always wondered about it, since to this day I have never met anyone else with two different ear lobes, at least not that I noticed. Sep 08, 2006: My husband has bright orangey red hair with thick tight curls. I have stick straight Auburn hair (although as a child it went from a light strawberry blonde to a flaming red orange, slowly darkening to my auburn colour). I've heard that 2 redheads can only have redheaded children. So far, seems true - although all are different. Our first has soft curls, bright orange. Our second has straight, auburn. Our third really straight, light strawberry blonde. If we have more will they be redheads too? Why the variations in shades? Is it true 2 redheads can only have redheads? Sep 01, 2006: Does the dominant allele for a given trait show up as the prevalent phenotype in the population at large? For example, the presence of dimples is controlled by a dominant allele, but the majority of people do not have dimples. Why is this? Aug 24, 2006: Is it possible to identify a racial origin such as Native American? Aug 17, 2006: Why is it that there is a T base to complement an A base in DNA, but a U base in the case of RNA? Aug 10, 2006: Why when a fish goes into a cave does it eventually lose its eyes? In other words, why did the eyes of cave fish disappear? Aug 04, 2006: Hi - I've recently become interested/fascinated by genetics; my basic question is:- 'why' is the [human] genome split into separate chromosomes rather than being one long strand and what determines[ed] which genes went to which chromosome? Jul 26, 2006: Do surrogate children share any genes with the birth mother? Is there any genetic relationship of these children to the surrogate? Is there a health relationship to this mother? Jul 21, 2006: What role does genetics play in hypothyroidism or the effects of hypothyroidism? Jul 14, 2006: Is it possible, through mutation, for two blood type O (OO) parents to have a non type O child? Along the same lines, it is possible for mutation to account for any blood type in a child or are there limitations on which mutations are possible? Jun 29, 2006: Why does hair lighten in the sun but skin darken? Does it have to do with melanin? Jun 23, 2006: How can 2 parents with dwarfism have a child that is of average height? Jun 16, 2006: What kind of genes do duck billed platypuses have?! Jun 09, 2006: My husband has ADHD. I do not. My mother has ADHD though. What are the chances my son will have it and does it follow the mother or father? Jun 02, 2006: Why did the very blue eyes of a kid become brown when he grew up? May 26, 2006: Why are my children so smart? May 19, 2006: I don't think we will ever need to clone humans because we will have "body 2.0" and organs such as the heart will not be needed, because the blood will use nanotechnology to pump itself through the body. Do you think that body 2.0 will prevail over cloning? Why or why not? May 12, 2006: I have heard that alcoholism skips a generation. Is this true? And if it’s true, why do they skip a generation? Apr 28, 2006: What does chimera DNA look like? Are chimeras and mosaics the same thing? And are there any changes in chimera DNA? Apr 21, 2006: In a new species, is the chromosome structure of the genome any different? What might cause the number of chromosomes to change? Would this be a mutation during reproduction? Is this something we see with simpler organisms? Apr 14, 2006: Is alcoholism genetic? Apr 07, 2006: In your opinion, do you think we as humans are done evolving? It seems that modern medicine may be in conflict with the progression of natural evolution in that it interferes with survival of the fittest. I guess none of us will be around long enough to know for sure. Mar 31, 2006: If the incidence of autism has increased 10-fold in the last 10 years (faster than a genetic mutation), then why are scientists still looking for a genetic cause?? Mar 24, 2006: Can DNA change in a human lifetime in his own body due to artificial causes? Can a human inherit a different DNA to his/her children? Actually I was talking to my friends about the tribe in Thailand that stretches their necks with rings. I was wondering if they stop putting rings around the women’s necks, is it possible that a child will show any residue of this behavior (like being born with a slightly longer neck, etc.)
Note: will it matter if the ring thing was not only 50-70 years tradition but say if it was 300 years or 1000 years tradition? Mar 17, 2006: Help! I cannot seem to grasp why siblings are said to be 50% alike genetically when humans are said to be, say, 85% the same genetically as mice. Mar 09, 2006: What is the story with this other kind of DNA—mitochondrial DNA? Only mothers pass it (is that true) and does it have traits or an effect on children? In what way? Oh, where is it? Mar 03, 2006: I was wondering if you could make a baby with 3 eyes. Is that possible? Feb 24, 2006: What is the future of stem cell research? Feb 16, 2006: I have red hair and blue eyes, both of my parents have blue eyes but light brown hair, My husband had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, his parents both have dark brown hair and his mom has blue eyes and his dad has brown...my question is, if we have a child what are its chances of having blue eyes or red hair? Feb 10, 2006: Is eczema a genetic disease? Feb 03, 2006: Hi, I am curious about the origins of mutations, such as eye color, and how they relate to early mankind and the spread of that particular mutation. For example, I have very light eyes. Am I descended from a person who had this mutation, and subsequently passed on this mutation to all people with blue eyes living today? In other words, do I share a common blue-eyed ancestor with all people with blue eyes? Also, I'm curious about the origins of blue eyes. I've read that the mutation formed in northern latitudes as a result of less light. It seems to me that mutations occur randomly and not as a response to the environment. Jan 27, 2006: I am having a debate with a friend about mutations and natural genetic variation. I say that the only way an ancestral population of canines could give rise to foxes, wolves, coyotes, and all varieties of dogs is through mutations and either natural or artificial selection. My opponent asserts that mutations aren't responsible, but instead the natural genetic variability of the ancestral stock is responsible.
My position is that this 'natural genetic variability' is nothing more than mutations with a different name. But, she has challenged me to find a geneticist who agrees with me (my degrees are in chemistry, math, and chemical engineering). So who is right? Jan 19, 2006: Can someone find his sperm donor dad using genetics? Jan 11, 2006: Are the genes we pass on to our children affected by the age we conceive? Are our children more likely to have genetic issues, if we are older? Is the father or mother likely to influence their outcome based on their age? Jan 03, 2006: Is diabetes a genetic disease? Dec 22, 2005: Is homosexuality an inborn, unchangeable part of us or can people actually "convert"? I think it is just the way I am but my classmates and some family members think otherwise. How can I convince them that this really is the way I am supposed to be? Dec 14, 2005: My twin granddaughters were recently diagnosed with celiac disease (an intolerance to wheat). They say this runs in families. Is it genetic and should we all be tested for this disease? Dec 09, 2005: How is it my grandmother smoked for nearly thirty years and is extremely healthy and looks great for 70? Whereas, my mother only smoked for 15 years before she had a stroke at the age of 38? I am curious since they are mother and daughter. Does genetics play a role in this circumstance? Dec 06, 2005: How do you figure out the types of stem cells and how do you make them into different body cells?
Dec 01, 2005: If people evolved from apes, then why are there still apes??? Nov 07, 2005: Since there is a finite number of base-sequences in our DNA and also a finite number of genes (combinations of those base sequences), isn't there a finite number of "possible" human beings? What is that number? Nov 01, 2005: I am a Chinese American woman. In the Chinese culture, people typically favor the male species. For example, they prefer sons over daughters and think two brothers are genetically closer to each other than two sisters. Also, they truly believe that the children are genetically closer to the father than the mother. Is this really true? I am often in debates with my parents and relatives about this. I don’t believe their theory is true. I believe I am just as close to my father as to my mother.
Please help me solve this mystery. Oct 24, 2005: If one day we can clone cats or dogs, what will happen to their personality, or their soul? Is it possible to clone a personality? Oct 20, 2005: I have mild cystic fibrosis on both sides of my family. I have all the symptoms of “CF”—bronchectiasis, malabsorption, diabetes, chronic sinus infections and polyps that have been surgically removed 7 times! My sweat test is normal.
My DNA analysis reveals DF508, M470V, 7T/9T polyvariant. Do you know if this would be considered CF now? What is M470V responsible for doing in the human body? Is it now considered a CF gene? If not why? I have every symptom of this disease there is and can't get the diagnosis. This leads to me no longer being able to get the drug Pulmozyme for my lungs. Oct 11, 2005: I just lost my cat. So, I intend to clone him, one day. So for now I've kept it in a deep-freeze at a temp of -20°C. Thing is, the shock, deciding whether I should bury him or clone him etc took me one and a half hours. So my question is, is there major degradation of the DNA within that time? Oct 06, 2005: I am a natural redhead since birth and recently read in the newspaper that redheads will be extinct by the year 2100. Is this a good possibility and if so could I preserve my eggs for the red hair gene? Sep 28, 2005: Are there any examples of evolution happening around us right now? I don’t mean something like white and black moths and pollution but new species that have evolved. Sep 16, 2005: Why do identical twins have physical differences if they have the same DNA? Sep 12, 2005: I have some questions about X inactivation. How long after conception does X inactivation take place? Is it possible to artificially induce X inactivation? Might that be useful for males with Klinefelter’s syndrome? Sep 02, 2005: Is it possible to use genetic engineering to create a "designer baby"?
I've seen news articles with phrases like, "soon, parents could order up a blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl who's good at tennis". Is it technically possible to alter a human embryo to produce a desired trait, such as blue eyes, if neither parent carries genes for blue eyes? Or, for example, if both parents are carriers of cystic fibrosis, and all of their embryos were
found to have or carry CF, could the CF gene be fixed in the embryo? Aug 30, 2005: Three of my grandparents had Rheumatoid Arthritis and my mother now has it. It appears, at least on the surface to me, to be at least partially related to genetic inheritance. Is this indeed true? And if so, is there a genetic marker that can be tested for and are they using this to help find a cure? Aug 26, 2005: Hi, A question has been batted around the dinner table…who is more closely related genetically, siblings or a parent and child? Aug 17, 2005: I've heard that DNA of adults is different than DNA of an embryo. What's different, and when does the change occur? Aug 12, 2005: If we live long enough, would everyone eventually develop some form of cancer? Aug 03, 2005: I read that lactose intolerance is caused by a genetic mutation. I previously consumed dairy, but have been a vegan for over a year now. I have heard some vegans say that they couldn't return to drinking dairy after being vegan for a long time because their body built up an immunity to it.
But if lactose intolerance is genetic, how is this possible? Are there multiple ways to build or weaken your tolerance for dairy? Jul 27, 2005: Am I genetically predisposed to being a smoker? Jul 22, 2005: My 3 yr old grandson was diagnosed as having glycogen storage disease type3a. The doctors said it was genetic, but until he was diagnosed no one in our family had ever had a liver problem. What are the chances of this disease popping up again in our family? The doctors said his chances of getting this disease were 1 in 200 million. Jul 19, 2005: There are a lot of cases of lupus on my mother’s side of the family. Both my mom and my younger sister have it. Is lupus genetic? Can I pass it on to my daughter? I want to know—I have seen what this illness can do. I want to be ready. Jul 13, 2005: How does inbreeding affect the immune system of animals? Jul 08, 2005: My husband and I were wondering about the odds of making a red-headed child. He has very rich, very red hair. I on the other hand have had many hair colors and don't know what my genes are doing. From Birth to age 3, I had bright red hair. From about age 4 to 7 I had bleach blonde hair. After age 7 it turned sort of a dirty blonde, and has been ever since. My Dad had red hair till he was 30 years old then it turned dark brown. We are also very freckled people who sunburn very easily. I don't understand how hair color can change like that, and what genes I'm really carrying. If it helps, my mother has light brown hair and some freckles. Also, both my parents have green eyes, as do I. I hope you can at least explain the changing hair color phenomenon. Jul 06, 2005: Can you use genes from your hair to clone yourself and if so, how? Jul 01, 2005: If identical female twins get pregnant by the same man will their children be exactly the same if they are the same sex? Jun 28, 2005: My roommate has a direct link with Parkinson's disease with her father. Is there a test to see if she has the this disease? Are there any studies going on relative to this subject? Has anyone been looking at [very] early signs? Jun 23, 2005: Has any progress been made in explaining eye colors other than brown, blue, and green? I've seen dozens of explanations of how the gey (EYCL 1) and bey2 (EYCL 3) genes are supposed to work, all with the disclaimer that this model doesn't explain colors such as hazel, grey, or black (not to mention violet, yellow, or very pale blue). Are the pigments responsible for some of these colors thought to be related to specific genes? Can there be more than two alleles for a gene, such as green, hazel, or blue? Has anybody studied the heritability of unusual eye colors? Jun 10, 2005: Is it possible for two parents who cannot roll their tongues to have a tongue-roller child? Jun 03, 2005: I have always wondered about the genetics of handedness. Both of my parents are left-handed, both myself and my brother are right-handed. My husband and I are both right-handed and we have 2 children, one's a lefty and one's a righty. My husband's parents are both righties. It's just something I've always wondered about since we studied genetics in 6th grade and the teacher told us that handedness was Mendelian like eye color, but couldn't explain why I'm a righty (no doubt wondering if maybe I was adopted, which I wasn't, lol!) May 26, 2005: I am 15 weeks pregnant and I recently had a series of bloodwork done. I found out that I was AB+. My father is definitely O- and my mother is unsure of her type. I have seen online many sites that say this is not possible, that my father cannot have O-. Is this correct? May 24, 2005: Is it possible for 2 Rh negative parents to produce a Rh positive child?
I am pregnant with my second child. My blood type is O-. My husband and daughter both have A-. At my last OB appointment I was told that at my next visit I would have an antibody screen and most likely need a Rhogam shot. I know this is administered as a precaution in case the baby is Rh+. However, I understood this to be impossible since both my husband and I are Rh-. When I questioned the nurse, I was quite surprised when she told me that it IS possible to have an Rh+ child because of recessive Rh+ genes. Is this true? All the information I have found so far leads me to believe this is impossible. (And yes, I am 100% certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that my husband is the father of my child). May 18, 2005: What is the minimum number of it would take to maintain a viable gene pool? May 13, 2005: What role do genes play in schizophrenia, depression, and mental illness in general?
May 10, 2005: What a great mutation the delta32 mutation sounds like. No side effects and it makes you resistant to HIV? Is there some way to give everyone this mutation? Is there anywhere to get tested for it?
Maybe somehow they could utilize early embryonic cells and transform them to incorporate all or part of the mutation in each sequential cell line from then on. Or how about using an engineered smallpox or similar virus as a vector to infect these embryonic cells?
May 05, 2005: It is so incredible to me that the entire genetic code of 3 billion bits of information exists within every cell. Astonishing. My question has to do with the origins of DNA. How did it come to be? Does that same double helix structure exist in the most primitive, 1 celled organisms? Or did it evolve in complexity along with evolving life forms? May 03, 2005: Why is DNA shaped as a spiral? Apr 28, 2005: Hi I was wondering if you could tell me what is allelic frequency? And can you tell me which allele I have. If my grandmother on my mothers side has blue eyes, my grandfather has green eyes and she and her brother have green eyes too. My father’s dad has blue eyes and his mother brown. He has brown eyes but some of his brothers and sisters have green eyes and one I think has blue. Me and my brother both have dark brown eyes. I am the eldest. Apr 26, 2005: Hair Biology has always interested me and no matter where I look I can never find the appropriate answer to my question. Now I understand that African American hair has a curly follicle, which is what produces the curly hair texture as in many ethnic groups, but how come African Americans are essentially the only ethnic group with coarse curly hair? I don't mean to be rude while asking this question, but it has always been of interest to me. I want to understand the genetics behind it. Apr 12, 2005: I read a previous question regarding straightening curly hair genetically. My hair is wavy which means I have both curly and straight hair genes. Given that I have both the gene for straight hair and the gene for curly hair, is it possible to just switch off the curly hair gene? Apr 07, 2005: Would it be genetically possible for two individuals to populate the Earth? What complications could arise? Apr 05, 2005: Since it is already known that Down Syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome at the 21st, what needs to be done to intercept or remedy this condition? What is being considered now? Is there anything that looks promising? Apr 01, 2005: I heard on a video yesterday that DNA allows a certain amount of variation within a kind but does not provide for moving from one kind to another. Is this true? It also said that the only way for a kind to go to another kind is through mutation but that mutations were usually degenerative and cannot account kind to kind evolution. Is this true? Mar 29, 2005: Can human DNA be "spliced"with animal DNA while in the womb creating a literal chimera, like a half man, half beast? If this is possible do you think it will ever become as common in the general public as tatoos? Mar 23, 2005: Can blue-eyed parents have a baby with brown eyes? Or green eyes? Can two parents without a cleft chin have a child with one? Can two curly-haired parents have a child with straight hair? Mar 15, 2005: I have heard about a genetic test for Alzheimer’s. Is there one? Mar 11, 2005: All I know about geographic tongue is the name (my doctor told me) and that my Mom has it, too. Is this genetic and what exactly IS geographic tongue and why do some people have it (sometimes!) Mar 09, 2005: Hey, why do some people get a lot taller than their parents? And why am I a natural athlete and my parents are totally different? My hair is kinda the same as theirs but my eyes are way different. Please explain. Mar 08, 2005: I am a 53 year old woman who underwent removal of her uterus after two operations for uterine fibroids. I insisted on keeping my ovaries, however, to prevent premature menopause. By now I assume that my eggs are greatly deteriorated and heroic attempts to fertilize them would likely result in an unhealthy fetus. However, is there a way to retrieve healthy DNA from other cells in my body, implant my DNA in the nucleus of a donor egg whose own DNA has been removed, fertilize my egg(s)with my husband's sperm, implant the egg(s)in a donor womb, and obtain a healthy fetus that is genetically like my husband and me? Mar 01, 2005: Do certain humans have a genetic predisposition to Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD)? Feb 24, 2005: My sister married my husband's brother (so we have two brothers who married two sisters). We are all curious about how related our children will be. (I'm pregnant with our first child right now.)
I understand siblings share 50% of the same genes. In our case would the first cousins be as genetically related as siblings? If no - can you tell us exactly how related they will be? Feb 23, 2005: I was doing a science project with my son and I told him that liking or not liking cheese is due to your DNA. I also told him that loving to read, play basketball,and draw etc were due to your DNA also. I also told him that being short or tall, having blue eyes or brown eye were, of course, due to DNA. However, my girlfriend disagreed saying that liking or not liking cheese is a preference not inherited. Who is right? Feb 22, 2005: The whites of my eyes have a bluish tint to them. I was told by my parents that marrying a woman with the same coloration would be bad for our children. They would be likely to have a brittle bone disease. Has any research been done on the cause of the blue whites? Feb 17, 2005: Can a single blood sample determine if you have cancer? Feb 15, 2005: How much, or how little, of a role do genetics play in determining whether someone has mathematical, musical, artistic or athletic ability? Everyone in my husband's immediate family has a tin ear; everyone in my family seems to have a talent for music. Do things like musicality or athleticism run in families because of nurture, or nature? Feb 10, 2005: I just turned 50 and am starting to feel it. Can I do anything about this aging thing? Feb 01, 2005: My wife was recently diagnosed as having cancer of an unknown source by an oncologist and a general sort of treatment prescribed that she has been undergoing. Given that it is now possible to have a genetic test that identifies a person’s characteristics (that is, weaknesses or susceptibilities etc) than why would her oncologist not go through a procedure such as this first so that the most appropriate protocol could be selected? Especially since these treatments are so very expensive and the results so uncertain. Jan 28, 2005: My husband and his ex-wife have 3 sons - two teenage boys with autism and mental retardation and a healthy 7-year-old boy. He and I have one healthy daughter, almost two. The risk of us having an autistic son is something like 4-12% (based on 2 siblings and a recurrence risk of 2-6% for 1 sibling which is what I found on the internet). What is the risk for a daughter? (I know it's less) And since siblings share 1/2 their genes and half-sibling share 1/4 of their genes, wouldn't our risk be slightly less than that 4-12%? Jan 27, 2005: I took a physical anthropology class in college and thought the professor told us two examples of "genetic polymorphism" are: #1, some people taste cruciferous veggies as bitter and some don't, #2, some people don't have a platysma muscle. Are these two things true and can you tell me what "genetic polymorphism" means? Thanks! Jan 26, 2005: My father is an identical twin and my husband's grandfather is a fraternal twin. Does this increase our chances of having twins, or is the genetic trait only on the mother's side and only for fraternal twins? (P.S. we've always hoped for twins - a boy and a girl.) Jan 21, 2005: My husband has CABVD, and possibly atypical Cystic Fibrosis. What are the statistics of people with CABVD and Cystic Fibrosis and/or Carrier? Also, what is the likelihood our son will have CABVD? Jan 19, 2005: I am dealing with infertility and recurrent miscarriages (3 under age 32, 4 over age 39) Only the last two were genetically analyzed (Trisomy 2 and Trisomy 15, respectively). Both my husband and I have normal karyotypes. My first pregnancy resulted in a normal baby however. No other causes for miscarriage can be found except bad eggs, though why they went bad in my 20's is hard to understand. But in the absence of hard evidence, we just presume that all the miscarriages were due to chromosomal abnormality.
So my question is, I have read that folic acid can help prevent Down syndrome in women with MTHFR (I don't have that), but, can folic acid also help prevent other chromosomal abnormalities (besides 21) in women who do not have MTHFR? Jan 14, 2005: How true is the saying? The apple does not fall far from the tree. Please give a comparison of human and plant DNA. A picture of plant and human DNA sequences would be nice, so that I can see the similarities.
Jan 13, 2005: I am a 31 year old ultrasound technologist. Three years ago I lost a baby girl when I was 5 months pregnant. I was scanning myself at 13wks and discovered the cystic hygroma with hydrops. I had an amnio a few weeks later which was normal. About a year after my loss they discovered that I have the Factor V LEIDEN mutation(hetero), as well as MTHFR A1298C. I am also RH-. I do have a healthy baby girl now that is 6mths old. I took heparin injections during this pregnancy. My question is: could there be any correlation between my pregnancy loss and the factor V??? Jan 06, 2005: Is the tendency for anger genetic? Dec 17, 2004: Can a female get color-blindness from her father's side? My husband and all his brothers are color-blind. Is there a chance my daughter could be too? I don't know of any color-blindness in my side of the family. Dec 14, 2004: I have asthma and I was wondering if I would ever grow out of it and also if when I have kids if they would have it as well? Dec 10, 2004: My father had ankylosing spondylitis. I am 53 years old and have scoliosis and some back pain. Recently I had SI joint X-rays that were normal. What are the odds of me having ankylosing spondylitis? Dec 09, 2004: My husband was recently diagnosed with FH-Familial Hypercholesterolemia. I’m concerned that the extremely high cholesterol levels will likely lead to chest pains, high blood pressure and a heart attack. Can you tell me more about FH? Dec 02, 2004: Hello- I have a 1 year old son. I would love to have a daughter next. Is there anything that you know of that I can do to push the odds of having a girl??? Nov 30, 2004: 1) On the CSI episode about the chimera, there was a disease mentioned (or shown) that began with a B. Do you know what that is? And why were there swirled patterns on the suspect’s back when the special glasses were put on?
2) In the chimera episode, the fact that the guy was a chimera was first established through a camera flash on the skin illuminating skin anomalies (potentially through radiation??). Why is this the case? Presumably the bone marrow donor would not have been subject to radiation? Nov 24, 2004: Hi. My wife is a carrier of fragile X, with 80 repeats on one X. (There is no history of Fragile X in her family, and our son is not affected.) What are the chances that our children will have fragile X?
Just a side question, her father has green/red color blindness. Could this have any significance? Assuming the Fragile X was inherited from her mother, does this mean our sons would all either have the Fragile X gene or be colorblind? Nov 23, 2004: Is it known whether poor eyesight (both nearsightedness and farsightedness) is a dominant or recessive trait; or is it yet unknown or a combination of different genes? Nov 19, 2004: I have acne on my face and my husband doesn’t. Is there any likelihood that our children will have acne? Nov 18, 2004: Whose blood do we carry, our moms or dads? Or it doesn't matter because it could be from either one? Nov 17, 2004: Hi! I am doing a science fair project on DNA. I found an article stating that 20 babies were born genetically altered (BBC news). I showed my teacher the article and she has doubts whether the article is actually true. So my question is, is there really 20 babies born genetically altered in the U.S? Nov 16, 2004: I realize that humans have 46 chromosomes and chimps 48, but do we (homo sapiens) have more genes or fewer genes than the chimp? And while were on the subject, is the Y chromosome in humans smaller in size than the Y chromosome in chimps, meaning does it have a less number of genes on the Y chromosome in humans in comparison to the Y chromosome in chimps? Nov 10, 2004: My students want to know: if identical twins have the same DNA, what happens if one of them commits a crime and leaves only DNA evidence at the crime scene; like a hair or something? How could you tell which twin did it? Nov 10, 2004: How is it that red hair shows up in people of African descent? Nov 09, 2004: I am on my 14th week of pregnancy. I have to decide whether to have an amniocentesis done. I’m 35 years old and consider myself very healthy, no genetic problems in my family. In my husband's family there have been some cases of cancer. His dad had stomach cancer at 68, his grandfather had colon cancer at 85, and his aunt had breast cancer at 65 (all still alive). With the amniocentesis will I be able to know if my baby will have in the future anything like this? Nov 05, 2004: My husband and I are first cousins and I am worried about our future kids. Are our kids at a very high risk of coming out retarded or something? People are always drawing that annoying conclusion and I try not to let it bother me…I’ve done some slight research on the subject and know that it is not necessarily true but it still bothers me. Nov 02, 2004: I have a question about my son’s health and segmental NF. During a routine annual physical exam, at the age of 8 yrs. old, I questioned my son's pediatrician about the noticeable freckles in my son's armpits and on the left side of his neck (which only became noticeable within that year). She referred us to a pediatric dermatologist, concerned that it was neurofibromatosis.
The dermatologist immediately responded that he doesn't have NF, because he does not have cafe au lait spots to fit the size and number criteria; he is advanced academically, and has no hearing problems. Then the dermatologist backpedaled and stated that perhaps we should see a geneticist because there is such a thing as "segmental NF".
My son is 14 years old now, in the throes of puberty (which I've read is the developmental stage when manifestations most often occur), without noticeable tumors, very athletic, and very strong academically. Is it wise to seek the advice of a geneticist for a "diagnosis" or not? Is there still only palliative treatment for confirmed cases of NF? Oct 26, 2004: Why does the hair color of children often change color as they grow older? My brother, sister and I all had light blond hair as young children which gradually darkened to brunette by the time we were teenagers. Both parents are brunette. My husband is Chinese (black hair), and both of our children started out with blond hair which is darkening now as they age. My father, though brunette, also had blond hair as a kid and has blue eyes. Oct 25, 2004: Hi. Well my grandmother on my father's side has amelogenesis imperfecta (that is where there is no enamel on the tooth). My father got it as well as his 2 sisters and one of his brothers. For one of his sisters, 2 out of 4 children got it; a girl and a boy. His other sis's children did not get it and they are all boys, but all of my sisters have it. Would my children get this? What are the ratios of my kids getting it? Would you say it is a dominant allele? Especially for women than men? Oct 19, 2004: Is it possible to create a picture, like a photo, of a person by using that person's DNA? Is there any research being done in this area? Oct 15, 2004: I am a redhead and I have Rh negative blood. Is there any genetic correlation between the two? Also, what is the difference between Rh negative and Rh positive blood types? Thanks
Oct 14, 2004: I hope that your explanation can clear up some confusion in my family. I have brown eyes and my husband has blue eyes. We have 3 daughters: one has blue eyes, one green and one brown. Everybody says husband,s genes are stronger so that explains the blue and green, but what about the brown? Oct 12, 2004: My boyfriend has 3 sisters whereas I have 2 sisters and no brothers. What are the chances of him and I having a baby boy? Oct 08, 2004: Why do I have blue-eyes? I am an African-American. I am 37 now, it's always been a shock to many. I was born with natural blue-eyes. I am not light skinned at all; I am a brown skinned woman. People are amazed that they are blue just like how white people eyes are. I have a 15 year old and he has one total blue-eye, (the right eye) and the other eye is half brown and blue, weird right?
I went to the Georgia eye Institute in Savannah. they took lots of pictures of my eyes and recorded in their book. How in the world did my eyes get this color? And do you think that I can do an eye commercial or something of the sort? Oct 05, 2004: How is it that DNA can be extracted and read from long past fossils? Doesn’t the drying and age affect the DNA? If we can clone a sheep from its DNA, why not a dinosaur? Sep 30, 2004: I thought I heard a geneticist on TV say that the gene that creates blond hair also creates blue eyes, and I thought he suggested that only blonds have blue eyes - is this correct? Sep 28, 2004: I was born in Maine. Can a DNA test establish Native American blood? Would it be enough to file for Native American heritage?
Hello. I am a 30 year old woman from Stockton, California. A lot of people have told me that the bone structure by my temples shows that I must be Native American. I am considered Caucasian (I have blonde hair and hazel green eyes), yet people still ask me what type of Indian I am. Someone told me that I can get my blood tested to see if any Indian blood does exist. Is that true? Can I go get my blood tested? If so, who do I go to for that specific test? Do you happen to know how much that test costs? Well, that is my question and I am really looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Sep 24, 2004: I am an African American with typical black hair. I'm really fed up with it, and I was wondering if through gene therapy I could begin to grow hair like that of a Caucasian/Mexican/Asian person. I don't know anything about gene therapy, but I'm really desperate and I didn't know whom to ask. Thank you. Sep 22, 2004: I recently read that the male Y chromosome used to have 1,438 genes, and only has 45 now. If the chromosome continues to degrade, are men going to go extinct? Sep 16, 2004: When I was a camp counselor a few years back, one of the campers had light hair and a green eye with lighter eyelashes/eyebrows on one side and darker hair and a brown eye with darker eyelashes/eyebrows on the other. Also the lighter side had more freckles. The hair on her head was not bi-colored exactly symmetrically, but pretty close. How is this physiologically possible? I've never stopped wondering and the girl said that doctors couldn't explain it. Sep 09, 2004: Are there any genetic engineering studies being done to stimulate hair coloring in adults who are grey? Sep 09, 2004: I have always wondered what my kids might look like when my boyfriend and I get married. He is a white male, brown natural curly hair, and green eyes; he's adorable. He's one of many who doesn't tan well but gets a reddish tan tint to his skin. I am mixed with Hispanic, black, white, Scottish, Irish, and Indian. I have dark brown to black natural curly hair, my eyes are dark brown as well and I have golden brown skin. I can be outside for five minutes and I tan really fast. I think he and I make a great couple but I can't help but think what genes our future kids might carry. Will they have green eyes like him or should I say inherit a lot of his traits or mine? Sep 03, 2004: Hello, I am trying to understand more about the gene that is responsible for cheek dimples and chin dimples. I understand how a set of parents Dd and Dd could have a child that is dimpleless, but is it genetically possible for a set of parents who do not have a cheek dimple or chin dimple to have a child who has both of these traits?
Are cheek dimples and chin dimples caused by two separate genes or is the same gene responsible for both traits? I see that traits such as hair color, height, and eye color can be determined by several genes working together but does the dimple trait act in this way or is it simply either you carry the one gene for it or you don’t? Has this gene been identified or been labeled? What about mutations? Can they be responsible for physical traits or are they mostly limited to disease disorders? Could you please answer these questions or direct me to someone who could? Aug 31, 2004: I am an Asian Indian woman married to a white American. I recently lost my baby girl due to miscarriage. Since then one of the issues I have been grappling with in my grief is that I cannot visualize what my baby would have looked like.
I have thick black curly hair, my husband has fine, thin, dark blonde hair. I have brown eyes and he has green-grey eyes. I have dark skin and am only 5 ft tall, he is very pale and white and is 6ft, 1”.
I know this is probably a very difficult question, but can you give me an idea of what color her hair/eyes/skin might have been? Aug 27, 2004: Can a couple (one with straight hair, one with curly) have one straight haired child and one curly haired, and one of the children has green eyes and the other blue? Both parents have green. Is this possible? Aug 26, 2004: I have a 4 1/2 month old that has bright red hair. My husband has a dark complexion and black hair, but is freckled. I am a sandy blonde and a fair complexion and freckled. Our first son is blonde. But, our second is as white as cotton and red headed. Is this common when you mix a blonde and black haired? We have no red heads on either side of our family.
I'm tired of getting questioned. Aug 25, 2004: 1. "One of the most interesting questions still to understand ... is why did the wolf keep locked in its genome everything that was necessary to make a Pekingese to a Great Dane," said Elaine A. Ostrander of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. (Shar-Peis, Huskies Are Closest to Wolves By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer)
2. The intriguing part is that the wolf (or original dog kind) apparently had the genetic information front loaded for all the future and subsequent dog breeds. Something that not only conforms to the creationist model and Intelligent Design (ID) model but isn't logical according to the Theory of Evolution (ToE) model. ToE would require mutation, natural selection, etc. Why would the wolf breed keep seemingly useless information locked into its genome? Why would it be there in the first place?
3. Is the dog genome front-loaded into the wolf genome? Is the Creationist in #2 interpreting Dr Ostrander's words correctly?
Aug 20, 2004: Are Native American Indians fundamentally Asians? Aug 19, 2004: Hi. I am a 28 year old female and I was wondering do females get their father’s or their mother’s genes? It seems like I am mostly like my father but I don’t know…can you help me with this? Aug 17, 2004: Can you tell me more about the genetics of hair color? My husband and I both have dark blond hair, our son has blond hair, but our daughter was born with dark brown hair.
Each of us has one parent with blond hair and one with dark brown hair. I thought that blond hair was recessive, and thus our children would both have blond hair. Am I wrong?
My internet searches on this topic have only turned up the information that there are several alleles that determine hair color, but nothing about inheritance patterns.
Aug 06, 2004: If you compare the genetic information in male vs female homo sapiens, there is a difference of about 3% (given the number of chromosomes and the difference between the X and Y chromosome). But if our chromosomal material is so close to mice, etc., it almost seems as if I'm genetically more similar to a mouse than I am to my brother. What gives??? Aug 05, 2004: Hi. I am 25 yo female with bilateral colobomas and was wondering about what causes it and whether genetic tests are available.
The outward appearance of my eyes is "weird" to most. I conceal the look by wearing special contact lenses which are hand painted. They create a normal facade of the eyeball itself...making the deformity quite difficult to spot at times. I have light perception in my right eye, and decent vision in the left eye.
I was adopted at the age of six months, and therefore, do not know much of my family background. I have been told, but not by a genetics expert, that my disorder is hereditary, and will be passed on...hence, the name congenital. However, I am curious to know if there is a DNA test that can be done to verify if it is indeed genetic. I am also at that stage in life where my husband and I want to start a family. Is there any test that can be done to test the fetus to determine if this has indeed been passed on? Aug 03, 2004: Does DNA account for only physical attributes of a human being, or can it also carry an emotional history from one generation to the next? I am wondering if the psychological damage of slavery for African Americans, for example, is carried forward into current generations on not only a psychological basis, but also a physical one. Jul 23, 2004: If a person has a total gender reassignment - (sex change) no matter how extreme the operation goes with hormone injections etc; on a DNA level, the sex of that person is absolute? Jul 22, 2004: What is a polymorphic micro-satellite? How can the PCR reaction help us determine if the gene is polymorphic or not?
Jul 20, 2004: I recently found out I was pregnant with baby#4. My first 2 children are normal, #3 was born with cystic hygroma, I am wondering if this is genetic and the possibilities of this reoccurring. Thanks.
Jul 14, 2004: I have read, "Genetically speaking, nothing differentiates one race from another. All humans share the same set of genes. There is no African gene, no Caucasian gene, no Asian gene." However, I also understand that there are genetic markers such as mtDNA haplotype L1, L2, L3, M, N and etc. that indicate a person’s origins. In light of this, isn't it possible to determine "race" through DNA analysis? Jul 13, 2004: I have heard a lot about Down syndrome and chromosome 21. I have also heard a lot about chromosome 21 and Alzheimer’s. Is there any correlation between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome? Isn't chromosome 21 the chromosome that is duplicated when someone has Down syndrome? Jul 07, 2004: My eyes were medium brown when I was younger, but a while after I hit puberty they changed color slightly. They are now a really dark brown-hazel. Mostly, they stay a slightly greenish brown, but occasionally, they go to a bluish brown-green or a really dark brown-green. Why is this?
My mother's eyes are dark brown, but my father's eyes are hazel. They sometimes change color from light blue to bluish green to dark blue, etc., depending on what he's wearing. Why do hazel eyes seem to change color?
I had clear blue eyes until I was about 7 years old. One morning before I left for school, my mother noticed that my eyes were a clear emerald green. The change must have occurred fairly quickly for it not to have been noted as it happened. My red-haired father had brown-with-slight-orange-tint eyes and my brown-haired mother had darkish, muddy-blue eyes. How/why did my eye color change? I don't know anyone else whose eyes changed color after the baby months.
Jul 02, 2004: How did I get green eyes? I understand that blue is recessive and that in theory all children of two blue-eye parents should have blue eyes. But, what about green? My parents are blue-eyed and have 2 green-eyed children and 1 blue-eyed child. And yes, he is my father. My high school Bio teacher embarrassed me by announcing to the entire class that he couldn’t be when we studied eye color. So, how did I end up with green eyes? Thanks!
Is there any possible way for two blue-eyed parents to have a green or brown-eyed child?
Is it possible for a green-eyed person and a blue-eyed person to have a brown-eyed child?
One day my father's first cousin and I were discussing our Swedish background. This led to discussion of eye color. She said, "You know, both my mother and father had blue eyes." I looked into her eyes and they were dark brown! I thought I knew enough genetics to know that blue + blue yields ONLY blue eyes. I called my father that night (a physician) and he said he had never thought about it, but now that I mentioned it, my great-grandparents used to tell the story that her mother had thought she had been given the wrong baby at the hospital in Chicago (1927) Her sister had blonde hair and blue eyes and used to tease her about being adopted (she wasn't). She had bright red hair and brown eyes. She must have been the wrong baby!? Can blue eyes + blue eyes = brown eyes? I would never tell her what I suspect, but I am curious for my own sake. I suspect that in downtown Chicago in 1927, she was actually an "O'Brien" instead of a Peterson.
Jun 25, 2004: I read from an article that many bony fish which include Nemo, the clownfish, change sex throughout their life-spans. How does changing sex impact their DNA? Were they born with both X and Y chromosomes or somehow they were changed when the sex was changed? Jun 22, 2004: I have had two miscarriages in a row and am worried. I am a 35-year-old female with no genetic family history problems. My partner has no genetic family history problems either. I have a 10-year-old normal boy by my first marriage, and a normal 3-year-old boy by this marriage. I became pregnant last year right before my husband was deployed to Iraq. I lost that baby to TurnerÂ’s syndrome (karyotype was performed to confirm). I was recently pregnant this year, and lost this
baby to another cystic hygroma, usually consistent with Turner’s also, but wasn’t confirmed. Hygroma measured 5.2 at 11 weeks.
Why would I have these two occurrences twice in a row? Is this rare? If I get pregnant again will this happen again? Genetic testing is very expensive, and I can’t understand that if I have 2 normal children, how could this be genetic or is it? I also sometimes think maybe this could have been caused by military vaccines?
Jun 18, 2004: My eleven year old daughter was born with blue eyes. When she was about five months old one eye began to turn brown but the other one stayed blue. She now has one predominately blue eye with a touch of brown in one area and a predominately brown eye with a couple of little blue swirls. I have always been curious about what caused this. Jun 16, 2004: I have a bunch of questions about genes, their locations on chromosomes, and "junk" DNA. Do genes on one chromosome have some functional characteristic or are genes scattered across chromosomes without regard to their function? How important is the position of a gene within the DNA? Have any experiments been done to show whether “junk” DNA is important? Jun 14, 2004: How does DNA replicate itself? Jun 08, 2004: The other night on CSI they used a medical term (I think it started with a C) for a person that had two different DNA’s. Have you ever heard of this? Jun 04, 2004: What’s the difference between dominant vs. recessive? Can you tell me what I could do to show my class about this without this being long?
Thank you.
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Can brown-eyed parents have a blue-eyed baby?
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