Investigate the use of karyotypes in helping predict genetic defects. Are scientists able to change any genetic defects in the embryo once they are found using the karyotypes? What are the parents' choices? Explain.
Karyotypes are used to spot genetic defects by charting the chromosomes of an organism in homologous pairs and looking for aberrations. (Karyotype-definition from Biology-Online.org, www.biology-online.org) Scientists are not currently able to change genetic defects in the embryo once they are detected in the karyotype. However, the information from the karyotype can be used to help the parents decide how to proceed with the pregnancy. (Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Testing, www.genome.gov ) The parents’ choices are to let the fetus die in the womb or let him/her be born with the genetic defect or kill the fetus. Potential parents might also get their karyotypes to see whether they could pass a genetic disease to their children and then decide whether to have a baby. (Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Testing, www.genome.gov )
Karyotype is a picture, which the cell’s chromosome are stained and put in order to see the patterns. From the karyotype, we can see an image of a person’s complete set of chromosomes and detect many large chromosome abnormalities. These abnormalities can be either missing, additional, or rearranged chromosomes within a person’s cells. These large scale changes in genetic information can cause a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities.( Disorder Detectives – Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology) Karyotypes can also be taken from a human embryo and can be used to detect genetic defects of babies before they are born. This means that the parents of babies can know if their child has a disability and they are given a choice of proceeding with the pregnancy or abortion. This Karyotype screening is a very controversial topic; screening lives in the womb of the mother. Ways of changing the genetic defects are not found yet but still, researchers suggest the importance of genetic screening because if the infants are screened, these defects can be diagnosed early and can be improved with proper treatment before the onset of any serious symptoms or infections.( Neha Verma on January 11, 2012, Screening (for Genetic and Other Disorders) of Embryos and Newborns: Why it is important?)
Sources:
[PDF] How Can Karyotype Analysis Detect Genetic Disorders? http://www.glencoe.com/mhlnob/assets/00072001/pdf/00072225.pdf
Disorder Detectives - HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology http://www.hudsonalpha.org/book/export/html/214
Screening (for Genetic and Other Disorders) of Embryos and Newborns: Why it is important? http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Screening-for-Genetic-and-Other-Disorders-of-Embryos-and-Newborns-95959-1.htm
The definition of a karyotype is a picture of all 46 chromosomes, each in pairs (23 pairs) in the human body. (Also, this study of chromosomes is known as "cytogenetics.") When analyzing chromosomes, scientists usually evaluate the number and structure of the chromosome. This is to see if there is any defect in the infant or if he/she is likely to obtain a disability somewhere in the future. [N/A, 03 October 2013 9:23]1 If the number of the chromosome is too high, or too low, then the scientist will know that a defect will occur. This is the same with the structure of the chromosome. If the chromosome is missing a piece (gene) of itself or has too many pieces (genes), then a defect is once again likely to occur within the infant. Scientists are unable to change any defects in the chromosomes of an embryo, as of now, although it is being constantly researched and tested. One example of a mutation in chromosomes is trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:49]3 “Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are genetic disorders that include a combination of birth defects including severe mental retardation, as well as health problems involving nearly every organ system in the body.” [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:49]4 What causes these mutations in a human’s genes is unknown. A lot of the times, an infant with these defects, do not live very to be very old. [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:56]3 Parents do not have many choices when it comes to having a baby with a defect. The primary choices are to have the baby or have an abortion. [Liz Szabo, May 1, 2013]4 If a parent is to have the baby, with a disability, the child can still live a normal life. The child will have problems and many health risks though. If the parent(s) do not want a child with a disability, they are able to also have an abortion. An abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. [N/A, 03 October 2013]5 With these two choices in mind, a parent has a lot to think about when having a child.
Sources: 1. "University of Rochester Medical Center." University of Rochester Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. . 2. "Trisomy 18 and 13." Trisomy 18 and 13. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. . 3. "Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of Birth Defects." Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of Birth Defects. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. . 4. "With Down Syndrome Diagnoses Comes a Wrenching Choice." USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. . 5. "In-Clinic Abortion Procedures." What Happens During an Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. .
By using karyotypes, scientists are able to predict and maybe even help change genetic defects in an embryo or person. If there are too many or too few chromosomes in the organism, it may cause a genetic defect or disease in life that will affect them severely. A karyotype is a chart of a person’s 46 chromosomes, presented in pairs. Sometimes a system of chromosome staining is used to see them better; in the karyotype, chromosomes are examined for missing pieces, too many or too few chromosomes, or mixed up pieces. A karyotype may be needed or requested for a couple with a history of miscarriage or a child with unusual physical features. (India Parenting, 2013) 1 Scientists in Oregon Health and Science University have found a way of transplanting mitochondrial DNA in egg cells (comes only from the mother) that could cure and/or avoid inherited diseases from being passed on to the children. The process involves replacing the nucleolus of the egg cell with the mother’s, meaning it has the mother’s DNA but the donor’s mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA). The process is compatible with fertilization and it does not change the child’s parents or DNA since it is a small number of actual genes that, if damaged, can cause many disorders, diseases, and problems. But this type of modification has not been approved yet and may not be any time soon. (Jesse Emspak, October 24, 2012) 2 Scientists have found ways to cure genetic disease by using HIV vector to carry the cure to the cells in the body. The diseases they have been able to cure by using HIV are: metachromatic leukodystrophy (faulty production of myeline) and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (severe bleeding and infection because of a faulty immune system), they have managed to cure six children with these diseases. What they managed to do was strip all harmful genetic information from HIV and replaced with the genetic information they developed that could cure these diseases. In a way they used the HIV vector as a delivery truck, because it is so effective at introducing new information to DNA in cells, all that had to be done was replace the spoiled packages with new ones, and introduce it into the body. This new way to cure diseases is safe and effective, presenting new ways to cure diseases that used to be incurable. (Nina Lincoff, July 2013) 3 If a couple’s child is found to have a genetic defect thanks to a karyotype, they have the option to either have the baby and deal with the possibilities of having a disabled or handicapped child, or one who will have many problems for the rest of its life. Or they many also abort the baby, illegal in some countries, but legal in many places nowadays.
Sources: 1."Understanding Karyotyping" : India Parenting. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 October 2013…
2."Could Genetic Diseases be Cured in the Womb?": Jesse Emspak, LiveScience Contributor: LiveScience. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. .
3. “HIV Used to Cure Rare Genetic Disorders in Children” : Nina Lincoff: HealthLine News: HealthLine. N.p., n.d Web. 4 October 2013
Karyotypes are used to spot genetic defects by charting the chromosomes of an organism in homologous pairs and looking for aberrations. (Karyotype-definition from Biology-Online.org, www.biology-online.org)
ReplyDeleteScientists are not currently able to change genetic defects in the embryo once they are detected in the karyotype. However, the information from the karyotype can be used to help the parents decide how to proceed with the pregnancy. (Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Testing, www.genome.gov )
The parents’ choices are to let the fetus die in the womb or let him/her be born with the genetic defect or kill the fetus. Potential parents might also get their karyotypes to see whether they could pass a genetic disease to their children and then decide whether to have a baby. (Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Testing, www.genome.gov )
Sources
Karyotype-definition from Biology-Online.org
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Karyotype
Frequently Asked Questions About Genetic Testing
http://www.genome.gov/19516567
Karyotype is a picture, which the cell’s chromosome are stained and put in order to see the patterns. From the karyotype, we can see an image of a person’s complete set of chromosomes and detect many large chromosome abnormalities. These abnormalities can be either missing, additional, or rearranged chromosomes within a person’s cells. These large scale changes in genetic information can cause a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities.( Disorder Detectives – Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology)
ReplyDeleteKaryotypes can also be taken from a human embryo and can be used to detect genetic defects of babies before they are born. This means that the parents of babies can know if their child has a disability and they are given a choice of proceeding with the pregnancy or abortion. This Karyotype screening is a very controversial topic; screening lives in the womb of the mother. Ways of changing the genetic defects are not found yet but still, researchers suggest the importance of genetic screening because if the infants are screened, these defects can be diagnosed early and can be improved with proper treatment before the onset of any serious symptoms or infections.( Neha Verma on January 11, 2012, Screening (for Genetic and Other Disorders) of Embryos and Newborns: Why it is important?)
Sources:
[PDF]
How Can Karyotype Analysis Detect Genetic Disorders?
http://www.glencoe.com/mhlnob/assets/00072001/pdf/00072225.pdf
Disorder Detectives - HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology
http://www.hudsonalpha.org/book/export/html/214
Screening (for Genetic and Other Disorders) of Embryos and Newborns: Why it is important?
http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Screening-for-Genetic-and-Other-Disorders-of-Embryos-and-Newborns-95959-1.htm
The definition of a karyotype is a picture of all 46 chromosomes, each in pairs (23 pairs) in the human body. (Also, this study of chromosomes is known as "cytogenetics.") When analyzing chromosomes, scientists usually evaluate the number and structure of the chromosome. This is to see if there is any defect in the infant or if he/she is likely to obtain a disability somewhere in the future. [N/A, 03 October 2013 9:23]1 If the number of the chromosome is too high, or too low, then the scientist will know that a defect will occur. This is the same with the structure of the chromosome. If the chromosome is missing a piece (gene) of itself or has too many pieces (genes), then a defect is once again likely to occur within the infant.
ReplyDeleteScientists are unable to change any defects in the chromosomes of an embryo, as of now, although it is being constantly researched and tested. One example of a mutation in chromosomes is trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:49]3 “Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are genetic disorders that include a combination of birth defects including severe mental retardation, as well as health problems involving nearly every organ system in the body.” [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:49]4 What causes these mutations in a human’s genes is unknown. A lot of the times, an infant with these defects, do not live very to be very old. [N/A, 03 October 2013 10:56]3
Parents do not have many choices when it comes to having a baby with a defect. The primary choices are to have the baby or have an abortion. [Liz Szabo, May 1, 2013]4 If a parent is to have the baby, with a disability, the child can still live a normal life. The child will have problems and many health risks though. If the parent(s) do not want a child with a disability, they are able to also have an abortion. An abortion is a medical procedure that ends a pregnancy. [N/A, 03 October 2013]5 With these two choices in mind, a parent has a lot to think about when having a child.
Sources:
1. "University of Rochester Medical Center." University of Rochester Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. .
2. "Trisomy 18 and 13." Trisomy 18 and 13. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. .
3. "Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of Birth Defects." Identification, Treatment, and Prevention of Birth Defects. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. .
4. "With Down Syndrome Diagnoses Comes a Wrenching Choice." USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. .
5. "In-Clinic Abortion Procedures." What Happens During an Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2013. .
By using karyotypes, scientists are able to predict and maybe even help change genetic defects in an embryo or person. If there are too many or too few chromosomes in the organism, it may cause a genetic defect or disease in life that will affect them severely. A karyotype is a chart of a person’s 46 chromosomes, presented in pairs. Sometimes a system of chromosome staining is used to see them better; in the karyotype, chromosomes are examined for missing pieces, too many or too few chromosomes, or mixed up pieces. A karyotype may be needed or requested for a couple with a history of miscarriage or a child with unusual physical features. (India Parenting, 2013) 1
ReplyDeleteScientists in Oregon Health and Science University have found a way of transplanting mitochondrial DNA in egg cells (comes only from the mother) that could cure and/or avoid inherited diseases from being passed on to the children. The process involves replacing the nucleolus of the egg cell with the mother’s, meaning it has the mother’s DNA but the donor’s mtDNA (mitochondrial DNA). The process is compatible with fertilization and it does not change the child’s parents or DNA since it is a small number of actual genes that, if damaged, can cause many disorders, diseases, and problems. But this type of modification has not been approved yet and may not be any time soon. (Jesse Emspak, October 24, 2012) 2
Scientists have found ways to cure genetic disease by using HIV vector to carry the cure to the cells in the body. The diseases they have been able to cure by using HIV are: metachromatic leukodystrophy (faulty production of myeline) and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (severe bleeding and infection because of a faulty immune system), they have managed to cure six children with these diseases. What they managed to do was strip all harmful genetic information from HIV and replaced with the genetic information they developed that could cure these diseases. In a way they used the HIV vector as a delivery truck, because it is so effective at introducing new information to DNA in cells, all that had to be done was replace the spoiled packages with new ones, and introduce it into the body. This new way to cure diseases is safe and effective, presenting new ways to cure diseases that used to be incurable. (Nina Lincoff, July 2013) 3
If a couple’s child is found to have a genetic defect thanks to a karyotype, they have the option to either have the baby and deal with the possibilities of having a disabled or handicapped child, or one who will have many problems for the rest of its life. Or they many also abort the baby, illegal in some countries, but legal in many places nowadays.
Sources:
1."Understanding Karyotyping" : India Parenting. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 October 2013…
2."Could Genetic Diseases be Cured in the Womb?": Jesse Emspak, LiveScience Contributor: LiveScience. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2013. .
3. “HIV Used to Cure Rare Genetic Disorders in Children” : Nina Lincoff: HealthLine News: HealthLine. N.p., n.d Web. 4 October 2013