Gattaca

Do you think a community like Gattaca is good or bad? Why?

        A community like Gattaca is bad because it is discrimination. Although someone's genes can predict diseases that are at high risk, genes usually do not prevent people from doing what "normal" people do. Someone with "bad" genes has as much potential as someone with "good" genes. It is a matter of effort, not genes! Genetic discrimination is as unethical as any other type of discrimination and racism. Just like with racism, even though the colored people were looked down upon, they have proven in society that they have the ability to do what white people can do. With genes, it should not matter if someone has an increased risk of a type of disease.

Ch. 10: Reproduction

Define reproduction.

        The formal definition of reproduction is the process of producing again. In science, reproduction is when a male's sperm fertilizes a female's egg to make a baby. Two haploid cells join together to make a zygote. The nuclei of both cells fuse and join both of the parents' genetic information. This creates genetic diversity. The baby's traits depend on both parents. There could be many possibilities because there could be many genes that affect one trait. In a gene, there is a dominant and recessive allele. Usually, a Punnett square is used to predict the outcome of the trait in the baby.

Should we be able to know our genomes?

Should we be able to know our genomes?

        We should be able to know our genomes because it could help with finding problems in our body. When we know our genomes, we could easily detect any problems or disease that we have. Knowledge about our genomes could also be used to predict any diseases that we might have in the future, along with medication that we should not take. Genomes could also allow us to find out about our ancestry. In the long term, genome sequencing could assist us in understanding how mutations cause or influence disease.

Career: Genetic Counseling

 Genetic Counseling

Education and Training:

To become a genetic counselor, you must obtain a Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from an ACGC Accredited program. After all the requirements are met, you must apply for the Certification Exam. Then you have to apply to get into a training program. Training involves coursework, clinical experiences, research opportunities, and internships.

Salary:

Genetic counselors typically earn $49,038-$92,349 annually.

1-4 years experience: $48,778 - $71,789

5+ years experience:  $48,892 and $79,182

References:

http://education-portal.com/articles/Genetic_Counseling_Jobs_Salaries_Duties_and_Requirements.html

http://genetics.emory.edu/gc_training/

http://www.abgc.net/Certification/become_a_genetic_counselor.asp

My Nutrition

In my nutrition, I took in a lot of vitamin A, but my amount of carbs and protein was extremely low. This could possibly be dangerous for me in the long-run. Getting too much vitamin A can give my skin and eyes an orange hue. Too much animal-derived vitamin A can build up in my body and become toxic. It also causes hair loss, confusion, liver damage, and bone loss. Receiving too little carbs is also unhealthy for me. It causes dizziness, headaches, weakness, fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, nausea, diarrhea, mental fatigue and even bad breath. A long-term effect includes kidney damage. Too little protein causes weakness and will weaken my immune system.

Alliance #2: Rice Krispies

     For our alliance project, we made Rice Krispies! The product was a success. However, things could have gone differently if we did not put the exact amounts required in the recipe. For example, if we had put too much cereal in the mixture, the mixture would be too dry and crusty. Adding too many marshmallows would make our Rice Krispie treats very sticky and harder to mix (putting the right amount was already hard enough).
     Following the procedure was also important. If we did not microwave the marshmallows long enough, the marshmallows would not have melted all the way. Also, we had to add in the cereal little by little since mixing it and the marshmallows all together would be extremely difficult and the mixture would be uneven. Letting the treats harden was also required, or else it would be too soft and fragile to hold and cut.

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Zucchini Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

709.76 mL all-purpose flour

236.59 mL vegetable oil

4.93 mL salt

532.32 mL sugar

4.93 mL baking soda

4.93 mL baking powder

14.79 mL vanilla extract

14.79 mL cinnamon

3 eggs

236.59 mL chopped walnuts

473.18 mL grated zucchini

Instructions: 

1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.