PCR and Genetics Assignment

PCR and Genetics Assignment

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
The PCR scientific development is nothing short of revolutionary. Developed in 1984 by an American biochemist by the name Kary Mullis, PCR has become a renowned scientific method used in different biological labs. This technique is majorly used to amplify specific DNA fragments from small and minute quantities to unlimited copies. From the name itself, the PCR is a chain reaction. In essence, a single strand of a fragment of the DNA molecule is used to give rise to two copies, then four, then eight and so forth. This reaction is facilitated by polymerase enzymes that bring together individual DNA blocks to form long molecular strands. To work effectively, the polymerases require ample amounts of DNA building blocks in the name of nucleotides. Nucleotides consist of four bases namely; adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The polymerases also require a small DNA fragment referred to as the primer. These three ingredients are essential in when constructing similar template copies. In short, the PCR method is often used to produce several copies of a specific nucleic acids strand.
The PCR method follows three significant steps. These steps include; denaturation, annealing, and extension. The PCR reaction begins with denaturation. This step involves heating samples of DNA strands to about 95 degrees Celsius for about 30 seconds or more. This leads to the denaturation or separation of the double-stranded DNA molecules into single strands (target DNA).

Denaturation is then followed by the annealing step. This step involves the reduction of the temperature to about 50-65 degrees Celsius for about thirty seconds or more. This thus enables both the right and left primers to attach themselves or anneal to complementary sequences on the two separate template DNA strands. The primers are in many cases made in a way that they only target the DNA region that is supposed to be amplified. This is then followed by the final step known as extension. This step involves the increase of the temperature to about 72 degrees Celsius for thirty seconds in order to allow the polymerase enzyme, in this case, the artificially synthesized Taq polymerase to bind or attach to the primers and extend in order to form two new DNA strands. Similar subsequent cycles of denaturing, annealing, and extending leading to the formation of more DNA copies. After three cycles the targeted sequence by primers starts to accumulate. After 30 cycles, about a billion copies of the targeted sequence as defined by the primer are formed from a single DNA molecule.
Definition of terms
Taq polymerase enzyme: – Taq is an abbreviation for the Thermus aquaticus bacteria. Taq polymerase enzyme is therefore extracted from this bacteria that is known to withstand extreme temperatures. This enzyme plays a critical role in the final stage of the PCR process, which involves the extension of primers to form complementary DNA strands to the originally separated DNA strands.
Primer: – A primer is an important entity in DNA replication. It is a short strand of RNA or DNA that acts as the initial point of DNA synthesis.
Denaturation: – DNA denaturation is the process of separating the DNA molecule double strand into two separate single strands by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the two strands. It is achieved by subjecting the DNA molecule to temperatures ranging between 94-96 degrees Celsius.
Annealing: – This is the process of attaching primers or the re-joining of two separated DNA strands under conducive temperatures.
Extension: – It is the process of adding nucleotides onto primers in order to produce complementary DNA strands during the process of polymerase chain reaction. This process is facilitated by the polymerase enzyme (Taq).
Genetics
I would advise her to go for the done that has for years been between jobs and has no known diseases that run in their family. My choice will be based on the fact that good genes are inherent, can quickly be passed from parent to child, as opposed to smartness genes that are not only shaped by the child’s genetic make-up but also the environmental factors such as the schools they attend. Diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure are genetically inherent, hence, can easily be passed from parents to offspring. In short, choosing the disease-free donor would be in congruence with the postulates of natural selection.
While eugenics entail the selective breeding aimed at enhancing the genetic make-up of the human race, sexual selection is a special form of natural selection whereby members of a particular sex choose to mate with reproductively and genetically superior members of the opposite sex. Also, whereas, the eugenics movement started in the early 90s specifically seeking to accelerate natural selection, sexual selection has been in existence since the onset of evolution. The two terms are similar in the sense that both of them entail the selection of desirable heritable characteristics to pass on to the offspring and enhance future generations.
The processes of methylation and acetylation are critical in gene expression and gene silencing. Hence, they are a product of standard genetics because while methylation or the addition of methyl groups to specific genes repress these genes’ expression, acetylation is known to promote gene expression. It is, therefore, critical to understand basic genetics because it allows us to understand the environmental factors that alter and promote genetic expression.
In case of gene, A is turned off through methylation, gene B expression will be turned on or supported. In other words, gene A silencing or methylation will give room for the expression of the required gene B expression for the particular cell.
C. elegans was considered useful because it has easily detectable habits. Most of their habits alternate between exploratory and less active behaviors, which are determined by pheromones.
Genetics and potentially epigenetics are linked to the behavioral outcome because introvert or extrovert behaviors are dictated by one’s brain makeup, which in many cases is determined by genes. There is an apparent correlational link between genetics and behavior.
Definition of terms
Eugenics: – Conceptualized in the 1930s during Nazism, the eugenics theory was actualized in the 1970s when Robert K. Graham, a pessimist about humanity decided to strengthen the human genetic pool by allowing the reproduction of smart and killing the weak. In definition, therefore, eugenics is a set of practices that seek to improve the human genetic quality.
Dysgenic: – Dysgenic is the antonym of eugenics. It implies to the factors or practices that have led to the proliferation and perpetuation of the defective gene pool in humans and other species populations.
Histone: – They are small basic proteins that have a positive charge. They often tend to bind to negative DNA within a neutral cell. This makes DNA inaccessible for transcription.
Nucleosome: – This is the DNA wrapped around the histone proteins.
Epigenetics: – The study of how DNA interacts with small molecules found within the cell that can activate and deactivate genes in the processes referred to as gene expression and gene silencing. Epigenetic modifications (methylation and acetylation) can boost or interfere with the transcription of specific genes.
CpG Island: – These are DNA methylation sites.
Caenorhabditis elegans: – These are tiny roundworms that possess easily detectable habits. They are known to interact with others with the aid of pheromones.
Dwelling (in relation to C. elegans) introverts: – These are worms that are usually less active in behavior.
Correlation (in opposition of causation): – Behaviour and genetics are correlated in that the latter shapes but does not necessarily cause any changes in the former.
References
Joshi, M., & Deshpande, J. D. (2010). Polymerase chain reaction: methods, principles and application. International Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(1), 81-97.