Chromosomal aberrations

Main articles: Chromosome abnormalities and aneuploidy

The three major single chromosome mutations; deletion (1), duplication (2) and inversion (3).

The two major two-chromosome mutations; insertion (1) and translocation (2).

In Down syndrome, there are three copies of chromosome 21

Chromosomal aberrations are disruptions in the normal chromosomal content of a cell, and are a major cause of genetic conditions in humans, such as Down syndrome. Some chromosome abnormalities do not cause disease in carriers, such as translocations, or chromosomal inversions, although they may lead to a higher chance of having a child with a chromosome disorder. Abnormal numbers of chromosomes or chromosome sets, aneuploidy, may be lethal or give rise to genetic disorders. Genetic counseling is offered for families that may carry a chromosome rearrangement.

The gain or loss of chromosome material can lead to a variety of genetic disorders. Human examples include:

• Cri du chat, which is caused by the deletion of part of the short arm of chromosome 5. "Cri du chat" means "cry of the cat" in French, and the condition was so-named because affected babies make high-pitched cries that sound like a cat. Affected individuals have wide-set eyes, a small head and jaw and are moderately to severely mentally retarded and very short.
• Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, which is caused by partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4. It is characterized by severe growth retardation and severe to profound mental retardation.
• Down's syndrome, usually is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). Characteristics include decreased muscle tone, stockier build, asymmetrical skull, slanting eyes and mild to moderate mental retardation.^[42]
• Edwards syndrome, which is the second most common trisomy after Down syndrome. It is a trisomy of chromosome 18. Symptoms include mental and motor retardation and numerous congenital anomalies causing serious health problems. Ninety percent die in infancy; however, those who live past their first birthday usually are quite healthy thereafter. They have a characteristic hand appearance with clenched hands and overlapping fingers.
• Patau Syndrome, also called D-Syndrome or trisomy-13. Symptoms are somewhat similar to those of trisomy-18, but they do not have the characteristic hand shape.
• Idic15, abbreviation for Isodicentric 15 on chromosome 15; also called the following names due to various researches, but they all mean the same; IDIC(15), Inverted dupliction 15, extra Marker, Inv dup 15, partial tetrasomy 15
• Jacobsen syndrome, also called the terminal 11q deletion disorder.[1] This is a very rare disorder. Those affected have normal intelligence or mild mental retardation, with poor expressive language skills. Most have a bleeding disorder called Paris-Trousseau syndrome.
• Klinefelter's syndrome (XXY). Men with Klinefelter syndrome are usually sterile, and tend to have longer arms and legs and to be taller than their peers. Boys with the syndrome are often shy and quiet, and have a higher incidence of speech delay and dyslexia. During puberty, without testosterone treatment, some of them may develop gynecomastia.
• Turner syndrome (X instead of XX or XY). In Turner syndrome, female sexual characteristics are present but underdeveloped. People with Turner syndrome often have a short stature, low hairline, abnormal eye features and bone development and a "caved-in" appearance to the chest.
• XYY syndrome. XYY boys are usually taller than their siblings. Like XXY boys and XXX girls, they are somewhat more likely to have learning difficulties.
• Triple-X syndrome (XXX). XXX girls tend to be tall and thin. They have a higher incidence of dyslexia.
• Small supernumerary marker chromosome. This means there is an extra, abnormal chromosome. Features depend on the origin of the extra genetic material. Cat-eye syndrome and isodicentric chromosome 15 syndrome (or Idic15) are both caused by a supernumerary marker chromosome, as is Pallister-Killian syndrome.

Chromosomal mutations produce changes in whole chromosomes (more than one gene) or in the number of chromosomes present.

• Deletion - loss of part of a chromosome
• Duplication - extra copies of a part of a chromosome
• Inversion - reverse the direction of a part of a chromosome
• Translocation - part of a chromosome breaks off and attaches to another chromosome

Most mutations are neutral - have little or no effect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosome

GENOMICS

The goal of Genomics is to promote the understanding of the structure, function, and evolution of genomes in all kingdoms of life and the application of genome sciences and technologies to challenging problems in biology and medicine. The scope of the journal is broad and we welcome original, full-length, and timely papers in all of the following areas:

• Comparative genomics analysis that yields valuable insights into conserved and divergent aspects of function, regulation, and evolution

• Bioinformatics and computational biology with particular emphasis on data mining and improvements in data annotation and integration

• Functional genomics approaches involving the use of large-scale and/or high-throughput methods to understand genome-scale function and regulation of transcriptomes and proteomes

• Identification of genes involved in disease and complex traits, including responses to drugs and other xenobiotics

• Significant advances in genetic and genomics technologies and their applications, including chemical genomics

http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622838/description#description

Genetic manipulation in Production of biopharmaceuticals

Transgenic animals are being bred to produce drugs, vaccines, hormones, and other substances of value to the pharmaceutical industry, in their milk. Known as “pharming”––a play on the word farming––animals are treated as living factories that offer a low-cost alternative for the large-scale production of drugs and proteins.

Factory farming

Much genetic manipulation is aimed at increasing the growth efficiency and productivity of animals who are farmed for their flesh, milk, and eggs. Despite the fact that traditional, selective breeding has already resulted in a wide range of serious animal welfare problems––including “broiler” chickens suffering from crippling deformities of limb bones and turkeys who have been bred with such large chest muscles that they can no longer mate naturally––the profit-driven food industry is forever seeking to create more with less, to the detriment of the animals involved.

http://www.cruelscience.ca/research-gm.htm

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