Overview of Common Genetic Diseases

2. CYSTIC FIBROSIS

3. SICKLE CELL ANEMIA

4. PHENYLKETONURIA

5. GALACTOSEMIA

6. WILSON’S DISEASE

7. ALBINISM

8. HEMOPHILIA

9. MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY

10. NIEMANN-PICK DISEASE

11. GAUCHER’S DISEASE

12. TAY-SACHS DISEASE

13. FARBER’S DISEASE

14. LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE

17. RECOMBINANT DNA (Gene Splicing) Recombinant DNA is the general name for taking a piece of one DNA, and combining it with another strand of DNA. By combining two or more different strands of DNA, scientists are able to create a new strand of DNA. The most common recombinant process involves combining the DNA of two different organisms.

18. GENETIC MARKERS One of the newer topics of cancer research is genetic markers, defects in one part of a chromosomes that it is believed can cause a certain disease. A genetic marker for Alzheimer’s disease has been found on chromosome 21, the same chromosome that is associated with Down’s Syndrome. Since a chromosomes can include many, many genes, much work is yet to be done in this area.

20. DNA FINGERPRINTING DNA fingerprinting is a way of identifying a specific individual, rather than simply identifying a species or some particular trait. It is also known as genetic fingerprinting or DNA profiling.

21. DNA fingerprinting is very attractive because it doesn't require actual fingerprints, which may or may not be left behind, and may or may not be obscured. Because all of the DNA sections are contained in every cell, any piece of a person's body, from a strand of hair to a skin follicle to a drop of blood, may be used to identify them using DNA fingerprinting.

22. This is useful in the case of identifying a criminal, because even a drop of blood or skin left at the crime scene may be enough to establish innocence or guilt, and it is virtually impossible to remove all physical trace of one's presence. DNA fingerprinting is useful in the case of identifying victims because even in cases where the body may be disfigured past identification, and teeth or other identifying features may be destroyed, all it takes is a single cell for positive identification.