What you should know about genetic testing for mitochondrial disordersmitoaction
Amanda Balog, CGC, Senior Genetic Counselor, Mitochondrial and Metabolic Genetics, of GeneDx discusses: "What You Should Know About Genetic Testing for Mitochondrial Disorders."
What you should know about genetic testing for mitochondrial disordersmitoaction
Amanda Balog, CGC, Senior Genetic Counselor, Mitochondrial and Metabolic Genetics, of GeneDx discusses: "What You Should Know About Genetic Testing for Mitochondrial Disorders."
Embryonic stem cells – Promises and IssuesTania Jabin
Introduction, Embryonic Stem Cells, Promises of Embryonic Stem cell research, Figure: The Promise of Stem Cell Research, Issues in Embryonic Stem cells - New embryonic stem cell lines from frozen embryos Informed consent for donation of materials for stem cell research Waiver of consent Consent from gamete donors Confidentiality of donor information Ethical concerns about oocyte donation for research (1. Medical risks of oocyte retrieval, 2. Protecting the reproductive interests of women in infertility treatment, 3. Payment to oocyte donors, 4. Informed consent for oocyte donation).
Embryonic stem cells – Promises and IssuesTania Jabin
Introduction, Embryonic Stem Cells, Promises of Embryonic Stem cell research, Figure: The Promise of Stem Cell Research, Issues in Embryonic Stem cells - New embryonic stem cell lines from frozen embryos Informed consent for donation of materials for stem cell research Waiver of consent Consent from gamete donors Confidentiality of donor information Ethical concerns about oocyte donation for research (1. Medical risks of oocyte retrieval, 2. Protecting the reproductive interests of women in infertility treatment, 3. Payment to oocyte donors, 4. Informed consent for oocyte donation).
The leaflet aims at providing general objective information on genetic tests, including their nature and the potential implications of their results. It presents the different types of tests available, their applications in the medical field and the extent and limit of the significance of the information resulting from these tests.
More information - www.coe.int/bioethics
Lukas P, Organ Cloning, period 3, 11 slides (first slide blank) - Please disregard my previous upload. I uploaded wrong version. The correct version is called Organ Cloning Project Revised.
Taxonomy and the Conservation of Endangered Species01archivist
The classification of individual species is often necessary to obtain protection and funding for conservation purposes. This presentation explains the process of taxonomic classifications and how modern genomic sequencing techniques are important considerations in the classification process.
Communicating Science Accurately Through Entertainment01archivist
Describes the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of the National Academy of Sciences. Discusses how to communicate science accurately through entertainment. Download to listen to audio presentations and video interviews.
The NACA at Lewis Laboratory, a Legacy of Ohioans Solving the Problem of Flight01archivist
Abstract: The Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory (AERL) in Cleveland, Ohio became NACA's third aeronautics research facility and was re-named Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in honor of aeronautics pioneer and Director of Aeronautical Research for the NACA, George W. Lewis, following his death in 1948. Cleveland’s Hopkins Airport was host to many of the National Air Races of the 1930s and was strategically out of range of enemy WWII bombers, making it a likely R&D testing site for wartime air and space defense capabilities, which were two reasons that Congress selected it in 1940 to conduct engine research. In retrospect, Cleveland was an excellent choice for a NACA center because of Ohio’s rich history bringing forth many of the great leaders in aeronautic and astronautic history, some of whom played a role at the NACA. For example, Orville Wright, the Dayton native and co-inventor of the first successful flight of a ‘heavier than air’ craft, attended the dedication ceremonies of the AERL. Byron R. Newton was an Oberlin College graduate who became an aviation journalist, politician, and a founding member of the NACA. Neil A. Armstrong, a Wapakoneta native who became the first human to set foot on the moon, joined NACA in February 1955 as an engineer studying Mach number heat transfer, as well as serving as a test pilot who broke NACA’s Mach 5 record in an instrumented T40 air-launched rocket. Armstrong credited his female NACA coworkers, particularly those trained as English teachers and librarians, for their role in the production of technically precise and demanding research publications. Thanks to its many employees, Lewis laboratory delivered a rich history of NACA advances in combustion processes with liquid jet engines for nearly a decade that evolved, after its incorporation into NASA in 1958, into the research of liquid hydrogen rocket fuel.
Reproducibility of Published Scientific and Medical Findings in Top Journals in an Era of Big Data by Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP
Creating a 21st Century Science Library: How and Why01archivist
"Creating a 21st Century Science Library: How and Why," by Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP
Presentation for Head of Dirac Library position.
Open data tools -turning data into actionable intelligence01archivist
"Open Data Tools: Turning Data into ‘Actionable Intelligence’" by Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP - http://www.scilogs.com/scientific_and_medical_libraries/open-data-tools-turning-data-into-actionable-intelligence/
Penn State's Educational Robotics Projects and Exhibits01archivist
Plato Pizzicato takes us on a tour of Penn State Abington’s educational robotics projects and exhibits in Second Life (SL). Includes discussion of Real Life (RL) robot contests, outreach, and plans to bridge RL and SL events.
Stephen L. Glasior, Ph.D.
University of New Orleans
(Stephen Xootfly in SL)
"Career and Seminal Contributions to Genetics of Barbara McClintock"
Put on your "jumping jeans" (well in this case "jumping genes") and join us for the first talk of the Women in Science, Tech & Medicine. Stephen Xootfly will be lecturing on one of the few female Nobel laureates in the sciences, Barbara McClintock.
TODAY, Friday, February 11, 2011
5 PM SLT, Space Destiny
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Space%20Destiny/91/86/25
"Biological R/evolutions" by Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP
Synthetic Life - Film Art for the UWA Competition, MachinimUWA II Art of the Artists
I saw when visiting the exhibits, sea creatures: the shark, the jellyfish, and the octopus, and I built upon the concept of genetic manipulation and mechanical hybridization. Life began in the ocean, so I wondered how this might be significant not only for the evolution of marine life but future generations of human life as well. I've included audio commentary from some of the leading scientists of our day. Jacques Cousteau explored the oceans and had a vision for preserving them, unchanged in their pristine condition, for future generations. James D. Watson, who with Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and the team of Rosalind Franklin and Ray Gossling, discovered the structure of DNA and later unraveled its method for reproduction which led to the ability to alter DNA sequences in the laboratory at the molecular level. J. Craig Venter not only sequenced the genome but created the first synthetic biological lifeform. These scientists also realized the power of modern media and communication and understood the technical details of modernization. Cousteau used film. Watson realized that the DNA code was "digital" in nature. Venter used cryptography and steganography to place a code within codes of a new lifeform, a new self-generating species, whose Adam and Eve-like "parents" were a computer and raw chemicals. Since the age of agriculture and selective breeding, humans have altered life and manipulated the gene pool. As our technology improves, how will we and the world we live in appear in the future?
DEFENSE TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER (DTIC)01archivist
DEFENSE TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER (DTIC)
Slide re: Shannon Bohle
2010 DTIC Conference, March 23, 2010. "Celebrating 65 Years of Providing Access to Defense Information."
Presentation: "Virtual Worlds and Federal Government Uses for Information Delivery," March 23, 2010 by Ms. Marjorie Powell, Moderator.
See Ms. Powell's complete presentation online: www.dtic.mil/dtic/annualconf/2010/VirtualWorlds.pdf
More information about the Library:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lDgQx8OHn8
SciLands Best Practices in Education Panel and Discussion01archivist
Virtual World Best Practices in Education
(VWBPE) 2010
Date/Time: Friday March 12 at 4:00 p.m. PST/SL
Location: VWBPE West 1
Panelists:
Real life name: Daniel Laughlin, Ph.D. (Chair)
Contact: Email address: daniel.d.laughlin@nasa.gov Avatar name: Greyark Hightower
Real life name: Mary Anne Clark, Ph.D.
Avatar name: Max Chatnoir
Real life name: Debbie Denise Reese, Ph.D.
Avatar name: Frecka Salsman
Real life name: Carolyn Lowe, Ph.D.
Avatar name: Clowey Greenwood
Panel Title: SciLands Best Practices in Education Panel and Discussion
Panel Description:
The SciLands is a mini-continent and user community in the virtual world platform Second Life devoted exclusively to science and technology. There are over 20 science and technology related organizations in the SciLands, including government agencies, universities and museums. SciLands members have regular meetings in Second Life where they share ideas, help each other, and plan future projects. Our panel will be composed of representative from SciLands islands that conduct and study education in Second Life. Members of the panel will briefly present on their projects and the best practice lessons learned at Biome, Genome, MoonWorld and NASA eEducation islands.
Participants will be better prepared to plan their own educational activities in Second Life and similar virtual worlds based on the combined experience shared by the panelist.
Include links to relevant Web sites or electronic copies of the materials you will share
Biome Island:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/BIOME/42/57/70
Genome Island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Genome/120/145/54
MoonWorld http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2010/pdf/1439.pdf
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2009/pdf/2229.pdf http://moonworld.cet.edu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXpTKp35clg http://slurl.com/secondlife/MoonWorld/173/173/319/?title=Welcome%20to%20MoonWorld
NASA eEducation Island: http://slurl.com/secondlife/NASA eEducation/128/159/43 http://www.nasa.gov/education/LT
SciLands • www.scilands.org
Short Bio of Panelist:
Real life name: Daniel Laughlin, Ph.D. (Chair)
Real life organization: NASA Learning Technologies, University of Maryland Baltimore County Email address: daniel.d.laughlin@nasa.gov Avatar name: Greyark Hightower
Real life name: Mary Anne Clark, Ph.D.
Real life organization: Texas Wesleyan University Email address: mclark@txwes.edu Avatar name: Max Chatnoir
Real life name: Debbie Denise Reese, Ph.D.
Real life organization: Wheeling Jesuit University Center for Educational Technologies, NASA-sponsored Classroom of the Future
Email address: debbie@cet.edu
Avatar name: Frecka Salsman
Real life name: Carolyn Lowe, Ph.D.
Real life organization: Northern Michigan University Email address: clowe@nmu.edu Avatar name: Clowey Greenwood
Published on Slideshare with permission of the participants.
By Shannon Bohle
A small group of archives, archivists, and museum professionals have joined together in Second Life to form the Archivists of Second Life group. Some of their projects have led to interesting international collaborations when confronting real world archival issues and theoretical perspectives on digital archiving.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
This presentation explores a brief idea about the structural and functional attributes of nucleotides, the structure and function of genetic materials along with the impact of UV rays and pH upon them.
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
Deep Behavioral Phenotyping in Systems Neuroscience for Functional Atlasing a...Ana Luísa Pinho
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) provides means to characterize brain activations in response to behavior. However, cognitive neuroscience has been limited to group-level effects referring to the performance of specific tasks. To obtain the functional profile of elementary cognitive mechanisms, the combination of brain responses to many tasks is required. Yet, to date, both structural atlases and parcellation-based activations do not fully account for cognitive function and still present several limitations. Further, they do not adapt overall to individual characteristics. In this talk, I will give an account of deep-behavioral phenotyping strategies, namely data-driven methods in large task-fMRI datasets, to optimize functional brain-data collection and improve inference of effects-of-interest related to mental processes. Key to this approach is the employment of fast multi-functional paradigms rich on features that can be well parametrized and, consequently, facilitate the creation of psycho-physiological constructs to be modelled with imaging data. Particular emphasis will be given to music stimuli when studying high-order cognitive mechanisms, due to their ecological nature and quality to enable complex behavior compounded by discrete entities. I will also discuss how deep-behavioral phenotyping and individualized models applied to neuroimaging data can better account for the subject-specific organization of domain-general cognitive systems in the human brain. Finally, the accumulation of functional brain signatures brings the possibility to clarify relationships among tasks and create a univocal link between brain systems and mental functions through: (1) the development of ontologies proposing an organization of cognitive processes; and (2) brain-network taxonomies describing functional specialization. To this end, tools to improve commensurability in cognitive science are necessary, such as public repositories, ontology-based platforms and automated meta-analysis tools. I will thus discuss some brain-atlasing resources currently under development, and their applicability in cognitive as well as clinical neuroscience.
Richard's entangled aventures in wonderlandRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
A brief information about the SCOP protein database used in bioinformatics.
The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for the structural and evolutionary relationships of proteins. It provides a detailed and curated classification of protein structures, grouping them into families, superfamilies, and folds based on their structural and sequence similarities.
Introduction:
RNA interference (RNAi) or Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) is an important biological process for modulating eukaryotic gene expression.
It is highly conserved process of posttranscriptional gene silencing by which double stranded RNA (dsRNA) causes sequence-specific degradation of mRNA sequences.
dsRNA-induced gene silencing (RNAi) is reported in a wide range of eukaryotes ranging from worms, insects, mammals and plants.
This process mediates resistance to both endogenous parasitic and exogenous pathogenic nucleic acids, and regulates the expression of protein-coding genes.
What are small ncRNAs?
micro RNA (miRNA)
short interfering RNA (siRNA)
Properties of small non-coding RNA:
Involved in silencing mRNA transcripts.
Called “small” because they are usually only about 21-24 nucleotides long.
Synthesized by first cutting up longer precursor sequences (like the 61nt one that Lee discovered).
Silence an mRNA by base pairing with some sequence on the mRNA.
Discovery of siRNA?
The first small RNA:
In 1993 Rosalind Lee (Victor Ambros lab) was studying a non- coding gene in C. elegans, lin-4, that was involved in silencing of another gene, lin-14, at the appropriate time in the
development of the worm C. elegans.
Two small transcripts of lin-4 (22nt and 61nt) were found to be complementary to a sequence in the 3' UTR of lin-14.
Because lin-4 encoded no protein, she deduced that it must be these transcripts that are causing the silencing by RNA-RNA interactions.
Types of RNAi ( non coding RNA)
MiRNA
Length (23-25 nt)
Trans acting
Binds with target MRNA in mismatch
Translation inhibition
Si RNA
Length 21 nt.
Cis acting
Bind with target Mrna in perfect complementary sequence
Piwi-RNA
Length ; 25 to 36 nt.
Expressed in Germ Cells
Regulates trnasposomes activity
MECHANISM OF RNAI:
First the double-stranded RNA teams up with a protein complex named Dicer, which cuts the long RNA into short pieces.
Then another protein complex called RISC (RNA-induced silencing complex) discards one of the two RNA strands.
The RISC-docked, single-stranded RNA then pairs with the homologous mRNA and destroys it.
THE RISC COMPLEX:
RISC is large(>500kD) RNA multi- protein Binding complex which triggers MRNA degradation in response to MRNA
Unwinding of double stranded Si RNA by ATP independent Helicase
Active component of RISC is Ago proteins( ENDONUCLEASE) which cleave target MRNA.
DICER: endonuclease (RNase Family III)
Argonaute: Central Component of the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC)
One strand of the dsRNA produced by Dicer is retained in the RISC complex in association with Argonaute
ARGONAUTE PROTEIN :
1.PAZ(PIWI/Argonaute/ Zwille)- Recognition of target MRNA
2.PIWI (p-element induced wimpy Testis)- breaks Phosphodiester bond of mRNA.)RNAse H activity.
MiRNA:
The Double-stranded RNAs are naturally produced in eukaryotic cells during development, and they have a key role in regulating gene expression .
Professional air quality monitoring systems provide immediate, on-site data for analysis, compliance, and decision-making.
Monitor common gases, weather parameters, particulates.
Exploring your personal genome with free, online bioinformatics tools
1. Exploring Your Personal
Genome with Free, Online
Bioinformatics Tools
by
Shannon Bohle, BA, MLIS, CDS (Cantab), FRAS, AHIP
.org 2014 Tech Conference
2. What is the future of genomic sciences and bioinformatics?
Ethical considerations of newborn screening:
privacy, inaccuracy, discrimination, eugenics
Video: Gattica (1997): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q67bMYOm7E
3. Reduced cost: The $1,000 genome
“Illumina’s DNA Supercomputer Ushers in the $1,000 Human Genome” (January 14, 2014)
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-14/illuminas-dna-supercomputer-ushers-in-the-1-000-human-genome
+ Genome sequencing at birth:
“Baby DNA Analysis Ushers in Brave New World of Treatment” (January 16, 2014)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-16/baby-dna-analysis-ushers-in-brave-new-world-of-treatment-health.html
= Big industry
“Illumina and a Billionaire Want to Jump-Start Genomics Upstarts” (February 17, 2014)
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-17/illimuna-and-billionaire-yuri-milner-to-aid-genomics-startups
The future of genomic sciences and bioinformatics is NOW.
4. Presentation Overview: Predictive Pathology
Hopefully you will learn a great deal today about the biological basis of disease.
Specifically, we will discuss the following pathways in which disease can occur:
• At conception, chromosomes from both parents combine to pass on genetic material to a child. Sometimes when chromosomes
combine there are problems that occur in this crossing over process called chiasma, and these variations are not inherited.
• Chromosomal abnormalities like an addition, deletion, translocation, inversion, or insertion, are inherited. A common example of a
structural variation would be Down Syndrome where there is an additional copy of chromosome 21.
• Also at conception, because chromosomes contain DNA, the specific traits (called phenotypes) and the genetic code (called
genotypes) are also transferred. Genotypes are always present, while phenotypes may be expressed (dominant) or hidden
(recessive) in an individual. Recessive traits can be passed on through generations expressing themselves down the family line, and
dominant traits can skip generations. A common example of an autosomal recessive heritable disease is sickle cell anemia.
• During childhood and adulthood, factors like the environment (such as exposure to chemicals), diet, exercise, aging, et cetera can
also damage genes, mutating them, and this may lead to disease. The branch of study examining context dependent, non-inherited
factors is called epigenetics. An example of this is Protein misfolding.
• Inherited and de novo (chiasmic, protein misfolding, and epigenetically-caused) variations can be studied in detail when looking at
the level of either proteins or DNA (which is made of amino acids). Therefore, sequencing of plant, animal, and other forms of life
have been done to try to understand and control biology, specifically biological function. The field of functional genomics designs
technology tools that aid in diagnoses when biology malfunctions. About 40-60% of genes in a sequenced genome are related to
biological function. Under different conditions, proteins may express themselves in novel, transient ways. These gene expressions
are difficult to detect.
Trained professionals identify specific biomarkers, like JAK2, that have a high association with diseases. Knowing these in advance
can sometimes influence a person’s lifestyle choices, such as having children, diet, and medical decisions. Because bioinformatics is a
very new field, a genetic counselor should interpret test results to provide patients with guidance on two items. First, their level of
risk by percentage, and second, the level of confidence scientists have that a specific biomarker actually causes a disease. Scientists
determine this looking across species, through phylogenetics. But most importantly they learn about the genetic basis of human
disease by using bioinformatics tools to compare DNA of patients who share the same disease and creating cell lines. That is why
projects like the Personal Genome Project not only benefit the individual participant, but also contribute to advances in medicine
and personalized medicine. “Personalized medicine is an emerging practice of medicine that uses an individual's genetic profile to
guide decisions made in regard to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease” (NLM ‘s GHR glossary).
Having your genome sequenced provides an overview of your genetic background
as well as the state of your genes at a given time.
5. Courtesy of the Genetics & Public Policy Center with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts
6. Genome: all hereditary genetic material of an organism
Chromosome: DNA, protein, and RNA found in cells
Gene: strands of 5’ to 3’ DNA (promoters, exons, introns)
(Humans have about 22,000 genes)
Allele: one of 2 or more variants of each gene (two of
which are inherited from parents)
Genotype: coded information
2 Types: Homozygote: same alleles – AA, aa
Heterozygote: different alleles – Aa
Phenotype: physical manifestation of a characteristic
Dominant Trait: expressed
Recessive Trait: not expressed
a) Autosomal Recessive: Two abnormal copies must
be present to get the disorder
b) X-linked Recessive: Females are carriers only
GENETICS (GENES/CHROMOSOMES)
A Short Overview of Biological Inheritance (Heredity)
Described Through Cell Biology CELL
GENOME
CHROMOSOME
GENE
DNA
AMINO ACIDS
Image Courtesy of Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/procedure/genetic-testing/multimedia/genetic-disorders/sls-20076216
If you have a genetic disorder or are a carrier,
will your children inherit it?
NOT NECESSARILY. SEE AN MD OR GENETIC COUNSELOR.
7. GENETICS (GENES/CHROMOSOMES)
Mitosis v. Meiosis
Some chromosome abnormalities are
not inherited. De novo variants appear
for the first time in an individual.
They can occur in recombination or
“crossing over” during mitosis or meiosis.
Image Credit: OpenStax College. "Laws of
Inheritance." Connexions. February 24, 2014.
http://cnx.org/content/m44479/1.3.
Mitosis occurs with somatic cells. It results in
two cells that are duplicates of the original cell.
In other words, one cell with 46 chromosomes
becomes two cells with 46 chromosomes each.
This kind of cell division occurs throughout the
body, except in the reproductive organs. This is
how most of the cells that make up our body
are made and replaced. These mutations are
not passed on to children.
Meiosis occurs with germ cells. It results in
cells with half the number of chromosomes (in
diploid humans, 23 instead of the normal 46).
These are the eggs and sperm. These mutations
can be passed on to children in their stem cells.
During gestation, the stem cells gain specificity
as somatic cells of various types and germ cells
to become a male or female child.
Source: http://www.genome.gov/11508982#6
Chiasma
During meiosis
chromosomal material
crosses over
8. Video: Cell Division and the Cell Cycle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ucKWIIFmg
11. Video: Central dogma of molecular biology (1958): replication, transcription and translation
Variations (mutations) can occur during these processes, sometimes causing diseases
that can be passed on to children.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_WRFw8KQk4
13. After proteins are formed they fold into various shapes based on their chemical makeup.
Misfolding is a second cause of de novo variants. Misfolding sometimes causes disease, and is
passed on to children. A linear analysis of amino acid chains in a protein cannot anticipate
amino acids near each other when proteins fold so 3D modeling is used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjt1Q2ZZVjA
“Simulating How Proteins Self-Assemble, Or Fold” by Stanford University
Video: Protein folding
14. When cells go bad,
control decisions must be made
that regulate the micro-“society.”
Reform or Remove?
DNA ligase, an enzyme,
(shown left, in color)
repairs mistakes in DNA.
Some proteins, like p53,
(shown below)
enforce cell death (apoptosis).
P53 malfunction is one cause of
cancer, where cells with mutations
grow out of control.
The Life Cycle of
DNA
15. Sir John Gurdon:
Epigenetics Founder &
Nobel Laureate
"for the discovery that
mature cells can be
reprogrammed to become
pluripotent"
Turning back the clock on disease:
Mature, specialized cells can be reverted to their embryonic stem cell state.
University of Cambridge, 2012, the year Gurdon won the Nobel Prize
Xenopus
16. Protein-Protein Interaction
How proteins interact with one another
is key to understanding their function in the body.
Only 1%
of the human genome
codes for 20,000 our proteins.
Function is largely determined
on how proteins interact.
Epigenetics
“Epigenetic mechanisms are affected by
several factors and processes including
development in utero and in
childhood, environmental chemicals, drugs
and pharmaceuticals, aging, and diet. DNA
methylation is what occurs when methyl
groups, an epigenetic factor found in some
dietary sources, can tag DNA and activate
or repress genes. Histones are proteins
around which DNA can wind for
compaction and gene regulation. Histone
modification occurs when the binding of
epigenetic factors to histone “tails” alters
the extent to which DNA is wrapped
around histones and the availability of
genes in the DNA to be activated. All of
these factors and processes can have an
effect on people’s health and influence
their health possibly resulting in
cancer, autoimmune disease, mental
disorders, or diabetes among other Image and description credit:
National Institutes of Health
17. Comparative Genomics and Phylogeny
To locate new disease markers and learn how pathogens function,
it is helpful to examine ultra-conserved regions in cross-species protein & nucleic acid production,
because these are most often linked to important bodily functions, disease and health.
(See: 1) Kumar S, Sanderford M, Gray VE, Ye J, Liu Li. Evolutionary diagnosis method for variants
in personal exomes. Nature Methods (2012) p;9(9):855-6. doi:10.1038/nmeth.2147.
2) Liu L, Kumar S. (2013) Evolutionary Balancing is Critical for Correctly Forecasting Disease
Associated Amino Acid Variants. Molecular Biology and Evolution 30:1252-1257 (Epub 2013 March 5))
About 5%-10% of the human genome are regulatory motifs across species, that turn genes “on” and “off”
to control gene expression, in addition to the 1% used for coding proteins.
18. Visualization of a Phylogenic Tree Using MEGA 6
Newick notation:
((((Cucumis sativus,Ricinus communis), Solanum lycopersicum), Medicago truncatula)(Arabidopsis thaliana,Capsella rubella))
19. “Proteins are clustered on branches on the basis of the
similarity of their amino acid sequences. The phylogenetic
representation tends to cluster structurally (and sometimes
functionally) related proteins. Drugs targeting a specific
protein are more likely to be active against other proteins on
the same branch. Distinct phylogenetic branches are
highlighted with distinct colours (in the case of the malignant
brain tumour (MBT) family, where only a few MBT domains
are actually binding methyl-lysines, the red colour coding
indicates the branch where all known methyl-lysine-binding
domains are clustered). We assembled protein families by
looking for domains associated with 'writing', 'reading' and
'erasing' acetyl and methyl marks in the Human Protein
Reference Database, and by complementing the list with
data from the literature, as well as data from the Pfam
protein family database and the SMART (Simple Modular
Architecture Research Tool) database. The phylogeny
outlined in the trees is derived from multiple sequence
alignments of the domain after which the family was named
(full-length sequences were used for acetyltransferases as
the catalytic domain is not always clearly defined for this
family). If a domain is present multiple times in a protein, the
protein is shown multiple times in the corresponding tree,
followed by the sequential iteration of the domain in
parenthesis for example, L3MBTL(2) corresponds to the
second MBT domain of the protein L3MBTL. If multiple
variants with insertions or deletions were reported for a
gene, the variant number according to Swiss-Prot
nomenclature is indicated after a hyphen: for example,
TRIM33-2 in the tree of bromodomain-containing proteins
corresponds to the second Swiss-Prot variant of the TRIM33
(tripartite motif-containing protein 33) bromodomain. For
each tree, a seed alignment was derived from available
protein structures by aligning residues that were
superimposed in the three-dimensional space. Additional
sequences were appended by aligning them to the closest
seed sequence..”http://www.nature.com/nrd/journal/v11/n5/fig_tab/nrd3674_F2.html
Phylogenetic trees of epigenetic protein families.
21. Sequencing human DNA:
The Human Genome Project and the Personal Genome Project
First Human Genomes Sequenced:
1) Dr. J. Craig Venter
2) Dr. James D. Watson:
Molecular Biology Founder &
Nobel Laureate
3) Personal Genome Project
4) Hundred Person Wellness Project
5) UK Personal Genome ProjectCold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 2006
Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)
compare one human genome to another to
look for similarities and differences that
might cause disease.
22. Current understanding of the human genome,
categorized by function of each gene product,
given both as number of genes
and as percentage of all genes.
Image description and credit: Mikael Häggström (Wikimedia Commons)
Our understanding of function within the human genome is incomplete.
More samples are needed for improved results.
24. State Direct-to-Consumer Testing Statutes and Regulations
Courtesy of the Genetics & Public Policy Center with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts
25. Limitations of GINA
“The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act,
known as GINA, does not apply to three types of
insurance — life, disability and long-term care —
that are especially important to people who may
have serious inherited diseases … The American
Medical Association’s code of ethics states that
‘it may be necessary’ for doctors to maintain a
separate file for genetic test results so the
information is not sent to insurers.”
-- “Fearing Punishment for Bad Genes,”
The New York Times, April 7, 2014.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/08/science/fearing-punishment-for-bad-genes.html?_r=1
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of 2008: http://www.genome.gov/24519851
26. Henrietta Lacks:
The Ethics of Cell Line Development and Research
Henrietta Lacks, 1945. Image courtesy of The Lacks Family. (Source: Wikipedia).
Do you own
your DNA?
27. Testing Companies
23andMe
454 Life Sciences
Advanced Healthcare, Inc
AIBioTech
Ancestry DNA
Atlas Sports Genetics
Athleticode
Biologis Personal Genomics
Service
Bioresolve
Counsyl
Complete Genomics
deCODE Genetics
deCODEme.com
DNA-CARDIOCHECK
DNA DTC
DNATraits
Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences
easyDNA
EnteroLab
Family Tree DNA
Future Genetics
Geenitesti
Genelex
GenePlanet
Genetic Health
Genetic Technologies
Genetic Testing Laboratories
Geneyouin
Genographic Project
Genotek
Gentle Labs
Graceful Earth
HealthCheckUSA
HelloGene / HelloGenome
Holistic Health
IDNA.com
i-gene
Illumina
Indian Biosciences
InoLife Technologies
Interleukin Genetics
JCVI
Knome
Lumigenix
Map My Gene
MapMyGenome
meragenome.com
MyGene23
Navigenics
Oxford Nanopore Technologies
Pacific Biosciences
Pathway Genomics
Pediatrix Medical Group
Perkin Elmer Genetics
Personal Genome Project
Personalis
PHENOM Biosciences
Positive Bioscience
Sequenom
SNPedia Test Country
Ubiome
Viaguard/Accu-metrics
vuGene
Xcode Life Sciences
As of March 10, 2014, 23andMe
had 650,000+ genotyped customers
28. Screenings
More than 420 Conditions and Traits are Screened for During Genetic Testing.
CONDITIONS
CANCER
LIVER
HEART
HEARING
SIGHT
DIABETES
PSYCHIATRIAC/PSYCHOLOGICAL
REPRODUCTIVE / STD (FERTILITY)
REGULATORY FUNCTIONS
(BREATHING, SLEEP, WEIGHT, RENAL)
ADDICTION (ALCOHOL, DRUG)
IMMUNE SYSTEM (HIV, AIDS)
MUSCULO-SKELETAL (MARFANS)
PHARMACOGENOMICS/DRUG EFFICACY
(CANCER, WARFARIN)
NEUROLOGICAL
(PARKINSON’S, ALZHEIMER’S, MS)
SKIN
ABILITIES & PHYSICAL TRAITS
INTELLIGENCE
ENDURANCE
EYE & HAIR COLOR
NCBI Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/variation
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/guide/genetics-
medicine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1116
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/mesh
Other Resources
http://www.omim.org
http://www.orpha.net
http://www.genome.gov
http://www.dnapolicy.org
See
handout
for specific
tests
Asclepius
29. How to Submit Your DNA for Sequencing and Analysis with the Personal Genome Project
Basic eligibility:
1. US citizen age 21 or older
2. Additional details: http://www.personalgenomes.org/harvard/protocols
How it Works:
We will be using an existing volunteer’s genome for this presentation.
Steps:
1. Provide Open Consent (form)
2. Supply Medical History (form)
3. Donate DNA Samples (saliva, hair, blood, tissue) by self-collection or at a designated facility
4. Samples Sent to Lab (blood=dna, tissue=exome, saliva=microbiome); tissue samples may be
used to develop cell lines for research purposes
5. Harvard’s PGP Team Analyzes Data for Anomalies and Creates a Personalized Health
Prognosis Report
6. The PGP Team Publishes Your Information Online
(Your data is associated with a volunteer number, but your name can also be used if you
would like to do this)
7. Safety follow-up monitoring by email
8. Additional details: http://www.personalgenomes.org/harvard/howitworks
31. Volunteer huA90CE6 = Case Study: John Lauerman (Harvard Analysis)
JAK2-V617F and APOE-C130R variations
Step 1
Create a C:data folder and download John Laurman’s genome from the PGP website:
https://my.pgp-hms.org/profile/huA90CE6. Examine the variant report on the same page.
32. Locating and Interpreting Errors: Cytogenetic Location
JAK2-V617F is located on the short arm of chromosome 9p (9pLOH).
Sources:
Kralovics R1, Passamonti F, Buser AS, Teo SS, Tiedt R, Passweg JR, Tichelli A, Cazzola
M, Skoda RC.
A gain-of-function mutation of JAK2 in myeloproliferative disorders. N Engl JMed. 2005
Apr 28;352(17):1779-90.
There are 22 chromosomes and X or Y.
The first integer is the chromosome number.
The second integer is the letter p or q, where p is the
“short arm” and q is the “long arm.”
The position is usually designated by two digits
(representing a region and a band), which are
sometimes followed by a decimal point and one or
more additional digits (representing sub-bands within
a light or dark area)
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/
genelocation
LIST OF COMMON ERRORS BY CHROMOSOME NUMBER: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosomes
9pLOH
Janus kinase 2 –
Cytogenetic Location: 9p24
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome/9
Human Gene JAK2
Transcript (Including UTRs)
Position: chr9:4,985,245-
5,128,183 Size: 142,939
Total Exon Count: 25 Strand: +
Coding Region
Position: chr9:5,021,988-
5,126,791 Size: 104,804 Coding Exon
Count: 23
33. JAK2-V617F
Human Reference Genome - “Normal” JAK2 using UCSCGB
Right Click over JAK2
and choose
“Get DNA for JAK2.”
Then, in the popup
window, choose
“get DNA.” Using the
shift key, highlight all
the information.
“Save As” JAK2. .
Open the file with
notepad to see JAK2
in more detail.
http://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgTracks?db=hg19&position=chr9%3A4985245-5128183
34. We will examine a volunteer’s “Variant” JAK2 with
two free bioinformatics tools using Windows.
At the end of the talk there will be a list of additional non-Windows
compatible tools for other systems like Linux, MAC, and iPad.
PGA
BLAST National Center for Biotechnical Information (NCBI)
(Web-based)
Personal Genome Analyzer from Archivopedia
35. Volunteer huA90CE6 -- Case Study: John Lauerman (Looking Closer with PGA & PyMOL)
Step 1
Download and install Python https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7.5
Windows X86-64 MSI Installer (2.7.5) [1] (sig)
Step 2
Download and install the PyMOL extension for a free 3D molecule viewer
http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/pythonlibs/#pymol (pymol-1.7.1.0.win-amd64-py2.7.exe)
Find application file C:Python27PyMOL
Find PyMOL application file in the list and create shortcut.
Drag shortcut to the desktop.
Double click icon on desktop to run PyMOL.
SETTING UP PYTHON (Win 7, 64-bit)
Note: Installing the extension may open
a C prompt window to compile.
Step 3
Download and install the wxPython extension:
http://downloads.sourceforge.net/
wxpython/wxPython3.0-win64-3.0.0.0-py27.exe
36. Volunteer huA90CE6 -- Case Study: John Lauerman (Looking Closer with PGA)
Step 4
Use the Python-driven tool designed for this project to convert an isolated chromosome in
your whole genome sequence from TSV to FASTA and SQL formats in under 5 minutes.
Note: The following sources were used to create the tool:
Search engine - http://wiki.personal-genome.org/index.php?title=Talk:MtDNA_haplogroup
Human reference genome (rCRS) -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/251831106?report=fasta
Insert
• Browse your hard drive for the Volunteer’s Whole Genome Sequence
• File name: huA90CE6--GS000006909-ASM.tsv
Insert
• Enter a single chromosome number you wish to examine
• 1-22, X, or Y; or leave blank for whole genome. [Enter 9]
Insert
• Enter an exact location or leave at defaults if you wish to scan the
whole chromosome or whole genome. [Use Default]
Check mark “Generate FA” for FASTA
Check mark “Generate SQL” for SQL
Click the PROCESS BUTTON.
Go to C:data
for the converted files in
FASTA and SQL formats.
37. Volunteer huA90CE6 -- Case Study: John Lauerman (Looking Closer with PGA)
UNDER DEVELOPMENT
After a single search of a whole
genome or chromosome,
use PGA to view the FASTA file in
the “View FASTA” window.
Or, view the exact location of
variants simply by clicking on the
“Variants” tab.
This image shows some variants in
John Lauerman’s Chr1 compared
to the Human Reference Genome.
Note: The following sources were used to create the tool:
Search engine - http://wiki.personal-genome.org/index.php?title=Talk:MtDNA_haplogroup
Human reference genome (rCRS) -
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/251831106?report=fasta
Future plans include adding
reports with graphs and other
visualizations.
38. Volunteer huA90CE6 Case Study:
John Lauerman
(Looking Closer with BLAST)
Step 5
Use the generated FASTA file
to perform a BLASTn search.
In this case, John Lauerman’s Chr9 file
was used
(after using PGA, it is located in C:data
with a .fa extension).
40. Free Tools for Other Platforms
CGATools
(MacOS or LINUX only)
Download Complete Genomics Analysis Tools software and User Guide documentation:
http://cgatools.sourceforge.net
CGA Tools 1.8.0 Software:
CGA Tools 1.8.0 User Guide:
http://cgatools.sourceforge.net/docs/1.8.0/cgatools-user-guide.pdf
Illumina’s MyGenome App
Requires iOS 6.1 or later. Compatible with iPad.
http://www.illumina.com/clinical/clinical_informatics/mygenome_app.ilmn
Complete Genomics’ Genome Voyager
http://www.completegenomics.com/analysis-tools/voyager
Complete Genomics’ List of Third Party Tools:
http://www.completegenomics.com/analysis-tools/third-party-tools
PyMOL for Linux and Mac:
http://www.pymolwiki.org/index.php/Linux_Install
http://www.pymolwiki.org/index.php/MAC_Install
41. Using a mySQL database, it is possible to import many whole human genome sequences from
the PGP project by following the example in Slide #36 using PGA.
2. Consider the needed space allocation.
● Each unzipped TSV file of an entire genome is about 1.3 MB
TO GET STARTED
1. Determine the minimum and ideal sample sizes (number of volunteer DNA sequences)
for significance in your study (usually 10,000).
The PGP aims for a collection of 100,000 sequenced genomes.
In silico human genome scientific studies can be conducted for the following applications:
● disease biomarker identification
● pharmacogenetics
3. Consider needed time for conversion and import into a mySQL database.
Create your own database
Analyzing Collections of Whole Human Genomes
Through Multiple Sequence Alignments and Analysis
42. Selected Bibliography
ALBERTS, B. (1983). Molecular biology of the cell. New York, Garland Pub.
CAREY, N. (2013). Epigenetics revolution: how modern biology is rewriting our
understanding of genetics, disease, and inheritance.
CHURCH, G. M., & REGIS, E. (2012). Regenesis: how synthetic biology will reinvent
nature and ourselves. New York, Basic Books.
SCHRÖDINGER, E. (2012). What is life?: the physical aspect of the living cell. Cambridge,
Univ. Press.
SKLOOT, R. (2010). The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. New York, Crown Publishers.
VENTER, J. C. (2007). A life decoded: my genome, my life. New York, Viking.
WATSON, J. D. (1968). The double helix; a personal account of the discovery of the
structure of DNA. New York, Atheneum. [SIGNED FIRST EDITION]
WATSON, J. D. (2008). Molecular biology of the gene. San Francisco, Pearson/Benjamin
Cummings.
ZVELEBIL, M. J., & BAUM, J. O. (2008). Understanding bioinformatics. New York,
Garland Science.
43. Credits
Personal Genome Project (Harvard)
MITx: 7.00x: Introduction to Biology - The Secret of Life
(14 weeks) : Eric Lander (MIT, Harvard)
Bioinformatic Methods I | Coursera
(6 weeks): Nicholas Provart - (University of Toronto)
Bioinformatic Methods II | Coursera
(6 weeks): Nicholas Provart - (University of Toronto)
Illumina
Gattica (screenshot)
Genetics & Public Policy Center
Mayo Clinic
Stanford University
Mega 6
JMOL
NIH
UCSC Genome Database
PyMOL
CGA Tools
Complete Genomics
MyGenome App
NCBI – BLAST
PBS
MG – RAST
Nature
John Lauerman
Tracy Kovach
Mikael Häggström
Database of Genomic Variants
National Human Genome Research Institute
International Society of Genetic Genealogy
Personal Genome Analyzer:
Architect: S. Bohle, Programmers: D. Yount