In the following term 1 of all the multiple topics we have done, this blog post will show my understanding of the topics done. Why are people all different to each other? What makes us unique to other people, our friends and family? There is something called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that makes us all different. It is a double-helix shaped microscopic thing inside our bodies, that makes us unique. It is like a coding thing, and each person’s DNA is different. A section of each DNA is called a gene, filled with specific detailed codes that contain instructions to build stuff like protein. Inside the genes there are alleles, which are traits that can be inherited to offspring. We use letters like Aa or AA to show each allele. The capital lettered letter is more dominant, so if aa is blonde and AA is black, if we pair it together AA will dominate and the offspring will inherit black hair. Just like math, negative (-) is dominant to positive (+). But how will we predict the offspring’s traits? There exists something called a Punnett square, which is a square diagram used to predict what an offspring will inherit. This is how to use it:
- Use a two by two square
- Put the parent’s alleles on top of the boxes, for example mother’s alleles (aa) in the top and father’s (AA) on the right side
- Put the mother’s alleles (aa) down in the vertical boxes on the left digit
- Put the father’s alleles (AA) down in the horizontal boxes on the right digit
The alleles can sometimes mutate. There are 3 different mutations, substitution, insertion, and deletion. These mutations can shape physical traits, like the Shar Pei dog, with a gene mutation that makes them wrinkly. But this mutation is bad for them as it traps dirt particles under the thick skin wrinkles. These alleles can be bad for every organism, as it decides whether you survive to produce more offspring or not. This is called Natural Selection. Organisms produce offspring through a process called reproduction. The offspring is normally a mix of both parents, almost identical. As each organism keeps reproducing and reproducing, as the environment changes, the flaws of each organism will eventually adapt, and the physical trait, behavior trait, internal trait will change to adapt and be able to survive in the environment. However, it does not happen through 3-4 generations. It happens over thousands to millions of years. This is called evolution.
But since humans have big brainy brains, we have found a way to edit DNA. It is called CRISPR. In my opinion, this can benefit us and other organisms heavily, because we can eradicate genetic diseases and boost the pace of evolution. We would not have to wait millions of years just to evolve, we can do this way faster through CRISPR. We could also make food better and healthier by editing the DNA in them, like our selective breeding to bananas and watermelons, but way faster. Therefore CRISPR could benefit us greatly in this way.