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The Bajau people, often called the “Sea Nomads,” have developed a genetic adaptation that allows them to dive to great depths and stay submerged longer than average humans. Their remarkable abilities stem from a unique gene variant related to their spleens. This variant affects the PDE10A gene, leading to larger spleens that supply extra oxygen. As a result, Sea Nomads can hold their breath for up to 13 minutes—far surpassing typical human capabilities.
While it’s true that the DNA in a single human cell, if stretched out, would measure a few meters long, we can’t see it with the naked eye due to its extremely small width. Here’s why:
1. DNA is a very thin molecule. Its width is about 2 nanometers (2 billionths of a meter). This is far below the resolution of the human eye, which is about 0.2 millimeters for most people.
2. DNA is coiled up very tightly, which allows it to fit inside the nucleus of a cell. This coiling makes it even more difficult to see.
3. Our ability to see objects is based on light. When light hits an object, it bounces off and enters our eyes, which allows us to see the object. However, DNA is so thin that light passes right through it without bouncing back, so we can’t see it.
So, even though DNA is long, its thinness and the way it’s packaged in the cell make it invisible to the naked eye. To visualize DNA, scientists use special techniques like electron microscopy or fluorescent tagging. These methods allow us to see the structure of DNA and other tiny biological molecules.
The central idea is that genetic alterations play a critical role in cancer development. This field has grown in importance as our understanding of the human genome has advanced. The genetic basis of cancer is becoming a key element in our diagnostic and treatment methods. Much of this information comes from tumor samples, which are a mosaic of different tumor cell genomes. It is likely that in the future, knowledge of an individual’s genetic predisposition to a certain cancer and knowledge of the somatic genetic changes in a specific tumor, will guide decisions on cancer prevention and treatment. This could potentially involve tailoring drug prescriptions to an individual’s tumor genome, or in certain cases, correcting the genetic defect in the tumor.
Pharmacogenetics is the study of polymorphisms in human genes that may be associated with drug response. The promise of pharmacogenetics is that it will enable drugs to be tailored to each individual’s own genetic makeup by optimizing the drug therapy according to the genotype of the patient. This would mean that instead of the current situation, new drugs could be specifically tailored to groups of patients, or even individual patients. This differs from the situation today, where most drugs are designed for the “average patient” and a substantial amount of the variability in drug response is unaccounted for.
Pharmacogenomics is defined as the study of how an individual’s genetic inheritance affects the body’s response to drugs. What is different about pharmacogenomics is that it studies how an entire genome can affect a response to drugs, unlike pharmacogenetics which usually focuses on one gene and one drug. This knowledge can be used to predict whether a new drug will be effective for a particular patient and to help determine a safe and efficacious dose. The ultimate goal is to customize drug treatment allowing for the selection of the most beneficial treatment and avoidance of adverse drug reactions. In the future, it may be possible to use a patient’s genotype to screen for diseases they are at risk of and to use drugs to prevent the disease from occurring. This would mean a paradigm shift away from the treatment of symptoms of already established diseases.
It is not a must, but it can be highly beneficial. Here’s why:
1. Python is a versatile language that is used in many fields, including bioinformatics. It’s known for its readability and ease of learning, which makes it a good choice for beginners.
2. Python has a rich ecosystem of libraries and tools that are useful in bioinformatics. Libraries like Biopython, SciPy, NumPy, and Pandas can help with tasks such as sequence analysis, statistical analysis, and data manipulation.
3. Python is excellent for data analysis, which is a critical part of bioinformatics. With Python, you can easily import, manipulate, and analyze data.
4. Python is great for scripting and automation. In bioinformatics, you often need to automate data processing tasks, and Python can make this much easier.
5. Python has a large and active community, which means you can find plenty of resources and help when you need it.
However, it’s important to note that bioinformatics is a multidisciplinary field, and knowledge of biology and statistics is just as important as programming skills. Other programming languages like R, Perl, and Java are also widely used in bioinformatics. Ultimately, the best language to learn depends on your specific needs and interests. It’s always a good idea to learn multiple languages to broaden your skill set.
A pipeline generally refers to a series of processes or stages involved in a particular task. In different contexts, it can have different meanings:
1. In the context of infrastructure, a pipeline is a long pipe, typically underground, for conveying substances like oil, gas, etc.
2. In business or information systems, a pipeline refers to a channel or system supplying goods or information.
3. In computer science, a pipeline is a linear sequence of specialized modules used for completion of a task.An RNA pipeline, on the other hand, is a specific type of bioinformatics pipeline used in the analysis of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. RNA-seq is a technique that examines the quantity and sequences of RNA in a sample using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The RNA pipeline includes several steps such as experimental design, quality control, read alignment, quantification of gene and transcript levels, visualization, differential gene expression, alternative splicing, functional analysis, gene fusion detection, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) mapping. The specific steps and tools used can vary depending on the specific goals of the research.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 2/1/2024
