Genome - Entry 7

Chapter 4 - Fate

Ridley basically says that we have genes to cause diseases, and we only get them because the genes aren't working correctly. The gene that lies on chromosome 4 is very special because it is associated with the Huntington's chorea. Mutated versions of genes cause that, while a complete lack of gens cause Wolf- Hirschhorn. It is considered fate to whether you get the disease or not. Either you have the Huntington's mutation and will get the diseases or not. There is no theory or prophet to tell when a persons life may end. Huntington's disease leaves a fifty percent chance to the offspring as how Ridley mentioned Nancy Wexler writing a story about a woman in the Lake Maracaibo study. Nancy Wexler wanted to find the gene to this disease because she wanted to find a cure for it, unfortunately when she took the test, she found out she was diagnosed.

Citation:

Ridley, Matt. Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.

Genome - Entry 6

Chapter 11 - Personality

Ridley begins the chapter talking about a protein called the dopamine receptor. He mentions that dopamine is a neurotransmitter which causes their own neuron to discharge an electrical signal from it's own. D4DR gene identifies neurons as members of the brain's dopamine-mediated pathways. Dopamine is considered a motivational chemical for the brain. It is also said that people with more D4DR genes don't have the adventurous approach to things like people with shorter D4DR genes. Hamer mentions that serotonin is considered the punishment chemical for the brain which causes anxiety & depression. Personality is the thing that varies people to the way they respond to social stimuli mediated through neurotransmitters.


Citation:

Ridley, Matt. Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. Print.