genetics...

[Dash]

I can't sleep tonight and I was wondering....about the strangest thing...

Can they manipulate the genetics in a newborn or prior to a newborn to manipulate certain qualities in a kid, for when he grows up...like the color of his hair, to prevent defects you might have, remove hereditary flaws (eg. like baldness, bad eyesight, hearing loss...) and my favorite, can they manipulate height?

I read that they were expecting this to happen shortly, for the medical community to be able to do this (eg. Gattaca) but its been a while since I read that article (10 years ago...)...so can they do this now?

Or is the human genome project still in the early immature stages...?
I thought we decoded the entire human genome already.

 

[STASH]

Being a Bio-geneticist I am perfectly qualified to answer this.

Of course it's possible !

How do think I got my Ex wifes head on the goat. She already had the beard.

Yes yes yes....this is the one SHEIK rents.

 

[Hard Idle]

Can they manipulate the genetics in a newborn or prior to a newborn to manipulate certain qualities in a kid, for when he grows up...like the color of his hair, to prevent defects you might have, remove hereditary flaws (eg. like baldness, bad eyesight, hearing loss...) and my favorite, can they manipulate height?

so can they do this now?
.

Yeah right. They can't even come up with a solution to dandruff, acne and smelly feet.

Unfortunately this dangerous charlatanism is not regulated or controlled nearly enough.

I suggest that science master some easier baby steps, like curing a sore throat or hicups. Once they accomplish that, they can start setting their sights higher...

 

[frankcastle]

I'd say that 2 degrees in this field plus a few published papers makes me qualified. To answer this question......

Short answer..... technically we have technology to cut and paste DNA but there are still too many problems to make it practical for altering humans.

Long answer......

Theoretically possible but currently not feasible. For selection of traits I would guess that you'd have to do the genetic manipulation to the egg or sperm prior to fertilization. Why you ask? Because if after fertilization you'd need to make sure that the genetic manipulations are carried out in EVERY single cell..... too much work and more difficult to achieve.

Other roadblocks would be the politics behind genetic research on humans.

Also they still don't know what every bit of human DNA does just yet.

Plus things get even more complicated if the trait is controlled by more than one gene.

I would guess that a retrovirus would be the best way to introduce new DNA/manipulate human DNA but there in lies a problem.... if the gene you wish to change involves a sequence that is very long it might exceed what a retrovirus could carry....... not to mention that targetting where you want to make changes to DNA in vivo are still not particularly reliable.

 

[Wolfleader]

Yes. But there are major ethical issues involved, especially considering racial traits is among the things that can be modified. Then there's the potential long term impact on human genetics should widespread tampering of the human genome occur.

 

[frankcastle]

Got carried away.... love an excuse to talk genetics. But don't let TV and the news fool you....... we are so far away from the stuff these guys are asking about it's not even funny. Surprised no one has mentioned the idea of making super babes or giant cocks.

 

[LancsLad]

Being a Bio-geneticist I am perfectly qualified to answer this.

Of course it's possible !

How do think I got my Ex wifes head on the goat. She already had the beard.

Yes yes yes....this is the one SHEIK rents.

Well ,I was almost ready to believe what you posted until you said "the one Sheik rents". Come on now, what kind of fools do you take us for. You expect us to believe that a Scot actually PAYS for something. Nice try

 

[1HandInMyPocket]

Yes. But there are major ethical issues involved, especially considering racial traits is among the things that can be modified. Then there's the potential long term impact on human genetics should widespread tampering of the human genome occur.

"KHANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[DistantVoyeur]

<add 2 cents>
There is also the problem that genetic material is exchanged between chromosomes during replication, so there is no 100% guarantee that what you end up with is what you started with. Most of the time it is junk DNA that is exchanged, but operator regions can be linked to other genes. This can re-express the genes, making a dominance/recessive switch possible.
Just having a road map doesn't mean "you can get there from here". The mechanism is not 100% controllable.

 

[Dash]

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/mg19225741.300

 

[frankcastle]

This link is misleading you. You can only select from traits that you and your partner have. And given that you have 10 choices at most it's a crap shoot the odds of getting a "perfect baby" is slim chances are it will have "pros and cons."

There's no control over which traits happen just fertilize, screen and hope for the best.

In other words the traits are only as good as the building blocks and the outcome is a gamble.

That's a far cry from saying I want blonde haiir, blue eyes, 5' 9", 120 IQ, D cup, with Ray Allen's jumpshot, and Eddie Van Halen's musical talent, type O blood, with a tolerance for alcohol like Norm, switch hitter

 

[DistantVoyeur]

This link is misleading you. You can only select from traits that you and your partner have. And given that you have 10 choices at most it's a crap shoot the odds of getting a "perfect baby" is slim chances are it will have "pros and cons."

There's no control over which traits happen just fertilize, screen and hope for the best.

That's a far cry from saying I want blonde haiir, blue eyes, 5' 9", 120 IQ, D cup, with Ray Allen's jumpshot, and Eddie Van Halen's musical talent, type O blood, with a tolerance for alcohol like Norm

Didn't read the thread, but designer DNA put into an egg with DNA removed, then zapped to stimulate (cloning technology) will give you a designer baby. Still won't get the jumpshot, musical talent, or possibly even IQ, but the rest would be possible.
Thankfully there is no designer DNA technology as yet, and nature still has the last word with DNA replication. Hope this advance never comes, but I feel that DNA building is only a matter of time. Maybe not in the US, but look at the games other countries are playing with DNA and genetic technology.

 

[frankcastle]

<add 2 cents>
There is also the problem that genetic material is exchanged between chromosomes during replication, so there is no 100% guarantee that what you end up with is what you started with. Most of the time it is junk DNA that is exchanged, but operator regions can be linked to other genes. This can re-express the genes, making a dominance/recessive switch possible.
Just having a road map doesn't mean "you can get there from here". The mechanism is not 100% controllable.

You're referring to recombination which happens prior to sperm/egg formation so if you harvest eggs or sperm the process has already happened

I'd maybe replace re-express with "mutate/alter the gene to create a different genotype"

Sorry just being a stickler for detail\

 

[frankcastle]

Didn't read the thread, but designer DNA put into an egg with DNA removed, then zapped to stimulate (cloning technology) will give you a designer baby. Still won't get the jumpshot, musical talent, or possibly even IQ, but the rest would be possible.
Thankfully there is no designer DNA technology as yet, and nature still has the last word with DNA replication. Hope this advance never comes, but I feel that DNA building is only a matter of time. Maybe not in the US, but look at the games other countries are playing with DNA and genetic technology.

Given the ridiculous number of genes it would be too much work to make designer DNA to select hair, eye, skin colour, height etc

Generally work related to altering genese has been restricted to usually one gene..... it's hard enough to get that to work never mind multiple genes

 

[DistantVoyeur]

You're referring to recombination which happens prior to sperm/egg formation so if you harvest eggs or sperm the process has already happened

I'd maybe replace re-express with "mutate/alter the gene to create a different genotype"

Sorry just being a stickler for detail\

From a fellow stickler.....
- recombination can occur in both meiosis and mitosis, whenever the telomeres are in close proximity in the centre, just before the cell divides.
- re-express is not the best word, but the operator region does not have to be in the area of the DNA expressing the gene, so the gene itself may not be
mutated or altered. But the expression of the gene is changed from dominant to recessive or vice-versa, or even just turned off or turned on out of control.

Genetics is such a pain that I'm trying to keep it basic and simplifying as much as I can to get the basic point across.

 

[frankcastle]

recombination during mitosis is such a rare event that it's not really worth talking about.... givein the low frequency of these events with any luck if it did happen it might affect a gene that is not expressed in the area (e.g. recombination in the cells that form the arm and the affected gene is eye colour)

I'm not sure if all the regulatory sequences are considered part of the gene or not. So perhaps just strike the word gene and just replace it with DNA sequence for simplicity.... but you are right in some ways it's like explaining english grammar but at least with more predictable rules.

 

[DistantVoyeur]

Given the ridiculous number of genes it would be too much work to make designer DNA to select hair, eye, skin colour, height etc

Generally work related to altering genese has been restricted to usually one gene..... it's hard enough to get that to work never mind multiple genes

Huh? Ten years ago I was manipulating multiple genes in undergrad biochem, I'm sure there are many advances since then. I said advances in technology would be needed, but I can see the possibility eventually. It's just basically using enzymes to attach the correct bases in the correct sequence. It's the mapping of the gene you are building that is important. Even lazier, just cut the genes apart to individual units and splice the genes together in the order required. At this time, very time consuming and hit/miss but not impossible.

 

[frankcastle]

Huh? Ten years ago I was manipulating multiple genes in undergrad biochem, I'm sure there are many advances since then. I said advances in technology would be needed, but I can see the possibility eventually. It's just basically using enzymes to attach the correct bases in the correct sequence. It's the mapping of the gene you are building that is important. Even lazier, just cut the genes apart to individual units and splice the genes together in the order required. At this time, very time consuming and hit/miss but not impossible.

To do that stuff with restriction enzymes is not practical given the size of the human genome you'd end up with too many undesired cuts..... never mind trying to piece it together plus reforming the chromosomes properly with histones.

 

[frankcastle]

I mean come on it sounds like you did work with plasmids which are way smaller and simpler to work with than human DNA.

 

[DistantVoyeur]

To do that stuff with restriction enzymes is not practical given the size of the human genome you'd end up with too many undesired cuts..... never mind trying to piece it together plus reforming the chromosomes properly with histones.

Last post on this for me.....don't forget PCR....don't forget Sangers protein sequencer. My personal opinion is that it is just a matter of time, there is enough intelligence out there working on it.
Hope it's after I'm long gone though, it is not a world that would appeal to me....