Unit 3: Sickle Cell Disease
3.1.1 was an insight into the disorder of sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder in which the red blood cells take on the shape of sickles or hooks. This can cause blood problems and anemia. Anemia is the condition in which the body doesn't have enough red blood cells. These can cause blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and many more problems. In 3.1.1 we discovered how hemoglobin is the cause of SCD because it forms strands in the cells instead of floating freely. We also used the hematocrit test to test red blood cell levels.
Which image is the normal blood or the sickle cell disease? Top left normal. Bottom left sickle. |
In 3.1.1 we also did a blood flow experiment to determine how sickled cell and normal blood cells move through arteries. To do so, we designed a model/experiment to see how. We used playdoh to form cells in the sickle shape and normal shape and put ten into a flask. We recorded how quickly the cells flowed though and out the flask. The normal cells moved the quickest and the sickled cells moved the slowest.
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In 3.1.2 we investigated the symptoms and the lifestyle changes required by SCD. Here are my sample diaries. I investigated a crises between a 15 year old and whether or not to get a bone marrow transplant.
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In 3.2.1, we learned about protein synthesis and the processes of transcription and translation. Transcription is the first process in which mRNA copies the top strand of a certain DNA gene. The mRNA then changes thymine to uracil and moves out of the nucleus. Then, translation begins once a ribosome attaches to the mRNA. Then, tRNA brings the corresponding amino acid to meet the codons, three nucleotide sequence, on the mRNA. This completes the protein synthesis. This picture show the amino acid sequence example for 3.2.2. The sequence is Met,Thr,Leu,Leu,Arg,Met,Ile,Val,His,Ile,Lys,Leu,Leu,Leu.
In 3.3.1 we learned about mitosis and meiosis under the microscope. In the slideshow, the browner and darker sample is a sex cell during interphase. It was identified at 400x magnification and was able to be studied as interphase as nothing major is happening. The brighter cell is a normal semantic cell undergoing prophase. The nuclear membrane is dissolving and the chromosomes are forming.
We also learned about how chromosomes are randomly assorted between a gametes and when they combine they receive certain dominant traits and recessive traits. We tested this by using letting people choose random chromosomes. The "children" we very unhealthy with their chromosomes receiving Sickle Cell Disease, Best Disease, and Hemophilia.
3.4.2 we learned to determine certain traits using given info. We can get a percentage and ratio. Here is an example.
#1: John and Lindsey are planning on having a baby. They are wondering what the baby’s chance of having Best Disease is. John’s mother had Best disease and so does his father who passed away two years ago. Lindsey’s mother has Best disease but her father is a carrier. Lindsey said she has been perfectly normal throughout her life but says she is also a carrier. John however has Best disease and is having to live with it now. Given this information, what is the baby’s chance of having Best disease? Also, provide the baby’s phenotypic and genotypic ratio for the Best disease gene.
The answer is 50% chance with a genotypic ratio of Bb:bb 1:1 and phenotypic of Normal to Best is 1:1.
#1: John and Lindsey are planning on having a baby. They are wondering what the baby’s chance of having Best Disease is. John’s mother had Best disease and so does his father who passed away two years ago. Lindsey’s mother has Best disease but her father is a carrier. Lindsey said she has been perfectly normal throughout her life but says she is also a carrier. John however has Best disease and is having to live with it now. Given this information, what is the baby’s chance of having Best disease? Also, provide the baby’s phenotypic and genotypic ratio for the Best disease gene.
The answer is 50% chance with a genotypic ratio of Bb:bb 1:1 and phenotypic of Normal to Best is 1:1.