Genetics early history

In the early history of gas chromatogra-phy/olfactometry (GC/O vn/tgu), the goal of GC/O analysis was to determine when an odor elutes from a GC in order to identify it. The analysis yielded a list of times and, with appropriate standards, retention indices. When combined with other chemical analysis methods, such as mass spectrometry (MS), a name for a particular odorant could be proposed. Comparing both the chemical and sensory properties of the odorant with those of authentic standards allowed researchers to identify the odorant with considerable certainty. The number of odorants that are detected, however, is determined by a number of factors, including the design of the olfactometer, the fraction of the extract injected, and, as we now suspect, the genetics of the sniffer. 

Richmond, M. L. (2001). Women in the early history of genetics William Bateson and the Newnham College Mendelians, 1900-1910. Isis 92 55-90. 

A comprehensive biochemical survey of newborns and of mothers will turn up a large number of minor anomalies which neither suggest nor justify any known therapy. In many instances, the early history of a disease is not sufficiently well known to allow its identification in initial stages. Thus both anomalous qualitative values and true genetic abnormalities... 

The Archaea are similar to bacteria and until 1977 most known species were classified as bacteria (see review by Makarova and Koonin, 2003). It was the work of Carl Woese (see Woese and Fox, 1977) who discovered that some so-called bacteria were different genetically and separated the Archaea from the bacteria on the basis of particular rRNA sequences present in the cells of the organisms. The Archaea in existence today are thought to have descended from the first forms of life to have evolved on Eardi some 3.5 to 4.0 x 10 years ago. This relates to the fact that many (but not all) members of the existing Archaea are anaerobic, i.e. they do not require oxygen for survival, and thus could inhabit a world with an oxygen-poor atmosphere as was the case during the early history of the Earth. They also survive under extreme habitats today (see Table 3.2) and so could have tolerated the harsh conditions of the newly-formed planet. 

Correct answer = B. o1-Antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder that can cause pulmonary emphysema even in the absence of cigarette use. An deficiency of a1-antitrypsin permits increased elastase activity to destroy elastin in the alveolar walls, even in nonsmokers. a1-antitrypsin deficiency should be suspected when chronic obstructive pulmonary disease develops in a patient younger than 45 years who does not have a history of chronic bronchitis or tobacco use, or when multiple family members develop obstructive lung disease at an early age. 

In hormone replacement therapy, the risk of deep vein thrombosis is increased by a factor of 2-4 (35-37). The absolute increase in the treated population as a whole is low, with about one case of venous thromboembolism in 5000 women-years of use of hormone replacement therapy. However, in the subgroup with pre-existing risk factors, such as obesity, varicose veins, smoking, and a prior history of venous thromboembolism or superficial thrombophlebitis, the increase in risk from hormone replacement therapy can be substantial among these women are those with a genetic predisposition to thrombosis, generally due to some form of thrombophilia, such as deficiency of the coagulation inhibitors protein S, protein C, or anti thrombin III. In any of these subjects thrombosis can occur early in hormone replacement therapy. However, this tendency to early occurrence of deep vein thrombosis also seems to be present in all those who take hormone replacement therapy. 

European Company to produce insulin and important suppliers of oestrone,274 Lederle,275 and Roussel Uclaf and Schering AG in Europe.276 Another development arising from this early research on steroids was Barton s pioneering studies in conformational analysis. The reminiscences include those by Fried on the discovery of the fluorosteroids at the Squibb Institute for Medical Research in New Jersey,277 and of studies of the biochemistry of steroid hormones linked to genetics and the history of cancer.278 Clearly, the problems of unravelling the complex mechanisms of steroid action have aroused considerable interest.279... 

Sogin ML (1991) Early evolution and the origin of eukaryotes. Curr Opin Genet Dev 1 457-463 Sogin ML (1997) History assignment when was the mitochondrion founded Curr Opin Genet... 

Tailoring Opportunities. There are many methods or approaches available to tailor enzyme products. Early in the history of enzyme companies, methods such as source selection, microbial strain selection, growth conditions, media, purification, and recovery systems, were primarily used to make each enzyme preparation unique. Later, immobilization, encapsulation, and chemical modification of the enzyme molecule itself were added as methods of tailoring enzymes to better fit industrial applications. Today, all of these methods are still being used, and now we have added genetic engineering to our tailoring expertises. 

Richmond, M. L. (2007). Muriel Wheldale Onslow and early biochemical genetics. Journal of the History of Biology 40 389-426. 

The strongest risk factors for breast cancer are female gender and increasing age. Additional risk factors include endocrine factors (e.g., early menarche, nulliparity, late age at first birth, hormone replacement therapy), genetic factors (e.g., personal and family history, mutations of tumor suppresser genes [BRCAl and BRCA2]), and environmental and lifestyle factors (e.g., radiation exposure). 

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