CRISPRcasestudy

genotype

the traits we inherit (Rr)

phenotype

the observable physical traits of genes that we see, also tells us which allele is dominant

mutation

when a DNA nucleotide is changed

phenotype change

phenotype is only changed when it changes an amino acid

what is the usual result of mutations in the coding region

it changes an amino acid, changing the structure of the protein to make it nonfunctional

sickle cell and malaria relationship

higher resistance to malaria, greater the change of sickle cell disease

sickle cell and malaria heterozygous

strong protection against malaria, and only mild sickle cell disease

sickle cell and malaria homozygous

AA is susceptible to malaria but not sickle cell, aa is susceptible to sickle cell but not malaria

life cycle of malaria

it has two hosts, first carried by mosquitos to be injected into the blood stream, replicating itself in the human blood. then when the mosquito picks up other blood samples, it goes through reproduction with gametes

malaria

disease where parasites attach to red blood cells and replicate themselves until they take over, causing periodic fevers and headaches

definitive host

where the parasite will sexually reproduce itself in anopheles mosquito

intermediate host

when the mosquito lands on the mammal and transfers red blood cells through sucking blood, the parasite going along with it

selective evolution/pressure

conditions pressuring a series of change in individuals to evolve against

why are mosquitos resistant to pesticides

selective evolution, natural selection

DNA endonuclease

the enzyme that clamps around a DNA sequence to cut it

palindrome

the STR on the viral genome that highlights where the cas9 enzyme needs to go, often seen as repeating letters “ATGTA,” creates a t by folding the DNA for the guide RNA to bond

bacterial immune system

protects against phages that insert their DNA into a bacterial cell by using an enzyme to cut that part out

CRISPR and bacterial immune system

uses cas9 and guide RNA to find the spot on the viral genome to cut

ethics of CRISPR on embryos

embryos cannot consent to the dangerous procedure

homologous recombination and diversity

process where DNA segments can switch places, create more diversity through the new combinations that get inherited, occurs in prophase I

gene drive

using CRISPR to create a dominant allele that passes down through generations so everyone would have it

PAM sequence

the binding site of Cas9 where the enzyme goes to cut

guide RNA

activates the Cas9 and tells it where to go, matches with the DNA that needs to be cut

repair system

repairs the cut DNA with a donor DNA, often by homologous recombination

limitations of CRISPR

off-targets or mistakes, expensive, procedures on embryos cannot give consent

cystic fibrosis

disease caused by mutations that cause respiratory issues