DNA discloses all information within our body including sex-determination. In this article, a South China woman was astonished by her DNA test result that unveiled her sex chromosome that she has XY chromosome (female chromosome).
In spite of her XY chromosome, she has the physical characteristics of a regular woman – just that she is sterile which means she is not able to conceive a baby.
In some cases, an individual who has physically two sexes a.k.a. hermaphrodite or often related to intersexuality, has his/her freewill to choose her own gender.
Written by J.J. Yong on October 10th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on .
Firstly, when I read this article regarding a Mongolian murder trial in Malaysia that caught worldwide attention which involves local political analysts named Abdul Razak Baginda who is charged with abetting the accused murderer – a Special Action Squad Member named Corporal Sirul Azhar.
In the beginning, I don’t really get the reason of testing the political analyst’s and the accused murderer’s mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) to determine the maternal lineage which is able to identify the link between accused.
Since both of the accused are male, I strongly suggest that the chemist J. Primulapathi should be considering using Y-chromosome DNA testing in order to determine the paternal lineage since Y-chromosome has low mutation rate.
Written by J.J. Yong on October 10th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on and and .
In US alone, more than half population is either overweight or obese. The statistic is alarming as obesity is associated with many chronic diseases including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and others. It’s a need to identify genes that have prominent influences on obesity.
INSIG2 gene induced by insulin would inhibit the fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. People with a sequence variation near the gene would exhibit more fat accumulation, as the normal functional gene could not complete its potential.
In three rare diseases of severe fat malabsorption, chylomicron retention disease (CMRD), Anderson disease and CMRD with Marinesco Sjogren syndrome, the Sar1b protein required for all dietary fat absorption could not work normally because of genetic mutation.
Gene variant FTO that is susceptible to type 2 diabetes can be found among over half of European population who is linked with obesity causes. If a person with two copies of FTO variant is likely to weigh 3 kilos more than a normal person, and person with only one copy there are more likely to weigh 1.2 kilos more.
The human lipin gene might be a candidate for obesity was excess levels in fat tissue or skeletal muscle will promote the condition. Deficiency in lipin levels would prevent normal development of mature fat cells.
Another mutant gene, ENPP1 which presents in 20% Caucasians and 50% of black people, will block insulin from binding in pancreas and the brain. Thus, the insulin resistance will store excess glucose production from liver as layers of fat and diminish insulin secretion that will lead to increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
GAD2, a gene found on chromosome 10 can speed up the production of a chemical transmitter in the brain, GABA, which stimulates appetite. One form of the gene appeared to protect some people against obesity, while another form increased the risk of the disorder.
About 20 genes maybe involved in causing common obesity, but genetics alone cannot fully account for a worldwide obesity trend in recent decades.
Written by J.J. Yong on October 8th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on .