So how do you feel about cloning? Reproductive Cloning is a very controversial topic in the United States. But there are other types of cloning too such as Recombinant DNA Technology or DNA cloning and this is also called molecular cloning and gene cloning(DNA from an organism is transfered into a self replicating genetic organism like a bacterial plasmid. Then the DNA is put into a host cell)Reproductive cloning is when scientist take DNA from a adult cell and put it into a egg that has had it's nucleus removed. So obviously, that egg does not have anymore DNA. This egg undergoes electric current treatment and is subjected to chemicals so it will divide. Once it has divided enought and reached a certain age, the egg is put into the uterus of another animal to grow and develop.

The process of Reproductive cloning is very complicated and difficult to preform with success. There have been many unsuccessful attempts to clone animal but some have successfully been cloned. Some animals cloned are pigs, sheep, cats, monkeys, cows and mice. Of course you have probably heard about Dolly the sheep who was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult somatic cell. She was the only successful attempt out of 277 attempts. Dolly lived to be six when most sheep live to be 12. Some speculate that this is because her clone "mother" was six when they took the DNA. But, some just say that it is because she naturally contracted lung disease which is common for goats.


So, the question is, if we can successfully clone an animal, will we attempt to clone humans? Many people argue about this. Some say that it is a good thing because if a child dies, parents can use his DNA to get him back again. But would the child be the same? Do clones have souls? Is it ethical to even clone someone? This are all questions that have people wondering. Personally, I think human cloning is something that should stay in science fiction movies...I'm not ready for everyone to look the same.

Today I would like to talk about Stem Cell research. This is a very controversial topic in the United States. So what exactly is a stem cell? A stem cell is a cell that hasn't found its purpose yet. Stem cells are are like a blank canvas. They haven't formed into cells such as a heart cell, lung cell, skin cell, etc. They haven't got signals that tell them what to be when they grow up.

There are embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic are all brand new and don't know exactly what they will become yet. Adult stem cells are replacement cells for other cells of the body. So they are more inclined to become what they are supposed to replace. Embryonic stem cells are the favorite type of cells to use in stem cell research because they are more likely to become what scientists want them to be. And here in lies the controversy: is stem cell research ethical?

Many believe it is unethical because those embryos that are used could have developed into a living person. Then there are those who think stem cell research is a wonderful thing that can help cure diseases. People that have spinal cord injuries, diabetes, heart disease, alzheimers, and parkinsons would benefit from stem cell treatment.

Many of those who oppose stem cell research say that we should use umbelical cords which have stem cells or adult stem cells instead of embryonic stem cells. Many say, however, that these cells just aren't as good as embryonic cells because they are more capable of becoming whatever cell scientists tell it to be.

One activist for stem cell research was Christopher Reeve. He was injured in a horse riding accident and he was paralyzied from the neck down. He became a major activist for stem cell research. He passed away in 2004.


So the question is is stem cell research and treatment ethical? Is it better to use embryonic cells to help save those that are suffering from diseases? Or is it wrong to do so because those embryos have a chance at life? This issue is one that will be debated for years to come. What is your stance?

Hello everyone ( : Today I would like to talk about Pedigree analysis. We all have been born with certain traits and using a pedigree we can determine where our certain traits came from and how we may pass them on. This is a chart that shows the symbols in a pedigree chart that will be useful for you to look at-



Now, I would like to show you some of the ways traits are inherited.

1. Autosomal Dominant traits- Females and males are both able to have the trait. The trait will not skip generations, and effected children will have at least one affected parent. Here's an example-


2. Now we have autosomal recessive traits. This is when both males and females are equally likely to get the trait, but the traits do skip generations. Children can be affected, but not have affected parents. So the parents are carriers. Cystic fibrosis is a autosomal recessive disease.


3. X linked recessive traits are found mainly in men. This trait is passed from mother to son with the mother being a carrier. This trait will skip one or more generations.


4. X linked dominant- This mode of inheritance effects twice as many girls than boys and the traits don't skip generations. The affected mother will pass her trait on to half of her children usually and girls and boys are both capable of getting the trait. All daughters of an affected dad will be affected.


5. And now we have the Y linked traits. Obviously only males are affected because they are XY and girls are XX. Affected fathers always pass this on to their son's and it will not skip generations.


I would highly recommend going to this website and doing the activity-

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addiction/genetics/pi.html

It helps you understand pedigrees and how traits are passed through generations and I thought it was pretty fun ( :

Hello!! So it's been awhile since I have said anything. So today I found a website called eyeondna.com. I found this cool list of things that you can do with your DNA. Here's a couple-

You can extract your own Dna! here's how-

1.Gather together sodium chloride, liquid soap, 2 glass beakers, bottled and distilled water, 2 test tubes, test tube stoppers, glass rod, a plastic cup and rubbing alcohol.
2.Place 8 grams of sodium chloride in one of the beakers and dissolve with 92 milliliters of distilled water.
3.In a second beaker, combine 25 milliliters of liquid soap with 75 milliliters of distilled water.
4.Pour 1 milliliter of the sodium chloride solution into a large test tube.
5.Pour 10 milliliters of the bottled water into a plastic cup and swirl the water in your mouth for 30 seconds.
6.Spit the water back into the cup and pour the contents into the test tube containing the sodium chloride solution.
7.Add 1 milliliter of liquid soap to the test tube.
8.Cover the top of the test tube with a stopper and gently mix the contents by turning the test tube upside down and right side up.
9.Add 5 milliliters of the rubbing alcohol to the test tube making sure to pour it at an angle down the side of the test tube.
10.Wait for about 5 minutes and watch as the DNA floats to the surface.
11.Pour 1 milliliter of alcohol into the second test tube.
12.Use the glass rod to remove the DNA from the first test tube by twirling the rod in a circular motion.
13.Place the DNA into the second test tube containing the alcohol.



Other things this website suggests are kind of silly but I like them anyways. You can also make a portrait or painting of your dna


I thought that was pretty cool. Also, the website suggests a bonus idea of what you can do with your Dna- pass it into the future by having children ( :

So today I want to talk about some of the dominant and recessive traits that humans have. So first, lets talk about earlobes.



Having attached earlobes is recessive and having detached earlobes is recessive. Which kind do you have?

Next is tounge rolling.


being able to roll your tongue is a dominant trait and not being able to is recessive. Can you roll your tongue??

Do you have dimples? having dimples is a dominant trait and a lack of dimples is recessive.