Genetics Flashcards

1
Q

What did the human genome project HGP achieve?

A

The sequencing, structure and functioning of all the genes that make homo sapiens known collectively as the genome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The HGP revealed there are around how many human genes?

A

20,500

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a genome?

A

A genome is an organism’s complete set of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (total gene set)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

The human genome has around how many base pairs existing within how many pairs of chromosomes?

A

The human genome contains approximately 3 billion of these base pairs, which reside in the 23 pairs of chromosomes within the nucleus of all our cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Each chromosome contains how many genes?

A

Hundreds to thousands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Each of the estimated 30,000 genes in the human chromosome make an average of how many proteins?

A

3 proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is DNA sequencing?

A

Determining the exact order of the base pairs in a segment of DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is nutritional genomics?

A

Nutritional genomics, also known as nutrigenomics, is a science studying the relationship between human genome, nutrition and health. People in the field work toward developing an understanding of how the whole body responds to a food via systems biology, as well as single gene/single food compound relationships.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

DNA is kept inside which structures in the cells?

A

Chromosomes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is a gene?

A

A section of DNA that contains a specific code

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How is the code written in DNA?

A

In 4 letters AGTC as chemical bases (nucleotides)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

A genes sequence tells the cell how to make a specific?

A

Protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Proteins control cellular?

A

Structure and function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Proteins include enzymes, receptors, peptide hormones and?

A

structural building blocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Variations in ____ is the reason why no two people are the same?

A

Genes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Genetic variation accounts for many inherited traits including?

A
  1. Hair colour
  2. Blood Type
  3. Tendency to gain weight
  4. Nutrient assimilation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Mutations affect ____% of the populations and often cause a predictable condition

A

<1%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is a single nucleotide polymorphism AKA SNP?

A

A change in a single nucleotide (AGCT) in the genome that causes variations in DNA sequences between members of the same species. Simple typo such as cytosine joined with adenine instead of guanine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Around how many single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs does your genome contain?

A

10,000,000 but only a really small number of polymorphisms effect the protein that is made

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are common, modified by other factors and unable to directly cause disease?

A

SNPs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Responses to common dietary lifestyle factors and influence nutritional needs?

A

SNPs

22
Q

What is an allele?

A

Different version of the same gene

23
Q

SNPs have identification number AKA?

A

RS numbers which are useful when searching the online medical literature

24
Q

What is a genotype?

A

How many copies of the gene, if any, contain the variation

25
Q

Everyone has ___ copies of most genes

A

2 - one from each parent

26
Q

If neither gene copy (from each parent) has a variant the genotype is called?

A

Wildtype - normal

27
Q

If only one copy of genes from each parent has a variant the genotype is called?

A

Heterozygous

28
Q

If both gene copies are affected by a variant they are called?

A

Homozygous

29
Q

What factors can influence the effect of a SNP?

A

Diet, genetic, environmental and epigenetic factors

30
Q

What is the point of nutrigenomic?

A

To understand why some people respond differently to the same foods, beverages and supplements they consume due to their genetics

31
Q

How is nutrigenomics applied?

A

Genetic information is used to investigate how nutrients interact with our genes to impact our health and performance

32
Q

What can up-regulate or down-regulate the expression of some genes?

A

Diet

33
Q

Diet can also cause epigenetic changes in the genes which are?

A

Modifications to sequences of genes which can be inherited

34
Q

The sequence of our individual genes can effect our response to?

A

Diet

35
Q

Before a gene can act on the ingested food or consumed food genes can also influence what?

A

Food selection (why some people tend to consume more sugar) - e.g. variations in a glucose transporter expressed in regions of the brain that influence appetite - Some people with impaired glucose sensing ability (based on their genetics)

36
Q

What is personalised nutrition in terms of genetics?

A

Targeted dietary prescriptions for the individual based on genetics and lifestyle

37
Q

What are the three levels of personalised, functional medicine based health?

A
  1. Genetics (SNPs)
  2. Epigenetics (phosphorylation)
  3. Biochemical (functional biomarkers)
38
Q

Sulforaphane in broccoli can turn off _____ (cancer-initiating or causing genes)

A

Oncogenes

39
Q

Resveratrol in grape skin can lead to changes in gene expression that cause a shift in what two things?

A

Energy production and metabolism. Resveratrol can mimic the effects of caloric restriction

40
Q

Food is full of ___ signals?

A

Information

41
Q

A calorie is to be judged upon __?

A

The context it comes from

42
Q

Clinical trials need to include genetic variability in _____ as a factor?

A

SNPs

43
Q

What is the biggest SNP in functional medicine?

A

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms (MTHFR) - enzyme responsible for turning folate into the available form

44
Q

What are the two different copies of the MTHFR gene?

A

C677T and A1298C

45
Q

If we have the Wild type of the MTHFR gene what does this mean?

A

We have the full strength of the enzyme

46
Q

If we have the heterozygous type of the MTHFR gene what does this mean?

A

We have some enzyme activity reduced 30-40% - reduced methylation

47
Q

If we have the homozygous type of the MTHFR gene what does this mean?

A

The enzyme activity is reduced by 60-70% - reduced methylation

48
Q

What is the importance of functioning methylation in terms of clinical conditions?

A

Reduced methylation is associated with Alzheimer’s, anxiety, cancer, cognitive decline, depression, heart disease and stroke, OCD and spina bifida in NTDs

49
Q

What can accumulate if we do not have good methylation?

A

Homocysteine (not beneficial to have in high levels)

50
Q

High homocysteine levels in general may indicate low levels of?

A

B vitamins (mainly folate)

51
Q

What would the methylation diet contain?

A

Dark green leafy veg and other B vitamin-rich foods & heathy lifestyle