The Language of Life DNA and the Revolution in...

In 2010, Francis S. Collins penned The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine. At that time, he was the director of the Human Genome Project and now currently serves as the head of the National Institutes of Health. Collins is an American geneticist who was influential in discovering the genes responsible for cystic fibrosis and type II diabetes. The Language of Life: DNA and the Revolution in Personalized Medicine begins with a rough overview of genetic principles that will be used in further chapters. The book delves into dominant and recessive genes, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and other genetic mutations, as well as, various conditions that arise from the previous genetic circumstances. Dr. Collins uses numerous examples throughout his book, including personal experiences to explain the effect genetic testing has on the diagnosis and treatment of numerous diseases. For example, Dr. Collins speaks about the positive experiences individuals have had in regards to the treatment of their genetically inherited conditions. One case he mentions is a girl named Tracey Beck. Tracey suffered from phenylketonuria (PKU), a condition where the body cannot metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine that is found in protein. High levels of phenylalanine build up in the brain causing developmental delays. After exhibiting signs of sleepless by her mother, Tracey was given a newborn screening test. The results of Tracey’s test wereShow MoreRelatedGenetics And The Science Of The Future1693 Words   |  7 Pagesacid, better known as DNA. DNA is a double-helix structure that is made up of billions of nucleotides. They are adenosine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, abbreviate d A, T, C, and G, respectively. â€Å"The information content resides in those chemical bases arranged within the interior, where A always pairs with T, and C always pairs with G† (Collins 6). These base pairs are lined up in a pattern as rungs on the DNA â€Å"ladder†. A gene is a section of base pairs in the strand of DNA. The smallest genes spanRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesbuilt-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore