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Alzheimer's Disease December 2019 Volume 3 Issue 7 BurchGene ISSUE ISSN 2490-3531 7 Bacterial Horizontal Gene Transfer Dear colleagues, students, respected professors, 4 collaborators and respected readers, We are glad to announce that the newest issue of CONTENT BurchGene magazine is finally seeing the daylight Searching for solutions: new genetic discoveries to and is full of entertaining and informative topics. 6 explain debilitating diseases This issue was once again special, due to the in- flux of new students, who are mostly juniors, and have done tremendous work in research and writ- ing. What’s new about this issue is that we tried Gregor Mendel to organize it in such a way that most articles are 8 Executive Editor: Kenan Kraković written in a way that is accessible to wider au- dience, but also not leaving those willing to dig Editorial Assistants: through the rough scientific jargon in pursuit of a The effects on long term spaceflight on eyesight Sarah Hotić good read unsatisfied, thus having a few articles 10 Hannah Boone done in a thorough manner. Some of the enter- Iman Alihodžić taining topics we dealt with in this issue were the Advisory Board: Ahmed Osmanović, Adnan short biography of the father of genetics: Gregor Famous equations in genetics Fojnica, Fatima Mrkulić Mendel, unusual mutations, or genes which came 12 to be known by their first system of naming- func- Editorial board: tion- making them somewhat famous in today’s Prof. Dr. Damir Marjanović Genetically modified chickens lay anticancer eggs Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amina Kurtović Kozarić scientific world filled with codes and numbers. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Almir Badnjević We dug a little bit in math and explored the most 15 Assist. Prof. Dr. Lejla Gurbeta Pokvić widely used mathematical equations in biology. Assist. Prof. Dr. Lejla Smajlović-Skenderagić We talked in depth about biological consequences Assist. Prof. Dr. Monia Avdić astronauts have on their eyesight upon prolonged Alzheimer’s disease: Uncovering the truths Teaching Assist. Adna Sijerčić spaceflights.We introduced neurolinguistics for 16 the first time to our readers with a brief, yet in- Lector: Dženeta Šišić formative introduction. We have discussed topics such as Alzheimer’s disease and Xenobiology and Unusual genetic mutations in humans Graphic Design: Dado Latinović are happy to say that our readers will have a wide range of biological topics to lay their thoughts 18 upon. Publisher: International Burch University We would like to thank the International Burch Xenobiology and Xeno Nucleic Acids. Are we play- University dean and the rest of the board, since 20 ing god? Address: this is the first issue, directly and fully financed by Francuske revolucije bb, Ilidža 71210 the University, making our efforst worthwhile and keeping the magazine free of charge, as always. Funny gene names Telephone: 033 782-130 Enjoy reading, The Editors 22 E-mail: [email protected] The Language of thee brain. A crash course in neuro- 24 linguistics 26 2262222622 Interview BACTERIAL HORIZONTAL GENE TRANSFER another gene that codes for antibiotic resistance for Eda Sarić-Hanjalić easier recognition of bacteria which have taken up the wanted DNA. After the bacteria has taken up the plasmid, all of its offspring will replicate the same plasmid and many copies of that plasmid will be made pressed will aid that process and attack bacterial DNA (Wybouw et al, 2014). by cutting it into smaller pieces. The bacterial cell will Normally genetics is the study of vertical transmission undergo lysis (cell death), and the new viruses will exit but it has become clear to scientists that horizontal the cell in search of a new host (Clark, 2013). transmission of genes is very important as well. The Sometimes, mistakes are made in this process and the discovery of HGT has been a huge scientific virus picks up bacterial DNA instead of viral DNA. breakthrough and it helped microbiologists to better This will cause the next bacteria that is attacked by understand bacteria. that virus to gain the genes that have been picked up Even though bacteria cannot sexually reproduce, they by mistake (Clark, 2013). can share their DNA with other bactria. This is done In the lysogenic cycle, the phage attacks the bacteria, with horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a process in which but it contains genes to repress bacterial lysis and in- bacteria or some lower class eukaryotes exchange ge- stead it incorporates its genome into the bacterial chro- netic information within one generation (Clark, 2013). mosome. This cell will then vertically transfer this vi- Gene transfer can be done either ral DNA to its offspring (Wybouw et al, 2014). horizontally or vertically. Vertical transfer of genes is done from parent to offspring, while horizontal gene transfer is a lot more complex (Clark, 2013). HGT can be done in three ways: conjugation, transformation and transduction (Wybouw et al, 2014). CONJUGATION References: The DNA that can be transmitted through this type of • Wybouw, N., Dermauw, W., Tirry, L., HGT must be short. Short DNA molecules that Stevens, C., Grbić, M., Feyereisen, R., & Van replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome Leeuwen, T. (2014, April 24). A gene horizontal- are called plasmids. The most important plasmid for ly transferred from bacteria protects arthropods conjugation is called the F (fertility) plasmid. Cells Figure 2: Lytic cycle from host plant cyanide poisoning. Retrieved Figure 1: Conjugation (retrieved from: https://www.bioexplorer.net/ that posses this plasmid (F+ cells) have the ability to (Retrieved from: http://ib.bioninja.com. bacterial-transduction.html/) from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ form pili (sg. pilus), tube-like structures on the perifery au/_Media/bacterial-conjugation_med.jpeg) PMC4011162/ • Clark, D. P., & N. J. (2013). Horizontal of cells (Low, 2001). TRANSFORMATION Gene Transfer. Retrieved from https://www. When the pilus is secreted out of F+ cells, it searches TRANSDUCTION Bacteria may also pick up free DNA through their sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/horizon- for cells that do not contain the F plasmid, and binds to In contrast to conjugation, transduction does not re- cell membrane from their surrounding environment. tal-gene-transfer them. After making the connection, specific pathways quire direct bacterial contact. This process is done by For this process to occur, the bacteria must be in the • Low, K. B. (2001). Bacterial Conjugation. are followed so that the F+ cell is left with one strand bacteriophages: viruses that attack bacteria. There are state of competence, which means that there must be Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/ of the F plasmid, and the other strand is transferred to two cycles that phages can undergo: either the lytic specific environmental conditions for it to take place. topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biol- the F- cell through the pilus (Low, 2001). and lysogenic cycle (Clark, 2013). These environmental conditions may be: starvation, ogy/bacterial-conjugation The F plasmid may contain other genes that have In the lytic cycle, the phage attaches to the bacterial cell density or any other extreme condition (Wybouw previously been incorporated into it. These genes are cell wall and inserts its genetic material into the host et al, 2014). usually beneficial to bacteria in the sense that they may cell. Those inserted genes undergo replication and are This process is commonly used in laboratories for gain specific antibiotic resistance or may be able to then expressed. The replicated DNA will be used later genetic engineering. Plasmids containing a specific grow in specific environments (Low, 2001). for the creation of new viruses and the proteins ex- gene are produced by genetic engineers with 4 5 5. Mutations in MCF2L could lead to therapies for 8. RGS17 gene associated with lung cancer osteoarthritis sufferers Cancer cell biologists identi- fied gene which is linked to Searching for Solutions: New “Osteoarthritis, also called os- increased lung cancer devel- teoarthrosis or degenerative opment. “Gene called RGS17 Genetic Discoveries to joint disease, disorder of the is highly expressed in tumor joints characterized by progres- tissues, and loss of the RGS17 sive deterioration of the artic- transcript inhibits the growth of Explain Debilitating Diseases ular cartilage or of the entire xenografted tumors, making it Aida Lavić joint, including the articular likely that this gene and its variants may play a role cartilage, the synovium (joint lining), the ligaments, in lung cancer development in familial lung cancer.” and the subchondral bone (bone beneath the carti- (Christiani, 2009) Imagine that you could predict an illness or even use your DNA 3. PRPS1 gene linked to hearing loss in lage).” (Duignan, 2018) Previous epidemiological and to help scientists unlock some of the humanity’s biggest females genetic research has established that osteoarthritis is mysteries. Well, evolving research suggests that this might be a REFERENCES a multifactorial disease with both environmental and possibility. This technology exists and it’s quickly revolutioniz- “The gene is associated genetic components. Team of scientists were able to ing the entire healthcare industry, introducing new options for with DFN2, a progres- Ani, (2009). Gene linked to rare form of progressive identify a new gene connected with this painful condi- diagnosis and treatment of debilitating diseases. sive form of deafness hearing loss in males identified. [online] DNA India. tion and offer new lines of research for possible treat- that primarily affects Available at: ments, and that is MCF2L. 1. Seizure dogs can help with epilepsy males. Boys with D2 https://www.dnaindia.com/health/report-gene- begin to lose their hear- linked-to-rare-form-of-progressive-hearing-loss-in- 6. Five new genes that increase the risk of develop- “Epilepsy, chronic neurological disorder characterized by sud- ing in both ears roughly between the ages males-identified-1325030 ing Alzheimer’s disease den and recurrent seizures which are caused by an absence or of 5 and 15, and over the course of sev- “Alzheimer disease, de- excess of signaling of nerve cells in the brain.
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