Genetic Testing

GENEALOGY

Today, 60 years after DNA structure and function were discovered by Watson and Crick, we have a good tool to use to test who our likely ancestors were. Why did I write 'likely'? That's because we cannot be 100% sure that the genes will point to the correct ancestral lineage.

What is the study of ancestry using our genes as tools called? It is called Genealogy (gene + -ology). Genealogy is the study of inheritance, using chromosomes and the genes that they contain. Thus, they are also referred to as chromosomal studies or genetic studies.

Wikipedia: Genealogy

SOURCES OF DNA

DNA can be obtained from mainly 3 sources - saliva, cheeks (buccal swab) and white blood cells (wbc). Saliva provides high quality and quantity of DNA for genetic testing. DNA is conventionally extracted from wbc using the phenol/chloroform method. The use of the organic solvent, phenol, makes this method a hazardous one. The extracted DNA must be purified before it can be used. Protein must first be removed from genomic DNA. More recent DNA extraction kits (using saliva) are convenient and can be purchased from vendors.

CONCERNS OF GENETIC TESTING

Many researchers, doctors, healthcare staff and patients have concerns about genetic testing. What are some of their concerns? Let's say, you offered to be tested genetically and you got back your genetic test results. What do you do with the results? What choices have you got? Let's say, you are female and you are positive for 2 genes - BRCA1 and BRCA2. Positive for these 2 genes means you have an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancers (which practically have no cure except for surgical excision). What do you do next? You can choose not to reveal your cancer genes or you can be proactive and go to the nearest hospital and have an early examination and repeat testing, to make sure you really have those genes, and then get proper counsel as to how to proceed. There are many healthcare staff to help at the hospitals. Keeping quiet and not doing anything about something as grave as cancer means giving up too early, which is not good in many cases. Most patients survived a cancer because they came to hospital early and got treatment while cancer was just beginning to grow, and not at the late or hopeless end-stage where nothing much can be done. So the decision lies with the patients themselves. It's your choice to be treated.

Views on genetic testing from Stanford University.

MGRC

The Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre (MGRC) does DNA sequencing for research purposes. 

DNA TRAINING COURSES

DNA training course for all levels of enthusiasts are available.

Useful links:

Extraction of DNA from saliva (Oragene)

Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre (MGRC)

Protein removal reagent (ProCipitate)

DNA training course in Middle-East

FICTION & MOVIE

This is an old 2009 best-selling novel and movie - The Time Traveler's Wife.
Summary:
The Time Travelers Wife is based on the best-selling book about a love that transcends time. Clare (Rachel McAdams) has been in love with Henry (Eric Bana) her entire life. She believes they are destined to be together, even though she never knows when they will be separated: Henry is a time traveler—cursed with a rare genetic anomaly that causes him to live his life on a shifting timeline, skipping back and forth through his lifespan with no control. Despite the fact that Henrys travels force them apart with no warning, Clare desperately tries to build a life with her one true love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUDlMBR-dQ

DNA Tests
https://www.geni.com/dna-tests/all/male
https://www.geni.com/dna-tests/all/female

History of Medicine

From the Indians --> Malays?
From the Chinese --> Malays?
From the Egyptians --> Greeks --> Persians --> Britons --> Malays?
From the Malays --> Who?

If we have learned medicine from the Indians, Greeks and Britons, are we now the best doctors?
If Yes, why?
If No, why?

Here's what to read about the History of Medicine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine

This is the University of Bologna in Bologna, Italy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Bologna

Bioactive Natural Products

This is a past conference (last year) on Traditional Medicine
http://www.amdi.usm.edu.my/contramed/TentativeProgram.aspx

Jarum mas
http://wannura.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/jarum-mas-witchweed-striga-asiatica/jarum-mas/
http://mezanna11.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/pokok-jarum-mas/
http://fazlisyam.com/2011/04/30/pokok-jarum-mas/
http://alamallah.blogspot.com/2011/03/bunga-buluh-perindu-jarum-mas.html

Miraculin 

Modified from Dr Abdul Ghani Hussain @ Pak Din in Facebook: 

Dalam buahnya ada compound yang diberi nama miraculin. Ia bertindak mengalih rasa masam kepada manis [taste modifying substance]. Didapati kesan ini hanya terjadi di dalam acidic media. Kalau cuka pun akan terasa manis juga.  

http://www.facebook.com/groups/100705113390880/

Further research is being conducted at the University of Tokyo using a system of cultured cells that allowed the testing of human taste receptors at various pH values to uncover the mechanism. As already known miraculin binds strongly to the sweet taste receptors on our tongues; however, it does not activate receptors at neutral pH. Once acid is introduced, the miraculin protein changes shape in such a way that it turns on the sweet receptors it is bound to, causing an ultra-sweet sensation without affecting other flavors tasted. Once the acidic food is swallowed, miraculin returns to its inactive shape until the next acidic food comes along. This can continue for about an hour while the miraculin protein is still bound to the taste receptor. Miraculin in Wikipedia

           Read more about Miraculin

African botanicals: Some of the botanical materials include Griffonia simplicifolia seeds containing 5-Hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HTP) used for depression and weight loss; Pycnanthus angolensis nuts containing kombo butter for myristic oleate as an anti-inflammatory agent and Richardella dulcifica berries containing taste-masking agent, Miraculin. http://www.miraculin.com/

The sweet red berry is known to scientists as Synsepalum dulcificum, and is popularly called the miracle fruit. It is sweet and contains sweet protein molecules (glycoproteins). According to the Center for Smell and Taste at the University of Florida, the berry is a native of West Africa and was introduced in the Americas, late in the eighteenth century. Synsepalum dulcificum contains a protein called miraculin which produces an altered sense of taste. What happens is that when this protein is linked to the tastebuds in the mouth, it acts as an inducer of sweetness when the tastebuds come into contact with food acids. This effect lasts an hour at most and then fades. http://www.miracleberrypill.org/miracle-fruit/miraculin

Biochemistry of miraculin
View the miracle berry 
Proteomic research on miraculin
Protein spotlight

See also
Brazzein
Curculin
Monellin
Thaumatin
Pentadin
Cynarin

Singapore hospital bills

This links to most of the bills for Singapore hospitals:
http://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/costs_and_financing/HospitalBillSize.html

Archaeology

Spellings: Archaeology, archeology

Archaeology is the study of ancient human civilisations. The study of the Egyptians is Egyptology. The study of the Indians is Indianology. The study of the Chinese is Sinology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology

http://history-world.org/archeology.htm

http://www.mcremo.com/

Pusat Penyelidikan Arkeologi Global, USM, Penang

Tortured child bride

Please read this sad story of Sahar Gul, an Afghan teenager who was married off at 13. She endured many months of ill-treatment. She was saved by her neighbour(s) who heard her cries of pain. She was saved at 15.
Tortured-child-bride-Sahur-Gul-speaks-time-husbands-family-jailed-years.html

Video of Sahar Gul
http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/05/08/walsh-tortured-afghan-girl.cnn

LDL subclass separation

Fractionation of LDL subclasses
http://www.bhlinc.com/cirm.php?chapter=5

Child abuse and neglect

Have you ever heard a child crying for long enough? Have you heard a child sobbed in the middle of the night when you are trying to get some sleep? Have you heard a child suddenly screamed in pain from being hit? Sounds familiar? That's child abuse. Parents are the #1 child abusers. Grandparents come next. Why have we let these things happen?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PG-RYLWp8w&feature=related

Unforgotten Angels
http://www.facebook.com/UnforgottenAngels

Maternal stress disorders and depression

It would be untrue to say that mothers do not love their children. But if you watch this video, it will make you wonder, what really happened to mothers as the world turns. Mothers have become killers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmBlYhjdRyg&feature=related
The text below is from the video.


More than 600 mothers kill their children each year.

There are six major personality profiles of mothers who kill their children:-

1. The mentally ill mother
2. The retaliating mother
3. The depressed mother
4. The unwanted or unexpected mother
5. The merciful mother
6. The battering mother

What drove them to the breaking point?
Was it unintentional?
Was it done out of anger or frustration?
Are these mothers suffering with depression?
Or maternal stress disorders?

Are young mothers becoming so detached from their emotions and becoming unable to bond with their babies?

Celebrating the birth of a stillborn

This is a couple who celebrated the birth of their stillborn, just like they would had the baby lived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=gnNLPlQFDw4

Progeria

Children appear like little old people. They have a mutated gene called the LMNA gene, which was identified in 2003. They age 8-10 times faster than their own parents. They can live up to age 13 and then die as old teenagers. Progeria suffers have many health problems involving the heart and bone. Some will need heart surgery. Therapy includes providing a nutritious diet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzBs2Tn655k&feature=endscreen&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtDWyNTFngo&feature=related

Anencephaly lived to age 2

Usually babies born without a brain die the same day of birth but this baby lived to age 2. He only had a brain stem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMlVNFpzKNI&feature=related

Born without a face

This baby had no face even in utero on U/S scan. Surgery was done to give her a face.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=JTJj6hDMkIg

Triglyceride Transport

This is a good write-up on the metabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (VLDL and chylomicron). It emphasises on the importance of the triglyceride (TG) and cholesteryl ester (CE) exchanges between VLDL remnants and HDL, and also how the small dense LDL are formed. It highlights the significant role played by smaller VLDL in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
http://www.lipidcenter.com/pdf/TG_and_VLDL_Physiology.pd

Miracle man walks again

Alhamdulillah, I still have legs. Look at Peng Shulin - he now uses bionic legs:
http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/56500-miracle-man-walks-again

Empower Your Health

This site has a lot of patients' stories and cases which are worth reading. The conditions are categorised.
http://www.empoweryourhealth.org/taxonomy/term/82

Rare form of Turner Syndrome

This is a good article on a rare form of Turner Syndrome
i-was-born-with-a-rare-form-of-turner-syndrome

Type 2 diabetes

This is a very good article on Type 2 Diabetes
http://www.natap.org/2005/HIV/041105_04.htm

This is a review article and covers Oral Hypoglycemic Agents (OHAs)
http://www.pharmainfo.net/reviews/oral-hypoglycemic-agents-treatment-type-ii-diabetes-mellitus-review