blueprint: part 2: The DNA Revolution: chapter 10: DNA Basics

I started part 2 of “blueprint” by Robert Plomin. It is very fascinating. Time passes quickly when I’m reading this chapter. I’m looking up words and trying to find images so I can picture it. Here are my notes:

• DNA literacy is important to understand the DNA revolution as it effects psychology (study of human mind, functions, cognitive processes, social behavior, human development, mental characteristics)
• DNA consists of molecules that obey laws of chemistry
• DNA is a double helix strand of DNA held together by weak, easily broken rungs.
• DNA consists of 4 molecules (Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine
• There are 64 possible combinations.
• 20 amino acids
• Each cell produces 2,000 different proteins
• Proteins regulates our bodies, including neurons and neurotransmitters. These are basic elements of our brain and who we are psychologically.
• There are 3 billion rungs in our DNA double helix
• 23 segments (chromosomes) 1 cell 1 chromosome in an egg and 1 cell 1 chromosome in sperm. Joined is a full set of paired chromosomes which split and replicate. All have the same DNA sequence
• 99% of the 3 billion rungs in the DNA sequence are identical in all of us.
• 30 million rungs differ
• There are different cells for brain, blood, skin, liver and bone. The cells express different bits of DNA. RNA is used for gene expression
• There SNPs which are differences in our DNA.
• The author walks through an example of chromosome, rung # 53,767,042. The example walks through body weight percentages for different genotypes.
• CRISPR- is a way to change genes.