tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post7591079973595762925..comments2023-08-16T04:03:30.595-04:00Comments on Can U Talk About Genomics? (CUTAG): It's 'genetic' (or not) Kee Chan, PhDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458864216039535394noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-8439336688410710322014-04-15T20:30:34.111-04:002014-04-15T20:30:34.111-04:00The association between genetic variation and pair...The association between genetic variation and pair-bonding behaviors is an area of study that I have never thought about before. After reading the article, “Genetic variation in the vasopressin receptor 1a gene (AVPR1A) associates with pair bonding behavior in humans,” I was surprised to find out that a variant in the AVPR1A gene can affect human behavior in regards how they bond with others. I have never thought about humans and how they bond with others from a genetic perspective, but now I find it to be an area of genetics that I am very interested in. I think it is amazing how they used prairie voles to test this gene mutation, by injecting them with the variant gene, resulting in the prairie voles isolating themselves from others. <br /><br />It was very intriguing when they tested for this variant in humans and the effect it had on pair-boding with other humans through having individuals with the variant allele take a pair bonding test to see if their hypothesis deduced form the prairie voles was true. The results of there study showed that men homozygous for the 334 allele were more likely to be unmarried and score lower on the PBS test, as well as having marital problems if they were married.<br /><br />After comprehending this information, I watched the two video of how the media portrayed these study findings, realizing how the medias interpretation of certain genetic discoveries can be presented in a false manner to the public. In these videos the media stated that a variant in certain genes, such as the AVPR1A gene, causes men to cheat, which may be a result of the variant gene but in the study this was never stated; it was only stated that the variant allele has an affect of pair-bonding in men resulting in marital problems, but never stated that this allele causes them to cheat, something that was overgeneralized by the media.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13224164059818554936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-26148142010102227952014-04-11T15:59:16.887-04:002014-04-11T15:59:16.887-04:00I certainly do not believe that fitness is solely ...I certainly do not believe that fitness is solely based on one’s genome, even though the article suggested that some people benefited more from exercise than others based on their VO2 max (the capacity of the body to transport oxygen during exercise; or your endurance). I do however believe that genetics influences the body’s response to aerobic exercise and fitness, I just do not think that it is the sole factor at play. Many proponents go into fitness from eating the right diet, getting enough physical activity, hard work and dedication, training and motivation, getting enough sleep, and of course genetics (but your genes are only one part of the puzzle). I believe that your diet actually plays one of the biggest roles in physical fitness, as what you put into your body will reflect on the outside (be it through your skin, hair, nails, or your fitness level). There are many limitations to studies like this, and the one we were presented with certainly had a few, such as the small sample number that the study focused on and the all white population included which may not be so useful in comparing the results to a broader group of people. Studies like this can also sometimes be more harmful than helpful, as they may discourage readers from getting physical activity if they think that they may not get anywhere, as they do not come from an athletic family or they are not seeing immediate results at the gym. It is important to remember that exercise can reduce your risk for many diseases and no matter what age or background you come from, we can all benefit from getting a little bit of physical activity in our lives. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12499150788533911848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-42199295024153614932014-03-31T23:09:56.257-04:002014-03-31T23:09:56.257-04:00I agree with Cam in that this could definitely cha...I agree with Cam in that this could definitely change dynamics of relationships OR in fact be a crutch for men that have cheated before. Samantha Liebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672487586685121459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-17839212914804088712014-03-30T21:19:56.321-04:002014-03-30T21:19:56.321-04:00I completely agree with what Lindsey has already c...I completely agree with what Lindsey has already covered regarding the topic of genetics and pair-bonding behavior. One topic that may have been misconstrued in the news report in class was the fact that this genotype is a polymorphism and not a mutation. The fact that this is a polymorphism makes it seem more commonplace, therefore offering assistance in counteracting the deterministic misconceptions surrounding genetic variations. In addition, although the study proves convincing, I think we must also acknowledge the study population: Swedish, Caucasian adults born between 1944 and 1971. The limited scope of the study population does raise some questions, as does the way these results were misconstrued on that newscast. I found it very odd that the researchers decided to use rodents rather than a more closely related animal such as a primate. So, I found a similar study implemented in 2013 that researched the same genotype in chimps, and "the overall results [of that study suggested...] that the AVPR1A gene influences the sensitivity in perception of socio-communicative cues by male but not female chimpanzees," which basically mirrors that of those in our research paper. I guess I just found it interesting that the results of our assigned reading haven't been completed forgotten and to this day scientists continue to try to build upon this puzzling genomic discovery<br /><br />Article: http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140120/srep03774/full/srep03774.htmlTessa Runelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-26594819262695906582014-03-29T17:31:27.224-04:002014-03-29T17:31:27.224-04:00While I think the information provided by the pair...While I think the information provided by the pair bonding article provided some insight on how pairing works, I think that there are too many other factors to consider when you dealing with pair bonding. While this gene may provide one aspect of how pair bonding works thats just it , it is one factor. While an association with the gene can be seen, there is no causation, which one person may not get if they watched those new segments. There are too many other confounding factors to what may cause marital problems or if a person is monogamous or not. I think that is an issue with this study. It makes it seem like it you have this gene you are going to have issues with relationships, which might not be the case at all. It depends on environmental factors, such as what kind of environment you grew into, what your beliefs are, etc. <br /><br />What worries me about this is as mentioned before how the media relayed this information to the public. They called it the cheating gene, but that isn't what it is necessarily. I think that this study is an example on how new media can twist the results and what was found to make it more entertaining for people. I can't help but wonder what are the effects of this? After seeing that news segment, how many people became worried about their relationship and if their partner had the gene. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09404417359742349333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-38082516291554350392014-03-28T18:01:25.233-04:002014-03-28T18:01:25.233-04:00I wholeheartedly agree, Maggie! I was disturbed by...I wholeheartedly agree, Maggie! I was disturbed by how easily the research was manipulated for the sake of ratings - it was clear that the host wasn't interested in the truth, but in a new excuse that could potentially absolve men from cheating on their spouses (and thus attract more viewers to watch this segment). I wouldn't be surprised if in the future, men who commit adultery would pull this excuse out, claiming that "oh I have the RS3 allele, so you can't blame me for cheating because it's wired in my DNA!" <br /><br />This show may not be fully indicative of awareness of this study, but considering NPR also had a similar spin on the topic (a classmate linked the article from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94199631), I'm certain that we need to educate the public about how their genomes function precisely because it has the potential to be used as a scapegoat. As this class has taught us, your genetic predisposition doesn't necessarily indicate that you will exhibit those characteristics - so not all men who have this gene will cheat on their spouses - and thus it shouldn't be taken as law. However, as long as the public isn't informed, this will happen time after time. Naziyya Haquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05096581464701788010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-9802699217557003392014-03-28T17:32:46.343-04:002014-03-28T17:32:46.343-04:00I found the article regarding the pair bonding to ...I found the article regarding the pair bonding to be extremely interesting. Directly related to the pair bonding article, was an article written by NPR that I found. NPR discusses how science is amazing in the fact that we can make a correlation between genes in animals and genes in humans and how we behave socially. Limitations were also discussed about the research. I believe that it is important for this discussion to be had and continued so that people understand that genetic variation is not the only determining factor of social behavior. <br /><br />http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94199631Brandi Brittainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-90223696107536151312014-03-28T17:01:52.497-04:002014-03-28T17:01:52.497-04:00Reading the article that linked obesity with genet...Reading the article that linked obesity with genetics was interesting. However, like many of the other students have stated, genes may play a role in the development of a person, but it's the decisions that the same person makes that will direct and guide them on how to live. Just because one is genetically predisposed to becoming obese doesn't mean they have to live like they're already afflicted with obesity. It only means that there is a higher chance of developing obesity. There are ways and lifestyle changes that could be made that would reduce the overall risk of obtaining obesity, such as regular exercise activity and eating healthy. Tying it with the first couple of lectures: This "fat gene" can be eliminated. The video we watched earlier in the semester, stating that the decisions and interactions our ancestors made, as well as the environment they lived in, would have an impact on future generations to come. By becoming proactive now about being healthy, a person can lower the chance of obesity occurring in the next generations. It may sound all theory now, but it's better to make those lifestyle changes now before it's too late.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490754855460521004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-86684425297875321142014-03-28T16:15:02.183-04:002014-03-28T16:15:02.183-04:00These articles are extremely interesting and thoug...These articles are extremely interesting and thought-provoking, but I think there are certain factors that are ignored. When studying the animals, their environment is taken into consideration, and obviously a human's environment is extremely different than an animals. Not only is their environment different, but mating patterns and norms are different as well. I'm not trying to say that the study isn't a step in the right direction, because I believe that it is, however, until more studies are done on pair-bonding within humans I would take everything with a grain of salt. In terms of pair-bonding and obesity, these numbers also need to be inspected more closely. Studies like these that go looking for associations are more likely than not to come out with favorable results. This does not mean that everyone who has this gene is likely to become obese or develop diabetes, but environment and other factors need to be explored more closely before any major developments or lifestyle changes are announced. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05673152252261874916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-27324492002002630712014-03-28T15:49:43.005-04:002014-03-28T15:49:43.005-04:00I found Michelle’s comment very thought provoking ...I found Michelle’s comment very thought provoking as I had very similar feelings regarding the lecture given by the genetic counselors on Thursday. The first aspect that left an impact on me was the passion that the two students who came to our class presented. Sarah and Amy seemed to show great enthusiasm for their future careers and relayed to the class the real importance and need that our society has for genetic counselors in this day and age with the emergence of various genetic tests. It was also very intriguing to learn about what genetic counselors do and all that their job actually involves. The part of the lecture that left the biggest impression on me was when the counselors shared that they have to take several classes, while in school, regarding communication with patients and all that it entails. I personally believe that this should be a requirement for other professions as well. Michelle had said that this was particularly important for physicians and healthcare professionals. Physicians seem to lack the empathy and the communication skills to relay delicate and difficult information to their patients and their families, especially if there is a language barrier. I have experienced this firsthand translating medical information for my grandparents and thus believe that these types of courses can help many professions become better communicators; they should become standard for medical students. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12499150788533911848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-27670756341373517952014-03-28T15:28:10.388-04:002014-03-28T15:28:10.388-04:00I actually found the article on obesity pretty int...I actually found the article on obesity pretty interesting as it related obesity and its reasons to genetics. One would normally think the genes determine only physical traits of a person. So, does this mean that some people are actually unluckily born to have diabetes regardless of what they do once they are born? I guess this really goes back to nature vs. nurture argument. Staying on the topic, what does this mean to genetic engineering? Does this mean when genetic engineering advances later in the future, we can actually eradicate obesity? That may some problems, but that might actually end up creating a list of issues such as not needing any insulin shots (at least for diabetes)Hee Sang Yunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-44867107976237907472014-03-28T15:22:19.290-04:002014-03-28T15:22:19.290-04:00The findings from the article on pair-bonding real...The findings from the article on pair-bonding really surprised me. It taught me to take numbers with a grain salt. Even though the results showed significance between a mutated gene and behavioral issue, it cannot be conclusive because the small amount of subjects. This is important because people should be aware of looking deeper into research articles before immediately believing anything that's published. I think pair-bonding behavior is an interesting topic that should be further researched. I hope that more studies are being done to find if there are any possible genes that can lead to issues in pair-bonding behavior. Many would argue that nurture takes a strong precedence over nature when it comes to human behavior and personality. Perhaps, advanced research can prove that maybe we should look elsewhere for answers. Maureen Ogambahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045801063296427931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-60456991619241596922014-03-28T15:19:26.027-04:002014-03-28T15:19:26.027-04:00I had read a study in a previous science class abo...I had read a study in a previous science class about a link between genetics and pair bonding in animals, and I was surprised to find that they had found a possible gene association for pair bonding in humans. In a society that is primarily monogamous, it's interesting to see that we might actually be genetically wired to want to be with one partner. As many people have pointed out before me, however, having a gene doesn't explain or excuse any behavior--association doesn't mean causation. The media's representation of the "cheating gene" is problematic and grossly oversimplifies the actual gene and what the gene-pair bonding association really is. There's obviously a strong argument for environmental factors being the overarching reason why someone might be a cheater or not, and having the gene might not change that. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12059331014439294410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-82213354229012638442014-03-28T14:52:47.215-04:002014-03-28T14:52:47.215-04:00
I believe in the fact that certain individuals ar...<br />I believe in the fact that certain individuals are more prone to becoming obese and that genetics have an influence on weight gain. So many people across the country use this as an excuse to why they are obese, but in reality the only person to blame is themselves. It is simple, if you eat too much and do not exercise, you will show signs of weight gain. How can one blame your genetics or parents figures for ones weight problem? In the article regarding genetics and obesity, it speaks about the gene located in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract in which regulates ones metabolic rate. They have discovered that this gene doesn’t have a big impact on the weight gain of a patient, rather it is due to environmental and behavioral factors such as eating too much fast food, not exercising enough, etc. Sometimes people have different levels of Resting metabolic rate which can effect ones ability to lose weight quicker which Family D showed to have. Instead of focusing on the genomics aspect of why people are obese or why individuals lack certain genes, it is important for everyone as whole to be healthy. Even if an individual has a fast metabolism, if they are eating unhealthy, they will have complications later in life. <br />Samantha Liebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09672487586685121459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-47132797579121902592014-03-28T14:50:28.093-04:002014-03-28T14:50:28.093-04:00I recall learning about pair-bonding and the role ...I recall learning about pair-bonding and the role of vassopressin in prairie voles in a biology class. Similar to Chloe, I also think the finding that men with a 334 allele are more likely to commit infidelity is very intersting and deserves further research. I am also curious if there are any other genes found to be related to pair-bonding in humans.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00367010820415927254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-45080289392589969882014-03-28T14:44:41.674-04:002014-03-28T14:44:41.674-04:00I have asked the same questions after many of the ...I have asked the same questions after many of the articles we have read for this class and others. In particular, many of the behavioral genetics research artlicles always leaves me with a "now what" feeling, and many treatments I dream up are almost always illegal or would never exist in society. For example, I recently read a lot about an MAO A mutation that causes increased aggression in males, which often leads to antisocial disorders and criminal behavior. But how could this well-supported correlation be used to reduce school shootings and other violent crimes, and improve mental health as a whole? Whoever could come up with a legal, ethical gene therapy to reduce violence in our society would be a the Gandhi of genetics/genomics. Since genomics is a fairly new discipline, I am very interested to see if in the future, geneticists capitalize on behavioral genetic knowledge.Anya Dangorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11176506545248494435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-22321906663607092882014-03-28T14:36:37.476-04:002014-03-28T14:36:37.476-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anya Dangorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11176506545248494435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-41698808912934465942014-03-28T14:30:01.975-04:002014-03-28T14:30:01.975-04:00I found both the article on pair-bonding and the a...I found both the article on pair-bonding and the article on obesity and genetics interesting, however I thought the obesity article was more surprising. I've always had an idea about obesity and the possibility of genetic predisposition, however I didn't think about the implications of genetic mutation and the likelihood of obesity development. I found an article on The New York Times that also discusses this association between obesity and genetics. I found it interesting that this article mentioned instances where twins who were raised separated maintained similar body weights. I had thought that lifestyle would have more of an impact on body weight than genetics, but it seems that genetics could have much more of an impact than I initially thought. <br /><br />article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/health/overweight-maybe-you-really-can-blame-your-metabolism.html?_r=0Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15251821534459665033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-57775830489856253202014-03-28T14:26:58.154-04:002014-03-28T14:26:58.154-04:00I have to say that although I find both articles v...I have to say that although I find both articles very interesting, that I think it's troubling from a public health or social standpoint. Especially when the media calls genes the "monogamy gene" or "fat gene." Being able to assign a specific behavior to a gene allows people to remove the blame from themselves in regards to obesity or cheating. In this way, I think that the research is shooting itself in the foot-- where it seeks to inform people, it is actually enabling ignorance and bad behavior. Although some people will use this information correctly, many others will default onto their genes for their bad behavior or will say that because they don't have the gene, they don't have to be proactive in their lifestyles. Essentially, I think that the research and media's interpretation of it does more bad than good. Although the information found is interesting, I don't think it helps our efforts in public health.Brenda Lightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-17901285117651056752014-03-28T14:26:17.934-04:002014-03-28T14:26:17.934-04:00The fact that researchers were able to track down ...The fact that researchers were able to track down and figure out that there are genes linked to obesity is a marvel in itself, but even more intriguing is the fact that people may not have control over their weight and weight gain, contrary to popular belief. With this knowledge at hand, it is now possible for interventions to be put into place which counteract and fight obesity at an early stage in people's lives, for those who are at risk. <br />If this is achieved and maintained, the recent obesity epidemic that is striking America could be put to a halt, which would lead to better health outcomes for all. This new perspective on genes and obesity appears to be a major breakthrough, but I wonder if and how this new information could also be used to benefit those already living with obesity? Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06639703457070507718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-18382235652704610082014-03-28T14:25:05.057-04:002014-03-28T14:25:05.057-04:00The pair-bonding article really emphasizes the dif...The pair-bonding article really emphasizes the difficulty in quantifying certain human characteristics as complex as relationships in behavioral genetics. This study was influenced by the infamous prairie vole vasopressin study that I believed was conducted in the '90's, in which a correlation was observed between increased vasopressin and monogamy. The problem with extrapolating human behavioral genetics from animal models is that human behavior is dictated by a plethora of drives ranging from instinctual to emotional to irrational on a more complex scale than any other organism. Specifically, the environmental influences on divorce rates or cheating tendencies are so plentiful that it would be nearly impossible to isolate the influence of polymorphism 334 on partner bonding for certain. One cannot deny, however, the relationship established in this article and future studies are definitely warranted. One far-fetched idea would be to examine pair-bonding in Amish societies, which would eliminate a confounding factor that I deem to be extremely influential in discouraging pair-bonding, the media.<br /><br />The feminist in me also wants to know if there are any influential genes involved in pair bonding in women.Anya Dangorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11176506545248494435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-48950088475094803002014-03-28T14:08:17.897-04:002014-03-28T14:08:17.897-04:00This is scary lolThis is scary lolJessica Thermitusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-72556095713233139832014-03-28T14:03:13.066-04:002014-03-28T14:03:13.066-04:00I really enjoyed yesterdays guest speakers. Yes, w...I really enjoyed yesterdays guest speakers. Yes, we've been learning lot about genetic counseling and all of that but hearing about it first had from someone who is our age and living through the career path was very inspiring. What interested me the most was the various types of fields that genetic counselors could go into weather it be prenatal, cancer patients, pediatrics or adult. An aspect that really interested me was the pediatrics clinic and how genetics counselors meet with children and diagnose if they are on the autism spectrum. <br />If there was any more information on genetic counseling i would be really appreciate for someone to reply with some. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641748770556526856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-5430608354925809892014-03-28T13:59:21.718-04:002014-03-28T13:59:21.718-04:00Environmental and behavioral factors can influence...Environmental and behavioral factors can influence the way genes are expressed. This epigenetic perspective is one that makes perfect sense. However, with a disease like obesity genes to not condemn a person to living with obesity and it's consequences. Instead, these genes only dictate how fast an individual gains weight. These genes determine the rate at which someone with the "obesity" genes and a normal individual gain fat while eating high fat foods. There's no garuntee that every single person born with these genes will develop obesity. As was mentioned before, this is due to outside factors. <br /><br />From a public health perspective, this means that the obesity epidemic in America is due to more than genes. It is due to how we treat our bodies and the convenience of horrible food that surround us. <br /><br />This article explains a lot about some of the specific polygenetic variants and epigenetic contributions to obesity also. If you have time, you should check it out! What's really cool is that it talk about FAT DISTRIBUTION as it relates to genetics as well. It's so interesting, omg. <br /><br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3213306/<br /><br />Jessica Thermitusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1829604838323083637.post-9158533940713169952014-03-28T13:49:18.641-04:002014-03-28T13:49:18.641-04:00Genetic variation and pair-bonding behaviors is a ...<br />Genetic variation and pair-bonding behaviors is a very interesting topic. I found it so strange how they found a link between a gene that could be responsible for monogamy and men seeking many partners. I almost don't believe it and I'm not sure exactly how this could be possible, but it is definitely something to look into with today's world of so many couples cheating. On the other hand I am also not sure if it is something we should look more into. Males would have an excuse for cheating and blame it on their genetics. Also you must look at the most important aspect of this study; if the male has the gene it doesn't mean he will in fact cheat. Even though the gene contributes to cause one to cheat, you must look at the environmental factors and how that person ii raised as well. There are so many aspects of this study between the link, but I can't make up my mind whether or not this study should continue on. I am afraid this could end many relationships if the women find out their partners have the gene, so I think before we announce this to the public we need full understanding of the monogamy gene. In sum, I am intrigued by this study, but remain skeptical at the same time.<br />Cameron Sourihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830743728204111029noreply@blogger.com