A Brief Discussion of Genetic Diseases Essay -- Biology Genetic Disease

Since the discovery in 1928 via the Griffith experiment (an experiment dealing with bacterial transformation) that DNA carried genetic information, many important discoveries have been made regarding the human genome and its extent in the determination of phenotypic traits. Not least of these is the discovery and study of genetic disorders, or diseases caused by abnormalities within the genes. Disorders of this nature can be caused by a variety of factors. Some diseases such as Huntington's disease must be inherited, while others, such as some cancers, can be the result of environmental factors slowly mutating the genome over time. Still others can result from random errors in normal DNA replication. Typically, genetic disorders tend to be rare due to the ability of DNA to repair itself and also because of the tendency for damaged cells to undergo programmed cell death to preserve the overall health of the organism. However, when genetic disorders do appear, they represent a considerable problem for the afflicted, because although some are treatable and possibly manageable, very few, if any, are ever curable. DNA of a living individual cannot be altered by any existing technology. Nevertheless, research is continually improving our ability to treat these diseases, particularly with diseases such as cancer, trisomy, and Huntington's disease. Of particular interest in modern medicine is the study of the various forms of cancer and the genes involved in causing it. Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body mutate to the point where they lose the ability to regulate their division and DNA replication, causing uncontrollable growth to the extent of interfering with the function of normal, healthy cells... ...gton's Research. 26 August 2007. 1 December 2010 . National Cancer Institute. Common Cancer Types. 15 July 2010. 1 December 2010 . Reiness, Gary. Cancer Part II-Mutations and Cancer. 13 April 2000. 30 November 2010 . Starr, Barry. DNA Mutations Cause Cancer. 8 February 2008. 30 November 2010 . Woollams, Chris. Using Viruses To Treat Cancer. 2010. 1 December 2010 link.aspx?n=1106&Title=Using%20Viruses%20To%20Treat%20Cancer>. WordIQ.com. Experimental Cancer Treatment - Definition. 2010. 1 December 2010 .