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The Iceland Experiment

The Iceland Experiment. One of the most genetically homogenous countries on earth An attempt to map the entire gene pool of a country Built a DNA database based on 100,000 Icelandic individuals (about half the population) from blood samples and medical records – Parliament granted access….

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The Iceland Experiment

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  1. The Iceland Experiment • One of the most genetically homogenous countries on earth • An attempt to map the entire gene pool of a country • Built a DNA database based on 100,000 Icelandic individuals (about half the population) from blood samples and medical records – Parliament granted access…

  2. What they have found… • Genes that boost the risks for: • Type 2 Diabetes • Heart Attacks • Stroke • Schizophrenia • Osteoarthritis • 8/22/2012 – Study finds Father’s age (NOT Mother’s) is critical in passing on DNA mutations that lead to Autism – And, also identified 2 genes with mutations in an autism subgroup

  3. How can they test for these genes??

  4. DNA Microarrays • Aka DNA Chips or Biochips • Collection of DNA samples attached to a solid surface • Able to measure the expression of a large number of genes at the same time

  5. Contains “probes” which are complementary DNA sequences that are known segments of a gene and are fluorescently tagged • If a DNA sample contains the target gene, it will bind with the probe and glow

  6. Example Microarray

  7. Cancer and Microarrays • Scientists can use to try and determine which genes are working abnormally • DNA Microarrays allow doctors to determine both the genes involved in a patient’s cancer and the possible reaction of each patient to different drug treatments • Doctors use microarrays to determine different levels of gene expression in breast cancer patients then choose treatments based on results

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