Any biologists on NSC?

[Pevenseagull]

Snapdragon?

 

[US Seagull]

There appears to be a lack to familiarity with/ acceptance of transposons, identical twins cannot have identical DNA.

I think the objection to the idea of identical twins having identical DNA seems to center around the idea that as seperate entities they can mutate off in seperate direction. This is absolutely true. BUT, mutations occur in single molecules of DNA in single cells of the body, unless the fertilized egg splits to produce two seperate single cells (i.e. the twins) and one of those mutates immediately before the now seperate cells start dividing normally then any mutation won't make much difference because it will only be present in a minority of cells and will most likely be repaired on destroyed by the bodies own defence mechanisms. This is why today you still have the same DNA you were born with.

should Branston Pickle be kept in the fridge?

Absolutely

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Hello, I'm a biologist

Not much too add to this topic, however, except to say that branston pickle really really should be kept in the fridge.

Oh, and clones only really exist in the form of DNA, no two people will ever be truly alike because DNA is not a complete blueprint for building a human being (or whatever), think of it more as a set of guidelines, i.e. the DNA will direct a set of proteins to be made, but the way they fit together and initiate some second stage activities is up to the proteins themselves and other 'construction' elements of the body. During this, mutations can happen, things can go wrong, diseases can affect it - this is the environment part of the phenotype alluded to above. (elementary biology: genotype+environment = phenotype).

 

[Pevenseagull]

just out of interest does mitochondrial inheritence show up under PCR, or whatever technique is now in vogue for profiling? If so (and assumming mitochondria are not homogeneous) would the initial mitosis not result in differentiation?

It's been a while since I was into tampering with the very fabric of life so I'm a touch rusty, however, my cheese and pickle sandwiches are magnificent.

 

[US Seagull]

Hello, I'm a biologist

Not much too add to this topic, however, except to say that branston pickle really really should be kept in the fridge.

Oh, and clones only really exist in the form of DNA, no two people will ever be truly alike because DNA is not a complete blueprint for building a human being (or whatever), think of it more as a set of guidelines, i.e. the DNA will direct a set of proteins to be made, but the way they fit together and initiate some second stage activities is up to the proteins themselves and other 'construction' elements of the body. During this, mutations can happen, things can go wrong, diseases can affect it - this is the environment part of the phenotype alluded to above. (elementary biology: genotype+environment = phenotype).

On the subject of genotype + environment, it reminds me of cc the cloned cat who not only looked nothing like it's mother, but apparently had a completely different personality. I think this is a striking example of just how important the environment is in development and why you might just be terribly disappointed with the results if you tried to clone yourself. Be forewared, your clone could grow up to be a palace fan!!
Still, a clone would be handy just for the spare parts

 

[Brovion]

Errr.... Does anybody think Atomic Kitten will ever get back together again?

(Well they've split up into identical clones)

 

[seagull over sevenoaks]

did we ever decide on the exact outside temperature at which one should switch from sandwiches to soup?