Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ] 

NomadicAssassin
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2009
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 449

09 May 2009, 10:59 am

We're all diferent obviously because no human is like another, unless mutations occur, but what is it that is the basic " two eyes, one nose, head, two arms, ect..." gene or DNA build? and what is this build called?


_________________
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

Albert Einstein


ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

09 May 2009, 11:31 am

NomadicAssassin wrote:
We're all diferent obviously because no human is like another, unless mutations occur, but what is it that is the basic " two eyes, one nose, head, two arms, ect..." gene or DNA build? and what is this build called?


The technical term in the literature is bauplan, or structural layout. Mammals have had the same layout as we do (one head, two arms, two legs, trunk) since the dinosaurs went extinct.

ruveyn



NomadicAssassin
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2009
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 449

09 May 2009, 12:38 pm

Thank you :)


_________________
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

Albert Einstein


NomadicAssassin
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 4 Mar 2009
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 449

09 May 2009, 12:40 pm

What if one wished to alter some things in them?


_________________
It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

Albert Einstein


TallyMan
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 40,061

09 May 2009, 12:56 pm

In principle you could generate whatever DNA sequence you liked. There are various complex means to do so. However, if you redesigned a human being there is no guarantee it would be viable. I suppose it's a bit like computer programming. Programmers get run time errors and crashes. Badly designed or incompatible features in DNA would result in none viability of the embryo or subsequent development problems or death. Natures version of a run time error.

Of course you have the added complexity of incubating your DNA into an organism, though this tends to be done by replacing the DNA in an existing cell and placing this to develop within a natural womb. I suppose it is only a matter of time before an artificial womb is developed. I wouldn't have thought it too difficult.

I speculate it won't be long before such experiments are done, if indeed they haven't already in places such as China where there are less concerns about ethics but with a good base of scientific knowledge and well equipped laboratories. Expect to see genetically modified humans rolling off the production line sooner or later.

The interesting bit would be designing completely new life forms - plants or animals never seen on the face of the earth and designed completely from scratch. Adds new meaning to the old witches chant "Eye of frog, tail of newt" or however it goes. Maybe plants could be designed that would thrive on Mars and help to terraform it?


_________________
I've left WP indefinitely.


Fuzzy
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,223
Location: Alberta Canada

09 May 2009, 1:37 pm

A lot of the specifics of a species bauplan are generated by conditions in the womb, and are not purely genetic. That is to say, the basic plan is fairly fundamental: the length of gestation and factors during that time reflect the eventual outcome.


_________________
davidred wrote...
I installed Ubuntu once and it completely destroyed my paying relationship with Microsoft.