Articles written by Barbara Melville

Harlequin ichthyosis is an autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in the ABCA12 gene.

Jan 19, 2011 - Barbara Melville

Familial adenomatous polyposis causes colorectal cancer, and is the result of mutations in either the APC gene or the MUTYH gene.

Dec 10, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Beta thalassemia is caused by mutations in the HBB gene, and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Dec 7, 2010 - Barbara Melville

DNA is the chemical that holds hereditary information, with its structure allowing for stability and accurate copying.

Sep 8, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Resulting from a missing portion of chromosome 17, Smith-Magenis syndrome is a developmental disorder that is usually not inherited.

Sep 5, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 is caused by a mutation in the CNBP gene, and has an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.

Sep 5, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a type of muscular dystrophy, and is caused by a mutation in the DMPK gene.

Sep 5, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Trisomy 18, also known as Edward's syndrome, is a condition resulting from extra genetic material.

Jun 20, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genetic variations that occur in humans, and are significant in the study of genomes.

Jun 12, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Turner syndrome, also known as monosomy X, is a chromosomal condition resulting from missing genetic material.

May 23, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Prader-Willi syndrome is the result of missing or abnormal genetic material on the paternally contributed chromosome 15.

May 15, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Resulting from a missing portion of chromosome 5, cri-du-chat syndrome is a genetic disorder that is usually not inherited.

Apr 10, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Sickle cell disease is the result of mutations in the HBB gene, and has an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern.

Apr 3, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Triple X syndrome, also known as trisomy X, is a chromosomal condition resulting from extra genetic material.

Mar 27, 2010 - Barbara Melville

X-Linked SCID is the result of a mutation in the IL2RG gene, and is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner.

Mar 20, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a condition resulting from extra genetic material.

Mar 8, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Angelman syndrome is a result of impaired function of the UBE3A gene, and is usually not inherited.

Feb 28, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Textbooks can be expensive, and university libraries don't always carry enough copies to go round. What can students of biological sciences do?

Feb 21, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Tay-Sachs disease is caused by a mutation in the HEXA gene, and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Feb 14, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Chromosomes are tightly-coiled structures of DNA that carry the genetic codes humans need to grow and function.

Feb 8, 2010 - Barbara Melville

The terms chimerism and mosaicism both refer to DNA variations, and are sometimes confused. What are the differences between the two?

Jan 31, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Maple syrup urine disease can be caused by a mutation in one of four genes, and is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.

Jan 24, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Klinefelter syndrome is a chromosomal condition that affects sexual development in approximately 1 in 500 males.

Jan 17, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Present in both males and females, the X chromosome is one of the two sex chromosomes in humans, spanning approximately 153 million base pairs.

Jan 9, 2010 - Barbara Melville

Fragile X syndrome (or fragile X) is an inherited genetic condition characterized by physical and intellectual features.

Dec 31, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Separate from the nuclear chromosomes, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) spans about 16,500 base pairs, and is found in most eukaryotic organisms.

Dec 27, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Huntington disease is caused by mutations in the HTT gene, and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner.

Dec 12, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Genetic counseling is a non-directive service for people who require information and/or support regarding genetic health issues.

Aug 8, 2009 - Barbara Melville

People interested in exploring both recent and deep ancestry may turn to molecular genealogy for more information.

Jul 1, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Molecular genetics is a genetics sub-discipline, including areas such as DNA structure, RNA structure, gene expression, gene mutation and gene therapy.

Jun 7, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Classical genetics is the oldest field within genetic science, and an essential foundation for several other disciplines.

May 24, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Teachers and other educators looking for guidance on teaching evolution can access several useful resources online.

May 10, 2009 - Barbara Melville

DNA Day remembers both the identification of DNA's chemical structure in 1953, and the work of the Human Genome Project, which was completed in 2003.

Apr 21, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Most changes in DNA aren't harmful, however, some can have a detrimental effect on health and development.

Apr 19, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Genetic testing can be an important part of support, preventative measures and/or treatment for health problems in individuals and families.

Apr 11, 2009 - Barbara Melville

There are several introductory-level science websites suitable for children and young people wishing to pursue an interest in evolutionary biology.

Apr 11, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Children and young people interested in learning about genes and DNA can access several educational websites that cover the basics.

Mar 30, 2009 - Barbara Melville

A genetic consultation can offer information and support for those who have or are at risk to genetic disorder.

Mar 23, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Genes are defined as basic units of heredity that direct the production of proteins. What are proteins and why are they important?

Mar 17, 2009 - Barbara Melville

On February 12th 2009, Edinburgh Zoo celebrated Darwin100, marking 200 years since the birth of Charles Darwin.

Feb 22, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Darwin Day is February 12th 2009, marking 200 years since the birth of Charles Robert Darwin, one of the most significant contributors to evolutionary biology.

Feb 10, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Misunderstood areas in genetics include the eye color phenotype, the genetics of identical twins, cloning, and the offspring of first cousins.

Jan 31, 2009 - Barbara Melville

DNA is a fascinating molecule - it's strong, it's long, it's found in viruses, and offers insight into the ancestry of modern humans.

Jan 8, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Those new to the field of genetics may feel baffled by terminology such as "alleles", "autosomal chromosomes" and "genotype".

Jan 1, 2009 - Barbara Melville

Evolutionary biology is no stranger to misconceptions, with terms such as "evidence","hypothesis" and "theory" often being misused.

Dec 21, 2008 - Barbara Melville

There are a great many gift possibilities for genetics and evolution enthusiasts, including books, DNA models, stuffed toys and experiment kits.

Dec 8, 2008 - Barbara Melville

Genetics can be explained in simple language, and can also be demonstrated through fun activities such as comparing inherited traits or extracting DNA in the kitchen.

Nov 29, 2008 - Barbara Melville

Predicting a child's eye color is no easy task, and it's important to note that the Mendelian model used for such predictions is inaccurate, despite still being popular.

Nov 24, 2008 - Barbara Melville

Becoming a geneticist in the US usually requires a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree, though the route will depend on the candidate's potential area of work.

Nov 16, 2008 - Barbara Melville

For those who've wondered what DNA actually looks and feels like, the following kitchen or school lab experiment can provide the answers.

Nov 9, 2008 - Barbara Melville