For many of us, GENETICS is a intimidating topic. Don’t worry, I feel the same way around technology and computer language. When we start reading sentences where half the words are foreign, then it can seem way over our heads. And I think people have an idea that genetics is important to medicine and health care, but what role it plays (and how genes act) might be where the questions are.
So that’s why I’m adding a regular feature to explain the basics and call it “What we need to know to get genetics” or something like that. Obviously, this …read more

The National Institutes of Health launched the Knockout Mouse Project last week to “build a comprehensive and publicly available resource of knockout mutations in the mouse genome” (EurekAlert, September 7, 2006).
This week’s genetics quiz question:
What are knockout mice?
Answer:

Over the last few months, I’ve received several questions about career options in genetics. Here’s one that I’m still not clear on.
What is the difference between getting a certification in clinical genetics and becoming a certified genetic counselor?
Answer from the Brandeis University Genetic Counseling Program and the School for Health Studies at Simmons College:

Where has the time gone? This week’s genetics quiz is the 50th we’ve had since the start of Genetics and Health in April 2005. There’s no doubt that there will be enough questions to keep this series going for quite a while. If you have any burning genetics questions, let me know. I’ll do my best to find you an answer!
This week’s genetics quiz question is about forensic DNA testing:
Why can’t DNA samples and other biological specimens for DNA testing be packaged in plastic?
(Maybe CSI fans already know the answer.)
Answer from the Missouri Highway Patrol :

This week’s genetics quiz question is something that tends to trip up a lot of people:
If cancer is genetic, does that mean it’s inherited too?
Answer:

Whenever specific gene mutations are discussed, homozygosity and heterozygosity are mentioned. This week’s genetics quiz question is:
What does it mean when a person has a homozygous genotype? Heterozygous genotype?
Answer:

This week’s genetics quiz question is from StrangeButTrue by Bill and Rich Sones at desertnews.com.
What distinguishes humans from mice genetically if we have about the same number of genes?
Answer:

Genetics and Health is running a series written by “Rica Lode” who is sharing her family’s experience with preimplantation genetic diagnosis. To provide more information, this week’s genetics quiz question is:
What are the alternatives to PGD?
Answer:

Earlier this week, I talked about the Bradfield family whose members experienced a higher than average rate of stomach cancer. For them, being able to see the inheritance of cancer across generations as charted in a family pedigree spoke volumes. There’s no better way to keep a record of your family’s health history than by drawing a family pedigree. So, this week’s genetics quiz question is:
What do the various symbols–circles, squares, hash marks–on a family pedigree mean?
Answer:

Following up on this week’s news that scientists have found genes to control stem cells’ pluripotent ability, this week’s genetics quiz question is:
Why do scientists want to use stem cell lines?
Answer: