Reflection Questions
Question Number One:-
a) Sexual reproduction is defined as the formation of new organisms following the coming together of two independent gametes. Its main advantages includes the ability to produce wide ranging amounts of genetic diversity and ability to establish variable offspring’s that are different from the original parents, hence having high probability of survival in the changing environments . Other notable advantages include the ability to be reproduce offspring’s that develop from two parents ,hence reduced chances of inheriting deleterious mutations.
b) In my own perspective, I tend to ascertain that genetic testing to select embryos with certain traits should be acceptable when it does not pose any threat to the mother or the growing fetus. Being a very sensitive area, there should be limits on what tests can be performed because some of these genetic tests are very expensive and not available to everyone bringing in the issue of social justice and equity. This is important because it’s a common feature that when this test are performed abruptly they may lead to death of the embryos and fetuses, and morally I contend that just like live born individuals these fetuses are entitled to basic right of life .
In respect to this question, I tend to argue that genetic testing is matter of personal conscience and parents should be allowed to conduct genetic tests to select embryos with certain traits since their benefits or consequences are not shared. For me, I would argue in favor of letting parents determine the outcome of their children without societal interference, since if the child is affected it’s the mother who will raise it alone, and the reason why such genetic tests should be placed direly on the opinion of the mother so that she can be able to determine the outcome of her child. In respect to genetic testing, the line should be drawn where the benefits outweigh the risks.
Question Number Two:-
a) UQCRQ gene encodes for the ubiquinone-binding protein that form part of the quinol-cytochrome c reductase complex, a component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The mutations was in the exon, more specifically on the long (q) arm of chromosome 5 and at position 31.1.
Exon is regarded as a sequence of RNA molecule in the primary transcript, while intron is regarded as RNA sequences between exons.
b) The length of the gene 2218 base pairs i.e. (located between base pair 132,202,318 and 132,204,535 on Chromosome 5), while the mRNA transcript is 1,585 base pairs.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is involved in the encoding of protein molecule and it’s usually transcribed from a DNA template. The mRNA transcript is always shorter than the actual gene because it’s incorporated inside the gene.
Question Number Three
In respect to the book, “Biology through the Eyes of Faith?” by Wright, the author discusses of three major interpretations of creation held by mainstream Christian theologians. These interpretations include the Twenty-four- Hour View, the Day-Age View, and the Framework View. The Twenty-four- Hour View asserts that creation was made in normal days of 24 hours, with six working days and one 24 hour rest day (Sabbath).The Day-Age View interpretation on its part identify “days” as actually significant long periods of time which are categorized as distinct ages or literal days that are followed by a specific age which may or not overlap with others. The Framework View on its part identify creation days to be arranged topically and not chronologically as established in the Twenty-four- Hour View and the Day-Age View interpretations. The first two interpretations, Twenty-four- Hour Vie and the Day-Age View believe in a chronological creation and regard them to having been strongly be motivated by science. Both interpretations strongly deny elements associated with cosmological studies that ascertain creation of the universe to have been astronomically created a billion years ago.
The third interpretation differs from others in terms of how time and days are structured. The third interpretation believes the days of creation to be arranged topically and not chronologically, and this forms the basis of difference and also technically believes in science and elements of astronomical history (Wright, 1989).
