Basic Genetics question I didn't have a good answer for.

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
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It is claimed that humans all have the same genes, that race is a social construct and there are no real differences genetically.

What is meant by the statement that we all have the same genes? Obviously people can be very different. Does that mean that nurture accounts for all differences between people, including appearance? Of course not... but how would you explain this.

How come people appear and act so differently when we're all pretty much genetically homogenous?... or are we?
 

SoundTheSurrender

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2005
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I thought that like 99.9% of human genes are similar that that .1% is what makes us a little different from other nationalities.
 

jacob0401

Platinum Member
Jul 31, 2001
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the genome is there, but depends on expression of those genes (alleles, level of expression, regulation by other genes, etc)

there are many factors, for something apparently simple as skin color there are many genes and pathways that come into play...
 

djheater

Lifer
Mar 19, 2001
14,637
2
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Originally posted by: jacob0401
the genome is there, but depends on expression of those genes (alleles, level of expression, regulation by other genes, etc)

there are many factors, for something apparently simple as skin color there are many genes and pathways that come into play...

So an answer would be, we all have the same genetic potential. The differences we see are the way in which that potential is expressed in each individual?
 

Mr Incognito

Golden Member
Feb 20, 2007
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Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: jacob0401
the genome is there, but depends on expression of those genes (alleles, level of expression, regulation by other genes, etc)

there are many factors, for something apparently simple as skin color there are many genes and pathways that come into play...

So an answer would be, we all have the same genetic potential. The differences we see are the way in which that potential is expressed in each individual?


I think you have it right. We all have the same core genes, but where our ancestors grew up affected our current generations I believe. So the conditions our ancestors had to live and thrive in have led to the differences we see today.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
For the most part, we all have the same genes in the most basic form. As in... everyone has a car. But each person's car is different and those differences are what makes everyone different.
 

Mo0o

Lifer
Jul 31, 2001
24,227
3
76
Originally posted by: djheater
Originally posted by: jacob0401
the genome is there, but depends on expression of those genes (alleles, level of expression, regulation by other genes, etc)

there are many factors, for something apparently simple as skin color there are many genes and pathways that come into play...

So an answer would be, we all have the same genetic potential. The differences we see are the way in which that potential is expressed in each individual?

The dffierences in expression could be indicative of differing alleles of regulatory factors etc
 

rezinn

Platinum Member
Mar 30, 2004
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Different genes don't make you a different nationality, that's just wrong.

There are something like 40,000 genes in the human genome. But they are expressed differently in different populations, and sequences differ slightly which affect expression and sometimes function. There is more complexity in genetic expression than there is in genes themselves.

You can think of it from an evolutionary standpoint. Some people in Africa have inherited mutations in gene encoding one hemoglobin protein which gives them sickle cell anemia. How this mutation occurred isn't known, but it happened in a particular population and now many of them carry it.

Gene expression can be very sensitive to mutations, and a huge portion of the genome which does not encode any genes is involved, so mutations which don't affect function may have impact on expression. Even among similar populations, individuals vary in susceptibility to disease because of their respective genetic expression. Environment most definitely affects gene expression such as by viruses, diet, physical activity... many things could be proven to.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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We're only beginning to even touch the surface of how complex our genome is.

Think about it. They expected humans to have perhaps 150,000 genes. Afterall, we are the most complicated thing on the planet, right?

Very few guessed that we would have only 30-40,000 genes; A simple flatworm has 25,000.

Their interactions and effects are incredibly complex. Then you throw the fact that environment seems to affect gene expression way more than we ever thought it did, and quite frankly its going to be a long time before we figure it all out....