2022 Southern Medical Research Conference

Genetic Counseling Program

Content

The Baylor College of Medicine Genetic Counseling Program provides students a transformative education in genomic medicine and the practice of genetic counseling. The outstanding clinical, laboratory, and research faculty will empower graduates to be empathic professionals with effective critical thinking skills.

As leaders of genomic medicine integration, our graduates will serve as indispensable navigators of genetic service delivery.

Genetic Code

The genetic code is a set of rules defining how the four-letter code of DNA is translated into the 20-letter code of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The genetic code is a set of three-letter combinations of nucleotides called codons, each of which corresponds to a specific amino acid or stop signal. The concept of codons was first described by Francis Crick and his colleagues in 1961. During the same year, Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich Matthaei performed experiments that began deciphering the genetic code. They showed that the RNA sequence UUU specifically coded for the amino acid phenylalanine. Following this discovery, Nirenberg, Philip Leder, and Gobind Khorana identified the rest of the genetic code and fully described each three-letter codon and its corresponding amino acid.

There are 64 possible permutations, or combinations, of three-letter nucleotide sequences that can be made from the four nucleotides. Of these 64 codons, 61 represent amino acids, and three are stop signals. Although each codon is specific for only one amino acid (or one stop signal), the genetic code is described as degenerate, or redundant, because a single amino acid may be coded for by more than one codon. It is also important to note that the genetic code does not overlap, meaning that each nucleotide is part of only one codon-a single nucleotide cannot be part of two adjacent codons. Furthermore, the genetic code is nearly universal, with only rare variations reported. For instance, mitochondria have an alternative genetic code with slight variations.

Sarcoidosis Directory

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, but mostly the lungs and lymph glands. In people with sarcoidosis, abnormal masses or nodules (called granulomas) consisting of inflamed tissues form in certain organs. These granulomas may alter the structure and function of the affected organ(s). The symptoms of sarcoidosis can vary greatly, depending on which organs are involved. Most patients initially complain of a persistent dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is not known. The disease is associated with an abnormal immune response, but what triggers this response is uncertain. There is no cure for sarcoidosis, but the disease may get better on its own over time. Follow the links below to find WebMD's comprehensive coverage about how sarcoidosis is contracted, what it looks like, how to treat it, and much more.

Medical Reference View AllSlideshows & Images

The Lungs (Human Anatomy): Picture, Function, Definition, Conditions

WebMD's Lungs Anatomy Page provides a detailed image and definition of the lungs. Learn about lung function, problems, location in the body, and more.

Picture of Erythema Nodosum

Erythema nodosum. Red, tender, subcutaneous nodules on the extensor aspects of the legs between knees and ankles are a common condition of many causes, some clear, some likely, and many obscure. The most important conditions that are heralded or attended by erythema nodosum are such infections as streptococcal upper-respiratory infections, ulcerative colitis, histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, and leprosy. Another condition that is sometimes revealed by investigation of erythema nodosum is sarcoidosis. Drugs, including oral contraceptives, appear to be the cause of particular cases of erythema nodosum. In many cases, however, no clear cause can be found.

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