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GeneticsPerspective aims to provide the forefront of medical genetics for anyone to appreciate. 

Geneticists shouldn't be the only ones to enjoy the enchanting information provided by scientists.

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Does the damage from sun exposure outweigh the benefit of getting vitamin D?

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The sun emits ultraviolet light radiation which is the component of sunlight that is able to damage skin. Ultraviolet (UV) is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 10 to 400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light but longer than X-rays. To put nanometers into perspective - A human hair is around 75,000 nanometers in diameter. There are sub-types of UV which define the wavelength size: Ultraviolet A - UVA - 400–315 nanometers Ultraviolet B - UVB - 315–280 nanometers Ultraviolet C - UVC - 280–100 nanometers Interestingly UVB is essential to synthesize Vitamin D. UV light is able to damage DNA. This results with humans cells (typically skin cells) to attempt to repair themselves. As a result sometimes genetic mutations arise - some of which give the cell the ability to divide more frequently (cancer). The process of UV damage is shown in the image below. Although advertises I'm sure would love you to believe that Vitamin D should always be gained from th...
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Viroid

Viroids have 'no protein coating' as opposed to 'protein coating'. A protein coating would make it a virus, however we are talking about a Viroid and therefore it is single stranded RNA with no protein coating. As far as we know, DNA Viroids do not exist. But this is an advancing field of research and it depends on what you mean by DNA. The general different types of genetic material include - but are not limited to: Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). There is more information on Classes I and II DNA viruses here:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21523/ If there were no DNA viruses without a protein coating - what is the reason? Viroids only infect plant cells. It may be that Viroids route of entry via microscopic junctions between plant cells (Plasmodesmata) are only large enough to fit single stranded genetic material.
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Why is genetics important?

I suppose a brief explanation would be genetics is what allows life to continue. DNA replication allows for one cell to turn into two, and therefore allow multicellular organisms such as ourselves to exist. To most people genetics is very interesting, and has greatly influenced the world in good and bad ways. Trait inheritance  - A physical molecule (DNA) which can be passed on to offspring, encodes a physical property of a human. E.g. Eye colour. Eugenics  - The aim to improve the genetic quality of a human population, historically by excluding people (as believed by Hitler). Genetic diseases  - Once understood interventions can be developed to increase the quality of life for the human race. Epigenetics  - Heritable biological traits that do not involve changes in DNA. Part of the ' nature ' vs ' nurture ' debate. What causes you to look the way you do? Is it 100% your DNA or partially your environment too? Genetic Counselor  - A new job has stemmed from genet...
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