the Prelude to the Book: Looking in the Mirror at two Genes The Prelude Have you ever stood in front of a mirror, I mean really stood in front of a mirror and just wondered what were you going to look, or act like, when you get older? You might have even asked yourself questions like; am I going to be skinny, or fat, will I be tall or short, how will I look with a full head of hair, or just plan bald, will I have big breasts or no breasts at all? And just maybe, as you were looking into this reflecting glass of many mysteries, you realized that the answers to your questions were too obscure to see. Scientist say, we all have about 25,000 to 35,000 genes in our family road map and these genes allow us to trace characteristics inherited from our parents, after being passed on down from generation to generation. Now, if all this is true, “God help me” and I might be in some deep trouble too, since genes can affect the development and function of our brains. You see, I know how some of my family looks and their way of thinking and I don’t want any part of those genes. Trust me when I tell you this, if we each have 25,000 to 35,000 genes and each one helps to make up our family road map, then, somewhere down the line, some of my family members are missing 10,000 genes. As for myself, I know I’m missing a few of those genes on the family highway, but to some of my kin, those roads have become alleys and courts, without the boulevards and highways. Surprisingly enough, all of this talk about genes is leading up to my two stories. One is about my Grandfather on my father’s side of the family, who I knew as a child. The other is about my Great Grandfather, on my mother’s side, who I never met. Luckily, both men added many interesting traits to our family’s gene pool, and through research and family folk lore, I have been able to reconstruct a story of Two Genes. One such source of information was my Grandfather, on my mother’s side of the family and on special occasions, he would tell me stories about my Great Grandfather. Even though Grandpa was a man of few words, when it was just him and me talking, he would open up and share some tales about his dad, allowing me to get a glimpse into my Great Grandpa’s life. My Grandfather, on my father’s side of the family, lived in the Mountains of Eastern Kentucky and I knew him as a child, which gave me a little insight into his life. Other family members were also able to fill in some more blanks about his later life, which gave me a lot of “food for fodder,” making this part of my story possible and plausible. So, with all of these genes stirring around in my body and some great family stories to unfold, I can only hope for the best, since it seems that my legacy is to spread these rumors. And, that’s exactly what I’ve done, in these tales.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:28:45 +0000
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