Marjolein Kriek facts for kids
Marjolein Kriek (born 22 November 1973) is a scientist from the Netherlands. She is a clinical geneticist at the Leiden University Medical Center. This means she studies how our genes affect our health.
In 2008, when she was 34 years old, Marjolein Kriek made history. She became the first woman, and likely the first person in Europe, to have her entire DNA sequenced. This means scientists read the complete instruction book of her body.
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Contents
Understanding DNA Sequencing
What is DNA?
DNA is like a special instruction book found inside almost every cell in your body. It contains all the information that makes you unique. It tells your body how to grow, how to work, and even what color your eyes will be.
What is DNA Sequencing?
DNA sequencing is the process of reading this instruction book. Scientists use special machines to figure out the exact order of the "letters" (called bases) in your DNA. It's like reading every single word in a very long book.
Marjolein Kriek's DNA Project
Leiden University announced that they had finished sequencing Marjolein Kriek's DNA on May 26, 2008. This big project took nine months to complete. The results of this important study were shared later.
Professor Gert-Jan van Ommen started this study. He wanted to learn more about the X chromosome. This is one of the chromosomes that helps determine if someone is male or female. The project helped scientists understand how DNA can be different from person to person.
At that time, only a few people in the world had their entire DNA sequenced. Marjolein Kriek was one of them. Other famous people who had their DNA sequenced included James D. Watson and Craig Venter.
Her Career and Research
Marjolein Kriek was born in Leiden, a city in the Netherlands. She studied Biomedical Science at Leiden University. In 2002, she earned her doctorate degree.
Her early studies looked for changes in genes that might cause learning difficulties. Later, her research focused on finding tiny changes in DNA that can lead to health problems. These problems include delays in development or certain conditions that people are born with. She helps diagnose these conditions and understand what they mean for patients.
See also
- Frederic Sanger, who invented important sequencing methods
- Knome, a company that offers whole genome sequencing
