Biology
(Department)
DNA and its importance in our lives
Introduction
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long linear polymer located in the nucleus of a cell. It is developed from nucleotides and shaped like a double helix. It is related to the transmission of hereditary information from one generation to the second generation. DNA contains the information for the development as well as reproduction of an organism, thereby leading to a normal life. In the year 1953, James Watson, a biologist, and Francis Crick, a physicist, discovered the structure of DNA in a laboratory in England (LEROY, 2003). The structure of DNA helped scientists to know the process of duplication of chromosomes before the cell division. However, the finding of the double helix structure would not be possible without the work of Rosalind Franklin, a chemist; Linus Pauling, a chemist, and Maurice Wilkins, a physicist (MAGNER, 2002).
Initially, Pauling published a study in 1953, showing that DNA consisted of a triple helical structure. Watson and Crick were also working on the structure of DNA, but Franklin's photo-51 helped them in moving towards a right direction. The picture represented crystallized DNA showing a blurred X in the middle of the molecule, thereby showing a helical structure. Watson found the importance of X in the picture and in the DNA (HALL, 2014). After that Watson and Crick developed the DNA structure consisting of two-chain helix having anti-parallel bases attached to each other to stabilize the molecule. Immediately after their finding, the study of the model of DNA was published in the journal Nature in 1953. In the year 1962, Crick, Watson, and Wilkins got the Noble Prize for their discovery (WATSON, 2011). The founding study of DNA eventually helped humanity in many research projects and becomes a vital part of the research in the last century.
Research of DNA had such a huge impact that many people started knowing about the term “DNA” in the previous century and many more started studying about it in the last decade. However, still many people are unaware of the importance of the DNA. They still have no knowledge about the DNA’s basic roles, and have many unanswered questions. Sometimes, they are also confused about the concepts of chromosomes and DNA – a chromosome consists of DNA and has attached proteins. Sometimes, they are also unable to locate the gene in the body.
Background
DNA is one of the most important parts of the body mainly due to its genetic material. It is commonly found in living beings. Most of the cells in the body have almost the same amount of DNA, which is present in the nucleus of the cells or less commonly in the mitochondria of the cells. There are two kinds of DNA; nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. Although science is not clear about the amount of information that can be inherited with the help of DNA, but it has shown great interest in the importance of DNA and its role in inheritance and evolution in human beings and other animals.
DNA is made up of four bases, which are known as adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). Human DNA is composed of a huge number of bases. There are about three billion bases present in human DNA and nearly all of them are similar in every person (VENTER et al., 2001). The order of the binding and location of the four bases – which is also known as DNA sequence – is primarily responsible to make a living body and sustain it throughout life. When DNA bases attach with each other, they form base pairs. In DNA, adenine attaches with thymine and guanine attaches with cytosine. Every base is also attached to a sugar molecule as well as a phosphate group. Therefore, a nucleotide is formed after joining together of the base, sugar, and phosphate group. Actually, nucleotides are beautifully arranged in two different long strands twisting in the form of double helix.
DNA has an ability to create copies of itself, a process known as replication having a highly specialized nature in copying a particular sequence of bases. This process of copying itself is important to confirm that each newly formed cell gets a copy of the hereditary material from the parent cell.
Main Body
DNA is found to have a vital role in inheritance, coding the proteins, as well as working as the blueprint of life. The study of DNA helps in getting the knowledge of its ability to regulate the production of proteins. Proteins are long chain compounds composed of amino acids, therefore DNA is found to have an ability to codify the amino acid sequences. It has been found that one gene can regulate the production of one protein. Therefore, it can be concluded that DNA is present in a huge amount in the body that are involved in the production of many different kinds of proteins.
Considering the vastness of the functions of DNA in the living body and its importance in the growth and regulation of life, it is easy to conclude that the discovery of DNA resulted in the progress of treatments of a huge number of diseases.
Blueprint for life
DNA is commonly considered as the “blueprint” of a living organism as it helps the cells to join together in a cooperative manner, thereby making a functional living organism. Although, science is still unaware about many aspects of DNA, but it can be found that it regulates as well as exerts influence on several characteristics and properties of living beings. With the advancements in science, more research will be done on DNA, and more beneficial aspects of DNA will be explored with many important applications in human life.
Genetic Code
Genetic code refers to a set of rules that are involved in the translation of information (usually found in DNA or RNA) into proteins. Two processes are found to have a role in getting the information in the DNA molecules. Those two processes are transcription and translation (BUDISA, 2006). Genetic coding has been studied extensively after the discovery of DNA as it helps in transferring the genetic messages to all parts of the body. Importance of DNA can be found by considering its role in a reproductive sense. When a sperm joins an egg, they produce the very first cell of the body having complete genetic code that a body uses throughout its life. Within that primary cell, half of the chromosomes having DNA come from father, whereas the other half comes from the mother.
Coding for Proteins
The genome of any organism is present in the DNA. The component of a genome that is involved in the coding of a protein is known as gene. Those genes having a code for the development of proteins consist of tri-nucleotide units known as codons, which are involved in coding of amino acids (NATURE, 2014). Therefore, it can be said that DNA contains the coding information for proteins, which are nitrogenous organic compounds consisting of polymers of amino acids found in living cells having a range of important functions in the body. DNA has specific information that is initially “read” and then transcribed into messenger molecules. After the translation of that “language” into an understandable language by our body, the amino acids in the body start producing proteins. There are twenty different kinds of amino acids, which are the building blocks of a huge number of different kinds of proteins.
DNA Replication
DNA replication is the process of the development of the copies of DNA before the start of cell division. It is one of the most important processes in the body having several vital functions ranging from reproduction to maintenance and development of cells, tissues, and other body systems. In order to copy itself, a DNA molecule initially “unzips” itself, thereby leading to the formation of bases having no pairs along the backbone of the long molecule. DNA consists of four bases (NATURE, 2014). The four bases of DNA have very specific nature for their attachment to the other base as, for example, adenine pairs only with thymine, whereas guanine pairs only with cytosine. As the nucleotides attach with other unpaired bases on DNA molecule, they make a novel strand that is a perfect match to the original sequence that was present before unzipping. Usually, replication starts at particular locations, i.e. origins of replication, in the genome.
Replication is considered as the basis of biological inheritance. It takes place for the benefit of the body as, for example, in making new blood cells or skin. It is also helpful in error-checking mechanisms and/or cellular proof-reading. When mistakes or errors, occur in the body, repair system starts working to remedy the error or mistake, or a cell starts destroying to reduce the damage to the body. However, if a cell gets the ability to pass through a mutation, an organism may find it beneficial, i.e. a concept of evolution.
Diagnosis of diseases and their treatment
An important area of DNA research is its utilization in the diagnosis of diseases. Moreover, the knowledge of DNA helps in not only early assessment of a disease, but it can also help in determining a genetic susceptibility of a person to get a disease. For example, genetic profiling through DNA study can help in assessing the risk of certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and type II diabetes (WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, n.d.).
With the advancement of getting the knowledge of the disease with the help of DNA, advancements in the treatment of those diseases have also been made. Science has also gotten an ability to develop personalized medicines that is according to a person’s own biochemistry as well as genetic makeup. For previously lethal, serious, or untreatable diseases, the discovery of DNA has helped in making breakthrough treatments or drugs for patients.
Identification of paternity and legal issues
The discovery of DNA has not only helped the field of medicine, but it has also helped in other areas as, for example, in solving the paternity issues. DNA can help in knowing that a person is actually a child of his or her parents, i.e. determination of DNA helps in confirming the paternity of a child.
Forensics and investigation
The importance of DNA has also been found in the field of investigation and forensic science. With the help of the determination of DNA taken from any body part such as hair or sweat, experts or investigators of the case would be able to know whether the person is guilty of an offense or he is innocent. It also shows that even minute level of evidence can lead to important information about the perpetrator of an offense. This importance of DNA in the criminal justice system has contributed a lot in enhancing the safeguarding of the society.
Importance of DNA in the field of agriculture
The importance of DNA can also be found in the field of agriculture and breeding of animals. Now, breeders of animals can breed more productive animals having more resistance to different pathological conditions. It can also help farmers in developing more nutritious products that can facilitate the world, especially developing countries, in producing more food having more nutrition. Moreover, better crops can be developed having ability to resist diseases, insects, and droughts. Knowledge of DNA can also help in working on biopesticides (WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, n.d.).
Other benefits of DNA
Several other benefits of the discovery of DNA may include (WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, n.d.):
Identification of protected and endangered species. This knowledge about species can be beneficial for wildlife officials.
Researchers can study bacteria as well as other microorganisms in the environment that are becoming the cause of pollution in air, soil, water, and food.
Study of the migration of various population groups on the basis of female genetic inheritance.
Comparison of breakpoints in the evolution of mutations with historical events and ages of population.
Incorporation of edible vaccines into food products.
Novel environmental cleanup applications for plants such as tobacco.
Conclusion
DNA is a molecule having most of the genetic information of a living being. This information is essential for the growth and development of the body. Moreover, it helps in normal functioning and reproduction of all living organisms. DNA molecules consist of two strands, which are coiled around each other in the form of double helix. It is present in the nucleus of the cell as well as the mitochondria.
The study of DNA clearly shows many important functions in the living body, and its discovery can be considered as among the key findings of the last century. A gene is found to be a region of DNA having all the genetic information that can affect the phenotype of an organism. Replication of DNA is found to be a key step in the cell division as it helps in sending the genetic information. Most of the proteins are also unable to work without interacting with DNA.
DNA study has already established its importance in the field of medicine, forensics, agriculture, paternity, and several other important fields in today’s society. Advancing research of scientists, continued funding, and improving knowledge about DNA functions would help us to know even more about the molecule in the coming future, thereby utilizing it for human benefits.
References
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HALL, K. T. 2014. The Man in the Monkeynut Coat: William Astbury and the Forgotten Road to the Double-helix, Oxford University Press.
LEROY, F. 2003. A Century of Nobel Prize Recipients: Chemistry, Physics, and Medicine, CRC Press.
MAGNER, L. N. 2002. A History of the Life Sciences, Revised and Expanded, CRC Press.
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