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Running head: SIGNIFICANCE OF DISCOVERIES IN GENETICS AND DNA
Significance Of Discoveries In Genetics And DNA
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SIGNIFICANCE OF DISCOVERIES IN GENETICS AND DNA
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Human Genetics is referred to the scientific study of inherited human variation. Scientists
have been researching and studying human genetics to have a better understanding of human
beings. Being the most interesting species on earth, human genetics explores genetic position,
its sources and its transmission (Calladine, 2004). Secondly, it has been important to study
genetics due to its applied values in the welfare of human beings. This is why human genetic
is discussed as an practical science rather than just a basic science. The study of genetics has
shed light regarding the contribution and understanding that genes are responsible in the
development of ailments such as diabetes, tumour and heart ailments (Calladine, 2004). This
explain why governments have been willing to invest in this area of research.
The third main reason for learning genetics is to generate a powerful tool for describing and
understanding the evolution of man. During the past scientists used two research approaches
to assist them understand the genetic foundation of variations and heredity (Calladine, 2004).
The first approach was transmission genetics, which was all about crossbreeding different
organisms and learning about the charcateristics of their offspring in order to come up with
theory on the instruments of inheritance. The other method used was involving the use of
cytological techniques to learn about the processes and mechanism of cellular reproduction.
As important as the two approaches were, they did not provide enough ground to assist
scientists comprehend human genetic variation in details. However, today due to
advancements in technology, scientists developed effective approaches known as molecular
techniques that have enabled scientists to study DNA directly. Some of these techniques
include molecular recombination and restriction analysis (Clayton & Dennis, 2003). Today,
there exist powerful techniques that scientists have proved to have a formidable impact on
genetics and research. These techniques include DNA microarray technology, which allows
scientists to detect mutations in a certain gene.
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Mendel is known to be the father of genetics after he postulated the occurrence of discrete
entities and made conclusions from statistical observation of experiments involving breeding
of pea plants. From the study, he concluded that a pair of discrete entities known as genes
determines each characteristic. He also noted that each pair of the gene comes from both
parents. However, the two genes do not blend equally only one dominates.
The traits of living things are determined by complex mixture of the interacting components
inside it. Since proteins are responsible for most chemical work inside the cell, they are
largely responsible for the traits. However, these proteins exist due to the DNA. First, DNA
has four building blocks that interact with each other in various ways. These building blocks
are called nucleotide bases with the names cytosine(C), thymine (T), guanine (G) and adenine
(A). According to genetic scientists, each gene is compared to an instruction manual for
making one protein (Calladine, 2004). According to biologists, each protein is a sequence of
amino acids. It is through heredity that characteristics are passed from one generation to
another. This is why off springs looks alike with their parents.
Since the cell is the basic unit of life, it carries genes that are responsible for carrying traits
from the parents to the off spring. These genes are combined together to form long chains of
DNA in structures called chromosomes. Genes carry the instruction for forming most of the
chemical building block in the human body (Clayton & Dennis, 2003). A gene will only
provide the potential for developing a trait. However, this potential is achieved depending on
the interaction of the gene with other genes from the other parent.
The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) translates certain traits of a being in its body. Each
characteristic is coded in a precise DNA region known as the gene. Genes undergo a process
referred to as transcription/copying, whereby the language of the body’s structure is copied
from one cell to the next one i.e. from deoxyribonucleic acid to ribonucleic acid (DNA-RNA)
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where the body is able to recognize and conduct the next procedure. The procedure that
follows is the interpretation of the material from the RNA to the real product, referred to as
the protein. Particular proteins in the body have specific roles to play to allow the body to
synthesize the exact protein to carry out precise work at a specific period of time. For
instance, in places where the sun is intense, especially in the tropical parts of the earth most
people are usually exposed to sunrays thus developing a darker skin complexion. This is
caused by the synthesis of the protein melanin (Clayton & Dennis, 2003). It is responsible for
protecting humans from harmful ultra violet radiations. On the contrary, less disclosure to the
sun causes the skin to develop lighter complexion due to the decreased production of
melanin. Looking at this process from a genetic perspective, the gene responsible for
encoding the synthesis of protein melanin is usually copied into the gene language necessary
for the RNA phase. Later the RNA is later copied into protein melanin to protect the skin.
During the transcription, process the two strands of a DNA molecule splits into short parts
that should be copied into similar short sections of RNA molecule (Schneider, 1978). The
only difference is that there will be a different base known as uracil that replaces thymine.
The RNA is only made of one strand containing a different side chain and sub unit.
At times, errors happen during protein synthesis thus disrupting cellular fitness causing
genome evolution, disease phenotypes and shape gene. Studies have shown that during the
synthesis of a functional protein, there are chances that errors will be made (Clayton &
Dennis, 2003). For instance, it is estimated that amino acid misincorporation during the
process of translation occur at least once in every 1000-10000 codons translated. This means
that approximately 15% of the normal length protein molecule will have not less than one
misincorporated amino acid. Errors during the synthesis of polypeptide is known to induce
cell death and protein misfolding aggregation (Schneider, 1978). Research show that
misfolded proteins may cause multiple sclerosis.
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Evidence show that errors in protein synthesis are likely to minimize the fitness of an
organism. This is where the cells in an organism display change in morphologies and suffer
fitness defects. In most cases, protein synthesis errors will result to the loss of the intended
function of the involved protein. As mentioned earlier errors are known to disrupt folding
thus causing misfolding molecules, which might be toxic (Schneider, 1978) . In addition,
misfolded proteins are more likely to destabilize membranes and induce chronic stress. Other
serious consequences of errors include membrane depolarization, increased radical formation
and death of cells. Since errors during protein synthesis might waste important cellular
resources or produce unwanted molecular species, the severity level of the resulting
phenotypic effects will rely on how the gene is expressed (Schneider, 1978). The more a gene
is expressed the high the amount of erroneously synthesized protein molecules produced thus
resulting to much influence of these molecules on the phenotype of an organism.
Enzymes are one of the key essential elements in the human body. They must be present for
the body to work properly since without them human cannot eat drink, eat, breath and digest
food. Enzymes can be compared to body workers since they perform key functions such as
constructing, dispensing, synthesizing, transporting, eliminating chemicals and ingredients
that the body uses in day today life. All metabolic reactions are harmonized and completed by
enzymes (International Congress on Isozymes & Xue, 2001). These enzymes are categorized
into three major groups, metabolic enzymes, diet enzymes and digestive enzymes. For the
digestive enzymes, they are made and secreted by various body organs to deal with digestion.
These enzymes can be supplemented from outside sources. For the food enzymes, they are
found within the food we eat. These enzymes help in food digestion to enable easy absorption
through the walls of the small intestines and the blood vessels. Nutrionists advise people to
eat meals that have enough enzymes. These meals consists of salads since their enzymes are
not destroyed through cooking.
SIGNIFICANCE OF DISCOVERIES IN GENETICS AND DNA
Proteins are also essential to the body due to their key uses. In fact, proteins help in
transporting oxygen to body cells. They can also function as hormones such as progesterone
and insulin. Muscle protein such as myoglobin helps in movement. Proteins such as DNA
and RNA in the body cells play a major role in genetic coding (International Congress on
Isozymes & Xue, 2001). Proteins also play the role of enzymes thus facilitating all chemical
reactions in the body. Human bodies are able to produce a few amino acids. However, most
of them are be acquired from plants or animal foods. It is therefore important to consume
high protein foods such as eggs, beans, meat, nuts and yogurt.
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References
Calladine, C. R. (2004). Understanding DNA: The molecule & how it works. San Diego, CA:
Elsevier Academic Press.
Clayton, J., & Dennis, C. (January 01, 2003). Gene detectives.
International Congress on Isozymes, & Xue, G. (2001). Gene families: Studies of DNA, RNA,
enzymes and proteins : proceedings of the October 5-10, 1999 congress, Beijing,
China, the 10th International Congress on Isozymes. Singapore: World Scientific.
National Institutes of Health (US); Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. NIH Curriculum
Supplement Series [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institutes of Health (US);
2007. Understanding Human Genetic Variation. Accessed from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20363 on 30th November, 2016.
Schneider, E. L. (1978). The Genetics of aging. New York: Plenum Press.