Topic > DNA and Molecular Genetics - 1454

When Watson and Crick published a paper in 1953 describing the structure of DNA, the study of biology and the world as a whole changed forever. DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, is the building block of all living things on Earth. It contains codes for every quality of every being, from the size of a bacterium to the length of a bird's beak to the shade of a person's hair. Since this breakthrough in the 20th century, the discovery has left a huge mark on science in multiple fields, including biology, pharmacology, genetics, and many others. However, the revolution is still ongoing. The discovery paved the way for the future to have a significant impact through molecular medicine. DNA continues to transform the world and its societies, and molecular medicine will leave an impact on humans, as well as all living things, for the rest of humanity. Although the idea seems tiny compared to some of the current research and discoveries, the effects that the discovery of DNA and its structure had on the world at the time were significant. The first is to learn that all life on Earth contains the same fundamental basis for its creation. DNA, as proposed by Watson and Crick and verified years later through X-ray crystallography, consists of twisted double coils connected by base pairs that carry genetic information. It contains code that stores biological data in the form of genes. Each step of the “ladder” is made up of a pair of two of the four nucleotide bases: Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G). An important thing to note is that A will only pair with T and C will only pair with G. This means that if all the paired rungs were broken and the ladder was s......in the center of the card.... ..overcome sooner and cured faster. What began as a small discovery over sixty years ago has shaped our society in many unique ways. The discovery of the structure of DNA has allowed humanity to understand the microscopic molecules and functions that govern all of our lives. Now is the time to take the next step forward in humankind, and the future is extremely promising because fully understanding DNA could finally allow us to modify and control it in any way we choose. Genetic disorders will be eliminated, populations will thrive, and much of the billions of dollars wasted each year on medical treatments for diseases that adversely affect hundreds of millions of people will be saved. Growing old will no longer mean suffering horrible ailments and experimental treatments in a hospital bed, but rather growing old in peace with your friends and family.