Physico-Chemical Properties of Dna
DNA, as we all know, is esteemed with the title of ‘Master Molecule ’. The three letters of DNA denotes of deoxyribonucleic acid .Now the thing that we ponder on is why DNA is so important to us. Why are the researchers & scientist persistently working on DNA? Why it is so important to know the tiniest details of DNA structure and function.?The simplest answer for “Why Is DNA Important?” is that DNA is the prerequisite for life’s inception. Firstly, it transfers hereditary information from generation to generation. Secondly, it controls the production of proteins. DNA even determines the structure of the cell, meaning whether it would be a nerve cell or eye cell etc. Our DNA seems to be ultimately responsible for the size, shape and function of every protein that our bodies make. Similarly, the DNA of each plant and animal seems to be ultimately responsible for the size, shape and function of every protein that each of them makes. We will now take a small overview on history, physical properties , chemical properties of DNA.
Overview on History :
DNA was first isolated by Friedrich Miescher , who in 1869 discovered a microscopic substance in the pus of discarded surgical bandages that he called ‘NUCLEIN’ Finally in 1953, working together at the University of Cambridge in England, James Watson, an American scientist, and Francis Crick, a British researcher, made a major scientific breakthrough when they discovered the famous "double helix" - the structure of DNA, the molecule of life.
In 2000 , a rough draft of a map of entire human genome was completed. In 2003,the final draft was completed .This information is being used to understand and function of disease. An interesting fact is If we unwrap all of the DNA of one individual’s body cell , we could reach the moon !
Physical Properties
In living organisms such as humans, DNA exists as a pair of molecules rather than a single molecule. These strands are entwined in the
Overview on History :
DNA was first isolated by Friedrich Miescher , who in 1869 discovered a microscopic substance in the pus of discarded surgical bandages that he called ‘NUCLEIN’ Finally in 1953, working together at the University of Cambridge in England, James Watson, an American scientist, and Francis Crick, a British researcher, made a major scientific breakthrough when they discovered the famous "double helix" - the structure of DNA, the molecule of life.
In 2000 , a rough draft of a map of entire human genome was completed. In 2003,the final draft was completed .This information is being used to understand and function of disease. An interesting fact is If we unwrap all of the DNA of one individual’s body cell , we could reach the moon !
Physical Properties
In living organisms such as humans, DNA exists as a pair of molecules rather than a single molecule. These strands are entwined in the
References: * Alberts, Bruce; Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walters (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell; Fourth Edition. New York and London: Garland Science. * Wikipedia- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA * Watson J.D. and Crick F.H.C. (1953). "A Structure for Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid" (PDF) * T. M. Devlin 's Textbook of Biochemistry 7th (Seventh) edition(Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations (Textbook of Biochemistry w/ Clinical Correlations) [Hardcover])(2010)