Significance of Discoveries in Genetics and DNA

522 Words2 Pages

Significance of Discoveries in Genetics and DNA
Our understanding of genetic inheritance and the function of DNA in producing the characteristics of the individual have been developing for more almost 150 years. Consider our current state of knowledge. Link genetic characteristics to DNA structure. Explain how DNA through the process of protein synthesis is responsible for the ultimate expression of the characteristics in the organism. Describe how interference in protein synthesis can result in disruption of cellular and bodily processes? How does the significance of one class of proteins, the enzymes, relate to the importance of proper nutrition throughout life?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. DNA is our body’s instruction manual for making us who we are. It is present in any living being. It is the carrier of the genetic information, or a molecule, that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses (DNA, n.d.). DNA is suited for biological information storage in which all of the cells of an individual contain the same DNA, creating a specific identity for that individual. Both strands of the double stranded DNA structure store the same biological inforamtion. As the two strands separate the biological information is replicated in which a siginificiant portion of the DNA being non-coding, simply translated that these sections do not serve a function of encoding proteins.
DNA gives an organism its traits through protein synthesis. Protein synthesis, or protein biosynthesis, is the process by which biological cells generate new proteins which is balanced by the loss of cellular proteins by degraduation or export. DNA, is a genetic material present inside the nucleus which has the information that helps in the synthesis of RNA and proteins. They have information which help in the formation of mRNA that specifies a particular protein product. mRNA acts as a template translating DNA code into specific protien. Hence, DNA indirectly participates in protein synthesis by taking place in the ENA synthsis. DNA is transcribed into RNA which is then translated into proteins. These proteins give us our hair color, eye color, and other traits. Therefore, DNA through the process of protein synthesis is responsible for our traits because DNA codes for RNA which in turn codes for protein (Purpose of DNA, n.

More about Significance of Discoveries in Genetics and DNA

Open Document