DNA: The Basis for Sustaining Life

1323 Words3 Pages

History of DNA
Have you ever asked yourself “why my eyes are this color?“ Have you questioned why you look the way you do? All of your physical features come from our genetics. Those genetics are family traits that are passed down through our individual bloodline. All of these individualities come from what is considered the fundamental building blocks of life, DNA.
DeoxyriboNucleic Acid is the scientific name for DNA (SITE). A Swiss medical student named Johann Friedrich Miescher discovered DNA in 1868 (SITE). Miescher was investigating the white blood cells of pus from a surgical wound. It was there in these white blood cells that he found the “hot to manual” that defines what we look like. It is important to note, DNA is in every living creature. The discovery of DNA is not new to science, but what do you really know about it.
Even though Miescher discovered DNA in 1868, it would take another 80 years before DNA would be considered actual genetic material. The medical and scientific communities of Miescher’s era felt that DNA was too simple for consideration as genetic material. It was not until the 20th century when James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix through x-rays, that DNA would be recognized.
Watson and Crick looked deeper into the DNA configuration and learned that the structure of DNA is actually is a coiled double helix on a 34 degree pitch (Hallick, 1995). This double helix structure is made from alternating sugar and phosphate bonds. Holding these sugar and phosphate bonds together is hydrogen. The four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine, attach to the sugar/phosphate bonds forming a complete nucleotide (Simon & Dickey, 2012). The neucleotoid repeats itself creating a ...

... middle of paper ...

...onucleic acid (dna). (2012, June 13). Retrieved from https://www.genome.gov/25520880
Diseases and conditions copd. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/basics/definition/con-20032017
Hallick, R. (1995). Introduction to dna structure. Retrieved from http://www.blc.arizona.edu/molecular_graphics/dna_structure/dna_tutorial.html
Protein synthesis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/584proteinsyn.html
Moss, T. (2001). DNA-protein Interactions: Principles and Protocols. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press
Role of enzymes in biochemical reactions. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/570enzymes.html
Simon; Reece; Dickey, E. (2012). Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology [VitalSouce bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/books/9781256902089/id/ch04bx3

Open Document