Younprobably know that you have trillions of sets of instructions thatntell how to build…well, you! Each and every one of your cells has annucleus packed with DNA, tightly coiled molecules that encode allnyour genetic information—from how tall you are (or will be whennfull grown) to eye color to ear lobe shape.
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nItntook generations—and a scientist (who was also a monk) named GregornMendel—to come up with the idea of genes.
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Itntook centuries of scientific inquiry and thought—and two scientistsnnamed James Watson and Francis Crick—to discover the double-helixnstructure of DNA. A helix is a curve that sort of spirals or coilsnaround and around. In the DNA molecule, there are two of these curvesnspiraling around a common axis—and the two curves are joinedntogether with “bases,” which are like rungs in a ladder. n
Itntook centuries of scientific inquiry and thought—and two scientistsnnamed James Watson and Francis Crick—to discover the double-helixnstructure of DNA. A helix is a curve that sort of spirals or coilsnaround and around. In the DNA molecule, there are two of these curvesnspiraling around a common axis—and the two curves are joinedntogether with “bases,” which are like rungs in a ladder. nn
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nItntook about 13 years to sequence the human genome—that is, to mapnout the 20 to 25 thousand genes, including roughly what they “do,”nof a particular human.
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nAnd Now…
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nIn the decade since we finished the Human Genome Project—where arenwe at with DNA?
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Humansnhave sequenced the DNA of many animals, plants, and microbes such asnbacteria. We have even sequenced DNA of extinct species such as thenmastodon and the wooly mammoth!
Humansnhave sequenced the DNA of many animals, plants, and microbes such asnbacteria. We have even sequenced DNA of extinct species such as thenmastodon and the wooly mammoth!n
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nWennow understand more clearly how various organisms evolved, and whichncreatures are most closely related. DNA studies have provided tons ofnevolutionary evidence that agree with other lines of evidence such asnfossils and geographical distribution of animals and plants. n
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nWenare learning to do genetic engineering. Perhaps someday we canncorrect birth defects before birth or shut down cancer before itnstarts!
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Wencan use DNA evidence to help solve crimes—and even to releasenwrongly imprisoned people who were not able to take advantage of suchnevidence when they were tried for crimes years ago!
Wencan use DNA evidence to help solve crimes—and even to releasenwrongly imprisoned people who were not able to take advantage of suchnevidence when they were tried for crimes years ago!n
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nAdvancesnin DNA sequencing have led to huge advances in computer science—andnthose advances show up in our lives as better search engines likenGoogle and ever more engaging games. We are also now able store vastnamounts of information.
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nWenare learning to use DNA nanotechnology to create specific structuresnincluding molecular machines and DNA computers. Stay tuned fornfurther advances in this area!
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nDNAnhas helped people make advances in history, archeology, paleontology,nand genealogy. n
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