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Fast Fact on the DNA: What is the DNA?
Among the most basic similar components of living organisms is the DNA.
Standing for deoxyribonucleic acid, the DNA is housed in each cell of the living
body. It holds the hereditary gene of humans and of other organisms.
Understanding the function of the DNA can be done by looking at it as a storage
of personal information. This information that is contained in each DNA
represents the identity of the creature from which the DNA was taken.
Where can the DNA be found?
The development of powerful microscopes that could determine very minute
bodies was instrumental in the detection of the DNA. While our primary
instruction of the body, organs, tissues and cells concluded at the discussion
of the nucleus and its surrounding membranes, more can actually found in each
cell. The DNA is the elementary block that can be found in two areas in the
cell: the nucleus and the mitochondria. Majority of the DNA in the body are
found in the nucleus, thus the term nuclear DNA. A relatively small number of
DNA is found in the mitochodria. These two types of DNA classified according to
where they can be found are often referred to as nDNA and mDNA. The DNA holds
the genetic pattern that is unique to every individual.
How is information stored in the DNA?
The DNA stores the information of each living body through base pairs. These
base pairs can be further divided into its simple form, that is, the chemical
bases. The body has four chemical bases, namely, Cytosine (C), Adenine (A),
Guanine (G) and Thymine (T). These four chemical bases pair with each other
forming units. Chemical base A pairs with T while C pairs with G. This pairing
assignment is based on the Watson-Crick base pairing. Each base unit draws a
phosphate molecule and a sugar molecule and into its structure. The structure
formed by these four components is called a nucleotide. Each nucleotide then
connects to other nucleotides forming a ladder-like strand. The connection
between two nucleotides is made possible by a hydrogen bond. The DNA is composed
of two long strings of nucleotides that twist forming a double helix. It is
through these structures that the DNA holds its unique information. the coiling
of the DNA is further classified into positive and negative “supercoiling.” A
positive coiling is that wheren the DNA strand is twirled towards a helix with
the base pairs bonded tightly. A negative coiling is simply the opposite with
the DNA strand twisted towards the opposing course and the nucleotides held
loosely.
What is the fundamental property of the DNA?
The fundamental property of the DNA is replication. The ability of the DNA
to replicate is important in the process of cell division as each cell should
have the same pattern of nucleotide sequence to maintain the information that
the DNA holds. What is the
truth behind DNA testing?
One of the critical things related to knowing the DNA and
grasping its importance is DNA testing. This process is done to discern the
parallelism of two or more DNAs. Thus, DNA testing can tell if two individuals
are related or if they come from the same genetic line. |
Genetic
fingerprinting, DNA testing, DNA typing, and DNA profiling are
techniques used to distinguish between individuals of the same
species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec
Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. Two
humans will have the vast majority of their DNA sequence in common.
Genetic fingerprinting exploits highly variable repeating sequences
called microsatellites. Two unrelated humans will be likely to have
different numbers of microsatellites at a given locus. By using PCR
to detect the number of repeats at several loci, it is possible to
establish a match that is extremely unlikely to have arisen by
coincidence, except in the case of identical twins, who will have
identical genetic profiles.
