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Our body's cells each contain a
complete sample of our DNA. One cell is roughly equal in size to the cube
described in the previous paragraph. There are muscle cells, brain cells, liver
cells, blood cells, sperm cells and others. Basically, every part of the body is
made up of these tiny cells and each contains a sample or complement of DNA
identical to that of every other cell within a given person. There are a few
exceptions. For example, our red blood cells lack DNA. Blood itself can be typed
because of the DNA contained in our white blood cells.
Not only does the human body rely on DNA but so do most living things including
plants, animals and bacteria. A strand of DNA is made up of tiny
building-blocks. There are only four, different basic building-blocks.
Scientists usually refer to these using four letters, A, T, G, and C. These four
letters are short nicknames for more complicated building-block chemical names,
but actually the letters (A,T, G and C) are used much more commonly than the
chemical names so the latter will not be mentioned here. Another term for DNA's
building blocks is the term, "bases." A, T, G and C are bases.
For example, to refer to a particular piece of DNA, we might write:
AATTGCCTTTTAAAAA. This is a perfectly acceptable way of describing a piece of
DNA. Someone with a machine called a DNA synthesizer could actually synthesize
the same piece of DNA from the information AATTGCCTTTTAAAAA alone.
The sequence of bases (letters) can code for many properties of the body's
cells. The cells can read this code. Some DNA sequences encode important
information for the cell. Such DNA is called, not surprisingly, "coding DNA."
Our cells also contain much DNA that doesn't encode anything that we know about.
If the DNA doesn't encode anything, it is called non-coding DNA or sometimes,
"junk DNA."
Application of DNA Testing
DNA Testing in Forensics The purpose of DNA Testing (typing)in forensic medicine
is to match a sample from the crime site with a suspect. Importantly, DNA
testing has proven to be as powerful for exonerating suspects as it has for
convicting them. A great diversity of criminal detection has benefited from DNA
testing, and it has been especially valuable in solving rape and murder cases.
DNA Testing in Healthcare The DNA Testing is also used in detecting the genetic
diseases, And also helpful in curing them or preventing them to be passed on to
the offspring. DNA testing also used to detect the susceptibility of individuals
or a race to vaccine and medicines.
DNA Testing in Legal DNA Testing is also used to settle disputes related to
claimant of property, aids etc in court of law. DNA Testing Is also used to
establish the parent hood. DNA Testing in archeology and human genome. This is
the latest application of DNA Testing. Where archeologist and researchers use
the DNA Testing to establish the oldest misty of origin and history of human.
DNA Testing in Agriculture This application of DNA Testing helps in making
genetically more productive and robust and useful organism to develop and make
it reach the farmers. The another application of the DNA Testing is also to
identify and protect rare species of organisms and prevent them to get wiped out
due to the industrial agriculture.
About the Author
Smruti Ranjan Sarangi has authored many articles on a diversified topics like
Technical, Management, and Humanity. For information on
Genetic Testing,
DNA
Testing etc. visit
Testing Master |
