DNA Has Come a Long Way in 50 Years
March 2003
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the carrier of the genetic
code for living organisms. In other words, it contains the blueprint for how
humans, and other organisms, work.
Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the discovery of
the structure of DNA by Francis Crick and James Watson. Their work showed that
the structure of DNA is a double helix that some describe as looking like a twisted
ladder. This "twisted ladder" is located in chromosomes that you are unable to
see with the naked eye, yet if you uncoiled a strand of DNA, it would be about
two yards long. Since the discovery of the structure of DNA, much research has
been done to try to unravel the mystery of life. Advances in medicine, genetics,
and forensic science can be attributed to the research done on DNA. For example,
in 1990, the Human Genome Project was officially launched. The purpose of this
project was to map and sequence human DNA. The project was successfully completed
in 1999 with the mapping of chromosome number 22 of the 46 chromosomes in humans.
In the late 1980s, DNA evidence began to play a major role
in criminal trials. DNA testing has determined the innocence of accused persons
and also verified the guilt of others.
Medical advances such as gene therapy have given people with
major illnesses and disorders a chance at life. Gene therapy is the attempt to
treat, cure, or prevent diseases by changing the expression of a person's genes.
In 1990, the first gene therapy was conducted on a four year old girl that had
an inherited immune deficiency disorder. The therapy was successful. However,
there have been set backs. In 1999, Jesse Gelsinger died from multiple organ
failure during a gene therapy treatment. Gene therapy continues to be on the
front line in medical research.
Perhaps one of the most controversial issues to arise from
DNA research is cloning. Scientists have successfully cloned animals and plants.
However, much debate exists about whether or not to clone humans. Early in 2003,
an organization claimed that it had successfully cloned a human and that the
baby had been born. However, no evidence was offered or found that verified the
claim. Most scientists dismissed the claim, but it did persuade some countries,
including the United States, to put a ban on human cloning.
The possibilities seem endless when you consider how far
DNA research has come in only 50 years. What does the future hold? Some scientists
hypothesize that within the next 50 years, we will understand the complexities
of the human brain, develop more complex nanotechnology which is the creation
of functional materials, devices, and systems through control of matter at the
scale of 1 to 100 nanometers, and be able to treat diseases with genetically
engineered or natural cellular therapy.
Activity
Explore the advances that have lead to our current understanding
of DNA. Then, research a topic of interest that deals with DNA research such
as cloning, mapping the human genome, or DNA fingerprinting. Write as essay about
how DNA research will impact the topic you chose. Discuss advances that may not
have been discovered yet.
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