The DNA Molecule

DNA molecule In autumn 1951, James Watson (left) and Francis Crick (right) tried to elucidate the structure of DNA. At the time, people knew that DNA was present in the nucleus of every living cell, and it was related to effectiveness, but if you do not know its structure, I can understand how it actually works. They solved this problem in the same way as Linus Pauling pioneered and discovered that many proteins showed a helical structure as a result of years of detailed research.

Cas9 searches the designated DNA sequence and cleaves it by breaking the two strands of the DNA molecule. This protein is useful for researchers because it can be "programmed" to target any DNA sequence. The sgRNA ("unidirectional" RNA) molecule determines the sequence of Cas9 binding. RNA is a biomolecule like DNA that binds to proteins and DNA. I hope that you will learn something new! If you would like to know more about the ethical meaning of biology, medical use, commercial use, or CRISPR-Cas genetic engineering, we recommend you read "Cracks in Creation" by Jennifer Doudna and Samuel Sternberg. Jennifer Doudna is one of the first discoveries of the foundation of CRISPR.

The chromosome consists mainly of one extremely long DNA molecule and a protein called histone. There are also many small RNA molecules around the DNA. Each of our DNA molecules contains a genetic code or gene that is used to synthesize various kinds of proteins and control other genes. In a sense DNA molecules contain a series of permanently preserved blueprints or recipes that are mainly used by our cells to assemble proteins from amino acids. In other words, the chromosome is a DNA encoded packet. When all the DNA molecules in one human cell are straight and aligned from end to end, a line of approximately 6 1/2 feet in length is formed, but the number of atoms passing through is very small. If DNA of all normal adult cells is thus arranged, the line can reach about 6000 times as long as the moon.

DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long chain molecule that plays an important role in the life on the planet. The information encoded by the DNA strand controls the genetic makeup of the organism. DNA molecules have a sugar and phosphate backbone with more simple units called nucleotide bases hanging. The DNA contains only 4 bases called A, T, C, and G. The nucleotide sequence along the backbone codes genetic information. Four roles of DNA function are replication, code information, mutation / recombination and gene expression.