Dna Basics

DNA Basics

    Amazingly, every living life form encompasses an organic memory card that contains all required data we need to keep ourselves alive as well as our genetic material. Even though mastering all knowledge of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) will be difficult and not immediate, it is essential to know as much about this little chain.   As we know more about its structure and its functions, there will be more opportunities to explore and discover about ourselves and the ever-changing world around us.
    Until the year 1953, the structure and make up of DNA was well unknown, but by that year, Francis Crick and James D. Watson had discovered and described this nucleic acid (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia, 2009).   It is now known that a DNA strand is a double helix made up of the simplest elements found just about anywhere in the known universe.   Each of the two helix strands is defined as RNA (Ribonucleic Acid).   The RNA molecule is made up of chemical compounds called nucleotides.   This helix is made up of a sugar compound, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen group – the base.   The four DNA bases are: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine (Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia, 2009).   The following illustration shows the diagram of a nucleic chain in DNA form as well as RNA form.

                                                              (Encyclopedia.com, 2009)
    It is a critical process for organisms to have the ability to copy DNA, and interestingly enough, organisms are sophisticated enough to complete DNA replication despite the numerous particular details and techniques involved.   DNA is first broken down by the center into two RNA strands by a cutting enzyme called DNA polymerase (DNA, 2009).   Another enzyme generates each of the other halves of the RNA strands, and then it bonds the old and the new RNA strands to form a new DNA molecule.
    Even nature cannot approach perfection; with numerous duplications in the body every...