The birth of molecular genetics has been significant in furthering the knowledge concerning the cell’s coding of information. Assuredly, the cell is responsible for carrying out specific functions in the body. Inside the cell is the nucleus, which contains the deoxyribonucleic acid accountable for carrying out the transcription and replication processes (Augustyn para. 1). Notably, the cell is the basic structural unit of all living things.
Hence, it becomes the critical part of an organism in determining specific traits that are passed from one generation to another (Jiali and Qingjiong, para. 4). The DNA is vital in the coding of the genetic data for the transmission of inherited characteristics. Molecular genetics is critical in studying traits that are passed through subsequent generations. The paper will delve into the role of DNA to provide an ample understanding of molecular genetics.
Ultimately, molecular genetics has been asserted as being a branch of genetics responsible for providing ample knowledge in the function and structure of the DNA. Recent decades have been characterized by significant advancements to enable researchers to understand the multiple ways in which the knowledge of genomes varies among individuals. Notably, the human genome plays an integral function of consisting of twenty-three pairs of similar chromosomes of the DNA. A single member of each pair is hereditary due to being inherited from both parents of an individual. Indispensably, the DNA consists of two strands that are elementary building blocks forming a double helical strand.
Biologically, the building blocks are referred to as nucleotides, which are critical in holding the four primary bases of the DNA, including Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine. Due to the complementarity function of the DNA, Adenine pairs with Thymine while Guanine pairs with Cytosine. The pairing function is essential in forming the relevant base pairs that hold the two strands together, forming a double-helical structure of the DNA. Indispensably, the locus is a specific region of the DNA sequence of a particular chromosome. It can be defined by the pair of bases originating from the paternal and maternal chromosomes. The human genome has been depicted as carrying millions of chromosomes that are further arranged in the chromosomes’ twenty-three base pairs.
Each strand of the DNA consists of a monomer chain nucleotide composed of deoxyribose sugar molecule. Additionally, a phosphate unit is attached to the molecules consisting of two pyrimidines and two purines. Covalent bonds join the nucleotides together, forming a protruding nitrogenous base (Augustyn para.3). Notably, the sequencing of the nucleotides is specific and only changes for the mRNA. The configuration ability of the DNA allows it to provide a template for the replication of new molecules and transcription of the mRNA. The stable hereditary activity of the DNA molecules is vivid from the process of replication, in which new strands are copied from the original strand by the process of hydrogen bonding pairing. The production of new strands aids in the stable inheritance of traits and behavior by the subsequent generations.
Importantly, genes have been identified with the sequencing of nucleotide base pairs critical in the coding of RNA products, numerous of which are suited to coding proteins. Cascade interactions of the RNA products bring about the regulation of bodily function and structures. Additionally, a limited portion of the genome has been studied to consist of significant genes, and as such, genetic variations account for the differentiation in traits and behaviors. Nevertheless, multiple researchers have focused their efforts on genetic differentiation in the genes concerning the genes’ functional significance. Genetic variation at a specific locus accounts for the disparities of traits and behaviors among individuals.
Within the cell of an organism, the DNA is arranged into a dense complex of DNA molecules known as chromosomes. The complexes are found in numerous numbers in the nucleus of the cell. Additionally, they may be found in the chloroplast and mitochondria of the plant cells. Comparatively, the DNA is located as a single circular molecule in the cytoplasm in prokaryotes whose nucleus is not membrane-bound. For bacteria, it has extra molecules of chromosomal DNA called plasmids, which are self-replicating and autonomous genetic materials. Indispensably, the plasmids are utilized in the study of gene expression in the recombinant DNA technology.
Gene expression of the DNA is explained via a two-step procedure involving the conversion of the DNA into a protein that it encodes. The two processes are called transcription and translation. In transcription, the information from the DNA is copied into the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA). Assuredly, the structure of the DNA and RNA varies, with the RNA developing a ribose instead of exhibiting the deoxyribose. In the transcription process, the DNA unfolds itself, and the mRNA is generated via pairing Cytosine, Guanine, Adenine, and Uracil with the mRNA.
On the other hand, translation follows when the mRNA is transported into the ribosome. Inside the ribosome, codons of the bases in the mRNA are translated into the relevant amino acids with the aid of tRNA. Gene expression of the DNA has been detected to cause numerous phenotypic disparities in organisms.
Researchers have assured that humans share numerous genetic materials with a slight variation when two unrelated people are compared. Still, innumerable forms can be traced and correlated to the mutation events that occur in individuals. The mutation has the adverse effects of altering the genetic structure of an individual. Consequently, the alliteration of the genetic composition is having a significant impact on the individual differences in behavior. The simplest mutation form is the substitution of the base pair, where a nucleotide is exchanged for another. The nucleotide variation at a specific locus among individuals leaves a “pronounced snip” condition termed as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Similarly, the single genetic variants of the SNP are given the name allele.
Genes have been depicted as serving the integral function of being the templates in the synthesis of ribonucleic acid. Similarly, numerous mRNA serves the function of being a template in polypeptide molecule synthesis. Polypeptide chains constitute proteins that have been analyzed to have an integral function in both the cell and organism. Notably, the potential of a polypeptide to function in a specific manner is dependent on the linear sequencing of the amino acids from which it originates. Differences in the linear sequencing of the polypeptides directly affect the observable phenotypic traits of an individual. Indispensably, the depicted sequences correspond directly to the DNA sequencing, which is the vivid gene for that specific polypeptide, affecting how an individual behaves.
In summary, the cell has been depicted as being the basic structural unit of an organism responsible for regulating all the body processes. The DNA has been given the focus point of the paper with an aim to explore its role in determining individual traits and behavior. Importantly, molecular genetics has been critical to explain the role of genetics in an individual and the basic processed of the DNA replication and transcription that are significant for gene expression.
Works Cited
Augustyn, Adam. “DNA: Definition, Discovery, Function, Bases, Facts, & Structure”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2020. Web.
Li, Jiali, and Qingjiong Zhang. “Insight Into the Molecular Genetics of Myopia.” Molecular Vision, vol. 23, 2017.