The Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project

Briefly describe the structure of DNA and how it carries the genetic code.

The DNA structure was first described in 1953 by Francis Crick and James Watson. As illustrated in the picture by a double helix which is on the right hand, with 10 nucleotide pairs for each helical turn. Every spiral strand is composed of an attached bases and sugar phosphate backbone, is connected and attached to a complementary strand by non covalent (hydrogen bonding) between paired bases, Cytosine (C) Adenine (A) with Guanine (G) and Thymine (T). Thymine and Adenine are connected and linked by another two non covalent hydrogen bonds while cytosine and guanine are linked and connected by three.

In 1940s, Biologists found it difficult to accept DNA as genetic material due to the apparent plainness and simplicity in the chemistry of DNA. DNA was recognized as a long polymer that is composed of 4 kinds of subunits only, which share chemical resemblance with one another. In 1950s, early X-ray results related to diffraction showed that DNA is made up of two polymer wound strands into a helix. Scientists observed that DNA is double stranded which is of crucial significance that provided one of the key clues that ultimately led to the DNA structure described by Watson and Crick (Smith & Hood, 2007).

DNA molecule (also known as deoxyribonucleic acid) writes the genetic code of our lives. From design perspective, DNA is quite elegant is simple. But from implementation perspective, answer to how DNA is spoken and written in practice is quite complex. Genetic code is carried by DNA through four major functions. (1) DNA contains the blueprint to make enzymes and proteins. (2) DNA plays an important role to regulate the production of enzymes and proteins. (3) DNA carries the information about the time when cells must be divided. (4) DNA transmits these information from parental organisms to offspring's. One DNA strand holds information which codes for a range of genes; this strand is also called the antisense strand or template stand that contains anticodons. The other complementary strand is called the sense strand coding strand that contains codons. Since mRNA is composed of the template strand, it contains the same information as the coding strand.

In 2003 the Human Genome Project (HGP) was completed; what was the human genome project and what was achieved by it?

Commenced formally in 1990, the HGP (Human Genome Project) is a 13 year long endeavor coordinated by the National Institute of Health and the United States Department of Energy. The HGP was actually planned to be completed in 15 years, but rapid technological advancements made it possible to complete the project in 13 years. The following were the goals of Human Genome Project.

Identifying all the approximately 21,000 to 25,000 genes that human DNA contains.

Determining the sequence of chemical base pairs (that are approximately 3 billion in numbers) that human DNA is composed of.

Storing this information in databases.

Improving tools and techniques for data ...