Great Ideas Of Science: How Genetics Have Revolutionized Our World

Scientists have studied genetics 1885. Research shows that scientists have found out about how people get genetic disorders. They have started experimenting on themselves to try to find cures. They did this because it motivated them to find a cure so they wouldn’t get ill. Genetics have revolutionized our world and defines who people are. Genetics/DNA According to Rebecca L. Johnson’s book Great Ideas of Science: Genetics “Genetics are a branch of biology that deals with how living things inherit physical and behavioral characteristics through the genome and how these inherited characteristics vary from one individual to another”(69). Did scientists know DNA was called genes? Scientists didn’t know at first. They started to research on them and found out they were the same thing. Scientists were convinced DNA was material of heredity. They were convinced because they were similar. Genetic code is the

DNA replication lies in pairs of nucleotide bases. Base pairs are joined by weak hydrogen bonds (Lowe 15). Scientists found out how to decode DNA by seeing that it makes copies of itself (Johnson 49). When scientists cracked genetic code they learned how to read DNA sequences. They found out each codon, for example ATG specifies particular amino acid.

Scientists thought genes expressed information by controlling the production of protein (Johnson 41). Scientists believe genes have switches.Genes are believed to be switched on and off daily according to the needs of the cell. the switch may be triggered by local signals such as changing concentration (Lowe 31). Scientists say when RNA and DNA combine they make new DNA (Johnson 58). According to the book Gene Therapy by Clay F. Naff the quote in his book by Jay P. Siegel states “ Cell and gene therapy products constitute an emerging area of therapeutic intervention that has only existed for just over a decade”