For each event find out the significance of the discovery, event or invention to
ID: 24008 • Letter: F
Question
For each event find out the significance of the discovery, event or invention to Cell Biology.Discovery of the role of cyclic AMP in cell signaling
Invention of the electron microscope
Discovery of the cell as a unit
Understanding of the mechanism the light-independent reaction of photosynthesis
Discovery that DNA is the genetic material
Discovery of the PCR Technique
Cell culture technique first developed
Discovery of the chemical structure of DNA
Invention of Southern Blotting
Birth of Dolly, the cloned sheep
Explanation / Answer
Scientific alteration of the structure of genetic material in a living organism. It involves the production and use of recombinant DNA and has been employed to create bacteria that synthesize insulin and other human proteins. Genetic engineering is the alteration of genetic material by direct intervention in genetic processes with the purpose of producing new substances or improving functions of existing organisms. It is a very young, exciting, and controversial branch of the biological sciences. On the one hand, it offers the possibility of cures for diseases and countless material improvements to daily life. Hopes for the benefits of genetic engineering are symbolized by the Human Genome Project, a vast international effort to categorize all the genes in the human species. On the other hand, genetic engineering frightens many with its potential for misuse, either in Nazi-style schemes for population control or through simple bungling that might produce a biological holocaust caused by a man-made virus. Symbolic of the alarming possibilities is the furor inspired by a single concept on the cutting edge of genetic engineering: cloning. Principles of Genetic Engineering Just as DNA is at the core of studies in genetics, recombinant DNA (rDNA)—that is, DNA that has been genetically altered through a process known as gene splicing—is the focal point of genetic engineering. In gene splicing, a DNA strand is cut in half lengthwise and joined with a strand from another organism or perhaps even another species. Use of gene splicing makes possible two other highly significant techniques. Gene transfer, or incorporation of new DNA into an organism's cells, usually is carried out with the help of a microorganism that serves as a vector, or carrier. Gene therapy is the introduction of normal or genetically altered genes to cells, generally to replace defective genes involved in genetic disorders. DNA also can be cut into shorter fragments through the use of restriction enzymes. (An enzyme is a type of protein that speeds up chemical reactions.) The ends of these fragments have an affinity for complementary ends on other DNA fragments and will seek those out in the target DNA. By looking at the size of the fragment created by a restriction enzyme, investigators can determine whether the gene has the proper genetic code. This technique has been used to analyze genetic structures in fetal cells and to diagnose certain blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia.
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