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Molecular Genetics
- the study of genetics at the molecular level
Why? - evolution - unraveling the
genomes of various organisms has shown the remarkable similarity and
differences between species at the gene level
Medicine $$$$ - knowledge of the human genome holds great
promise for the advancement of
medicine
i.e. - some genes give individuals and sometimes whole families a
predisposition to a particular cancer or other disease ...... genetic
counseling could assist with family planning or even treat diseases by
repairs to genes or the proteins they code for that are faulty.
Agriculture - the ghost of Malthus haunts
mankind ..... can genetic engineering help create greater yields through a
variety of methods (won't the population grow
along side)
frost free plants, self fertilizing plants, plants with new
colours and flavors that ripen on demand (what about
allergies)
Forensic science - use of genetic samples can
assist the legal industry ascertain identity of alleged perpetrators and
disqualify others who are or could have been falsely accused or
convicted.
Nutraceuticals - perhaps the human gene
could be placed inside a banana or potato and diabetics could thus eat a
vegetable or fruit each day instead of injecting
Fantasy - Jurassic park ,
restoration/preservation of extinct or endangered species (many low
tech answers to the latter , X eugenics X , sports
"we are a product of evolution not directed evolution"
History
Friedrich
Miescher was born in Basel on August 13th, 1844. In 1869, he
discovered the nucleic acids, the molecular substrate of the genetic code.
The work was done in the laboratory of Felix Hoppe-Seyler, which was
located in the castle of Tuebingen.
Hammerling 1930
determined that the nucleus was the seat of the cells hereditary material
by using the experiments with the single celled acetabularia .
The nucleus was located in the foot of the
acetabularia allowing decapitated heads but not feet to regenerate.
Different species could not be grafted as could the same species. |
