DNA, Past, Present and Future
Past
The discovery of DNA was made possible by the progress made by X-ray crystallographers in studying organic
macromolecules; the growing evidence supplied by geneticists that it was DNA, not protein, in chromosomes that
was responsible for heredity; Erwin Chargaffs experimental finding that there are equal numbers of A and T bases
and of G and C bases in DNA; and Linus Paulings discovery that the molecules of some proteins have helical shapes.
In 1869, DNA was first found by Freidrich Miescher, who found it on bandages. Then in 1878, Albrecht Kossel found
non-protien part of this DNA. In 1919, Pheobus Levene discovered the sugar, base and phosphate group. In 1927,
Nikolai Koltsov suggested semi conservative replication. In 1928, Frederick Griffith provided evidence that DNA
carries genetic information. In 1937, William Astbury produced the first X-ray diffraction patterns that showed that
DNA had a regular structure. In 1952 its heredity role was confirmed by Martha Chase and Alfred Hershey. In 1953
James Watson and Francis Crick suggested the double helix model of DNA based on the X-ray diffraction image taken
by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling. Only Watson, Crick and Wilkins were received a Nobel Prize. This
remains controversial as many people helped to develop the idea.
Present
On September 10
th
1984, Alec Jefferys discovered DNA fingerprinting at the University of Leicester. He was working
for seven years looking at whether you could use someones DNA to tell them apart from one another. Looking at
the human genome part called VNTRs, which can duplicate and mutate without affecting the person as they are part
of the non-coding DNA region. These mutations and duplication differ from person to person, and are more similar
to people closely related to you. Jefferys looked at the results of his lab assistant and her parents and it showed links
and similarities to her parents VNTRs. In DNA fingerprinting a DNA sample must be taken such as blood or salvia. This
sample is extracted and purified and a PCR is carried out which targets specific DNA sequences, this is then
separated out using electrolysis, by adding DNA to agarose gel and passing an electric current through it results in
the different size pieces of DNA being spread as, as they move at different speeds towards the positive plate. The
patterns of the bands show the genetic fingerprint.
Future
Some uses of DNA profiling include: Paternity - to find out if the alleged father is actually the biological father of the
child. Twins, identical twins share the same genetic material, while non-identical twins develop from two eggs
fertilised by two sperm and are no more alike than individual siblings born at different times. It can be difficult to tell
at birth whether twins are identical or fraternal. Siblings my wish to be tested such as when siblings are separated
i.e. through adoption to be sure they are related. Another use is immigration, some visa application rely on the proof
that you are related to someone in the country. Perhaps the most important is criminal justice; DNA profiling can
solve crimes and exonerated people of guiltiness. However there are some controversies behind it as DNA profiling
can give incorrect results through such things as cross contamination, it does not have absolute certainty. Also DNA
databases stored on computer are vulnerable to exploitation via hackers. Some critics point out that holding a
persons DNA profile on record is, in a sense, a violation of that persons DNA ownership and also DNA evidence is
easily planted at a crime scene. The future may hold more DNA samples being collected and being compared against
large DNA sample databases to see if the DNA matches any crime scenes.