The DNA strands are so thin that you could fit 90,000 of them inside a human hair. It is only 2 nanometers wide i.e. 2 billionths of a meter.
Tag: Molecular Biology
11 Amazing Facts about DNA You didn’t Know.
DNA is the genetic material in all except certain viruses. In Prokaryotic cells, DNA occurs in the cytoplasm and is the only component of the chromosomes. Whereas, in Eukaryotic cells, DNA is largely confined to the nucleus. Do you know, A human DNA contains 3 billion chemical letters. Yes, it is true. There are several other amazing and fun facts about DNA that we don't know.
Personal Genomics: Gene Sequencing & Analysis in India.
In recent times, the people of India have been heard talking about gene sequencing, gene editing, gene analysis and many other similar terms. Gene or genome sequencing is a process or method of figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides or bases in a human genome. It comes under the umbrella of personal genomics.
What are SNPs? Why are Scientists interested in them?
A most common and important source of genetic variability is known to be present uniformly throughout the genome is termed Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms or SNPs. Interest in SNPs lies in the fact that these polymorphisms may be responsible for the differences in disease susceptibility, drug metabolism and response to environmental factors between individuals. Even, if they are not directly responsible for the disease, they serve as genetic markers for a nearby locus that might be responsible.
How a 2 meters long DNA is fitted into a 2 micrometers Nucleus?
An average Human cell (diploid) contains about 6.4 billion base pairs of DNA divided among 46 chromosomes. The length of each base pair is about 0.34 nm. Therefore, if the DNA molecule in a diploid cell were laid out end to end, the total length of DNA would be approximately 2 meters.Since the diameter of a typical cell nucleus is only 10 μm, it is obvious for us to know that how is it possible to fit 2 meters of DNA in such small space without getting tangled up. The answer lies in the remarkable manner in which a DNA molecule is packaged.
Why Nature Preferred DNA over RNA?
We all know that DNA acts as a genetic material in most of the organisms on this planet earth. However, it is also clear that RNA also acts a genetic material, but only in some viruses. During the evolution, nature has considered DNA over RNA as genetic material, because DNA is more stable and more efficient than RNA.
Who discovered that DNA is the Genetic Material?
The discovery of DNA as the genetic material was one of the major achievements of science in the 20th century. This discovery made DNA, the chemical basis of heredity. It took almost 80 years for scientists to prove that DNA is the genetic material. Early works: In 1869, Johann Friedrich Miescher, a young Swiss medical student, discovered… Continue reading Who discovered that DNA is the Genetic Material?
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