DNA and RNA

Roles of DNA and RNA in the Human Body and Medicine

Anatomy and Physiology 1

Dr. Joy Henry

Schonathan Crews

3/20/2015

Roles of DNA and RNA in the Human Body and Medicine

Introduction Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the foreman of the body with a strict set of blueprints for what needs to be done in an organism’s cell and how.1 Each cell is encoded with a specific sequence of DNA which stores how it is to be made and reproduce. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is the assistant to the foreman and helps carry out transfers of genetic code and creation of proteins. RNA reads the sequence of DNA through transcription (mRNA), transfers (tRNA) a single strand copy of the DNA being used, and with translation (rRNA) new proteins are created. Both code and code reader work together to make you, well you. Let’s discuss DNA and RNA and the roles they play in genetics and possible medical applications.
DNA
DNA is the genetic martial (gene) for hereditary in humans and almost all other organisms.2 It is stored in a cell’s nucleus (nuclear DNA) and mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA.) It is composed of four nucleic acids which combine together to form a double helix strand of DNA. These acids consist of adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T), and can only go together in specific pairs which are A with T and C with G. The sequence of these acids are what determine the design for the building and maintaining of an organism. One important quality of DNA is that it can self replicate.3 This is beneficial as when cells are reproducing, they need to have an exact of the DNA of the old cell they’re replacing.
RNA
RNA is a single-stranded transcription of DNA and is also made up of nucleic acids. The difference between the acids in RNA and DNA is that RNA doesn’t contain thymine as one of it’s bases. This acid is instead replaced by uracil (U). Where as in DNA the specific pairs are A with T and C with G. In RNA, A with T is now A with U.4 RNA functions by carrying information from DNA using mRNA to the cell’s cytoplasm and ribosome. There the tRNA in the cell’s cytoplasm reads the mRNA to transfer the amino acids that will be used in the ribosome for the specific protein being built. The rRNA then reads the mRNA and tRNA to determine what type of protein to synthesize.5
Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology is the joining together of DNA molecules from two different species that are inserted into a host organism to produce a new genetic combination.6 This new combination can serve in many different areas of science, but for the purpose of this paper we’re going to focus on medical applications. Through the use of rDNA, scientists have been able to reproduce human insulin for the treatment of diabetes and erythropoietin to treat those suffering with anemia.7 The HBV vaccines are also a product of rDNA, with hope for future vaccines to aid in the fight against HIV, herpes type 2 virus, and malaria.8 Other advancements in medicine from rDNA include cancer therapy drugs, TPA clot busters for stroke and heart attack treatment, human growth hormone, and parathyroid hormone.9

Conclusion
In conclusion, we see how it takes the cooperation of DNA and RNA to form the building blocks that are life as we know it. Though DNA is capable of self reproducing, cell reproduction and repair wouldn’t be possible without RNA in protein production. Through science advancement in rDNA, we now have a better understanding of cell mutations and disease. It is from this better understanding that new discoveries have been made in human medicine, treatment, and protection in the form of better vaccinations.

References (2006). Cells and DNA - Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics?show=all. (2006). How do genes direct the production of proteins? - Genetics ... Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/makingprotein. (2008). recombinant DNA technology - Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/493667/recombinant-DNA-technology.
Shivanand, P. (2012). recombinant dna technology: applications in the field. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearchonline.net/volume1issue1/Article%20009.pdf.
Shivanand, P. (2012). recombinant dna technology: applications in the field. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearchonline.net/volume1issue1/Article%20009.pdf.

References: (2006). Cells and DNA - Genetics Home Reference. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics?show=all. (2006). How do genes direct the production of proteins? - Genetics ... Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/howgeneswork/makingprotein. (2008). recombinant DNA technology - Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved March 19, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/493667/recombinant-DNA-technology. Shivanand, P. (2012). recombinant dna technology: applications in the field. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearchonline.net/volume1issue1/Article%20009.pdf. Shivanand, P. (2012). recombinant dna technology: applications in the field. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearchonline.net/volume1issue1/Article%20009.pdf.