Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Inside our body, located in the nuclei of cells is where our DNA also known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid can be found. Beneath the cells of humans and any other living organisms are these DNAs that are considered as the hereditary materials in our body because of the information it stores that include the four chemical bases namely: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine. Just like how the letters in an alphabet appear in order to form different words used to express a thought, the information used for building and maintaining an organism is determined by the sequence of these bases. DNA is also known for its property which is replication. DNAs have the capability to replicate itself and form a double helix that serves as the pattern of duplicating the sequence of bases.

Over the past years scientists have been looking for new ways through which they can improve the different branches of science particularly in the field of medicine, hoping that they could find new ways to cure diseases. The process now called as DNA extraction was first performed by Friedrich Miescher, a Swiss physician in 1869. By doing this, he hoped to know more about the chemical compositions of cells and through this discovery by Miescher, different studies and experiments have been continuously conducted in order to further broaden our knowledge regarding DNA extraction. Presently, there have appeared a lot of new methods wherein DNA, RNA or protein can be extracted and are now divided into solution based or column based protocols.

Right now, DNA isolation plays a very important and vital role in the field of forensics and biotechnology. Scientists use this process to detect DNA defects, identify DNA fingertips of individuals or even create genetically engineered organisms that have the capability to produce different products needed by the community. One example of a Genetically Engineered animal is the famous Dolly, the sheep, the first known cloned animal that came from a single microscopic cell from a single parent. DNA extraction is also being used now to investigate different crime scenes. The uses of DNA Extraction have been classified into 5 sub categories and these are for plants, animals, pharmaceuticals, medical diagnosis and identity verifications. Many agricultural companies have been using DNA Extraction in order to make their crops more resistant to different pests thus giving the company less expenses when it comes to pest controls, making room for more profit. In the branch of pharmaceuticals, they use recombinant genetics such as bovine growth hormone and human growth hormone to make use of other hormones such as in producing insulin. Without the help of this modern technology, determination of different diseases and the search for its cure would be very difficult for scientists since they will have no other way through which they can differentiate one cell from another.