dna

Have you ever wondered that how life continues in human beings? How do we all human beings share the same characteristic features? Yes, DNA is the answer to all your questions. The most significant mechanism for all the life cells that plays an important role in producing off springs is the DNA replication.DNA replication is the process that duplicates the DNA of a cell.

Each cell in our body consists of one or more than one DNA polymer molecules. These molecules need to be duplicated, so that the process of cell duplication takes place. This is what we call as DNA replication. In living organisms, the formation of DNA takes place in two strands. Each strand contains units of nucleotides. These two strands of DNA appear like two chains forming the DNA Double Helix. The process of DNA replication opens up the Double Helix and separates them into two strands. These two strands are then copied, and the result is that two new molecules of DNA are formed.

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Steps involved in the replication of DNA

Any permanent change in the structure of DNA sequence which makes up a gene is called as gene mutation. The size of the mutation varies, it may either as small as a DNA or even large as a segment of the chromosome.

The mutation of the Gene occurs in two ways: 1. from a parent 2. acquired during the person’s lifetime. Hereditary mutations or the germ line mutations are those which occur from the parents to the children. The mutation of this sort can be seen in the persons entire like in every cell in his/ her body.

The other are the new mutations which are occurred in the egg or the sperm cell or the mutation which occurs just after the fertilization process is complete. The genetic disorders can be best explained by the De novo mutations, however in this type of disorder there is no family history for this disorder involved.

The somatic (also known as acquired) mutations are the one which occur directly into the DNA of the individual cell. There is a possibility of DNA making copies of itself during cell division due to immense expose to the ultra violet radiations from the sun which results in number of changes in the individual’s life. The acquired mutations in the somatic cannot be passed to the next generations.

Mutations can also occur in the single cell in the early period of embryo. During the division of the cells the individual has some cells with the mutation and some other without any genetic changes. This situation is referred as mosaicism.

It’s a simple question. Who owns the genetic material that makes us human? And for parents, who owns your baby’s DNA?  The proper answer should be that nobody should be able to own or control your DNA, or your child’s DNA, and that you should be able to control access to this information. But reality is quite different. You may be surprised to learn that states have been collecting DNA from newborns and storing it. And they now have millions of samples, with very few controls over what they can use this information for.

The birth of a child is a happy occasion. At some point within a day or so of the birth, a hospital technician is likely to enter the mother’s room and ask to take the newborn for a blood test. Most people simply think that the baby’s new doctor is checking out the health of the baby. But in most cases the blood is actually being collected by the state.

There are a few states that allow parents to opt out of having their children’s DNA taken and stored in some government database. But in most cases those states are not providing the opt-out information to parents unless they ask. Other states don’t give the parents any discretion at all.

The DNA that is being collected is being used for a variety of things, including research.  And worst of all, it is perfectly legal.