Contribution of Thomas R. Cech to the field of Chemistry
Thomas Robert Cech is a well-known chemist who used his knowledge of science to discover several theories in order to enhance the study of molecules and atoms in different matters. In summary, Thomas Cech received his PhD degree in Chemistry from the University of California. He was also a lecturer at the University of Colorado where he lectured on chemistry and biochemistry. Cech’s research and hard labour has brought many awards to him and one of the major awards he received is the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989. His major contribution about splicing RNA molecules by it-self had the major impact to earn the Nobel Prize award.
Thomas Cech’s most excellent contribution was the theory behind self splicing RNA. First of all, RNA also known as Ribonucleic Acid is a kind if nucleic acid that is generally single stranded. In addition, RNA plays a vital role for transferring information into protein forming system of the cell from the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). Thomas Cech has done his research in a laboratory. To briefly learn the contribution, Scientist Cech and his researched team first started with the process of how stored genetic information in DNA can be transcribed into a molecule known as mRNA (messenger RNA), which is further changed into a protein. In all kinds of living organisms, this process takes place. However, in plants and humans, the coding region of the DNA which is the exons are episodic by the nonbonding regions of the DNA which is the introns.
During the duplication process of DNA, the gene is completely copied into a pre messenger RNA (pre mRNA) including the exons and introns from the DNA. Thomas Cech’s research helped him to understand how th...
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...t Model. Cell, 148, 922-932 (2012).
4. Nandakumar, J., Bell, C.F., Weidenfeld, I., Zaug, A.J., Leinwand, L.A., Cech, T.R. The TEL patch of telomere protein TPP1 mediates telomerase recruitment and processivity. Nature, 492: 285-289 (2012).
5. Schwartz, J.C., Ebmeier, C.C., Podell, E.R., Heimiller, J., Taatjes, D.J., Cech, T.R. FUS binds the CTD of RNA polymerase II and regulates its phosphorylation at Ser2. Genes Dev. 26: 2690-95 (2012).
Works Cited
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/101017/Thomas-Robert-Cech
http://chem.colorado.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=247&Itemid=185
http://www.hhmi.org/research/telomerase-and-chromosome-ends
http://www.dnalc.org/resources/animations/rna-splicing.html
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/rna-splicing-introns-exons-and-spliceosome-12375
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Rna
Miller, Kenneth R. and Joseph S. Levine. “Chapter 12: DNA and RNA.” Biology. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc., 2002. Print.
Takahashi, Y., et al. “Analysis of Promoter binding by the E2F and pRB Families In Vivo: Distinct E2F Proteins Mediate Activation and Repression.” Genes 14 (2000): 804-816.
In order to do this a polymer of DNA “unzips” into its two strands, a coding strand (left strand) and a template strand (right strand). Nucleotides of a molecule known as mRNA (messenger RNA) then temporarily bonds to the template strand and join together in the same way as nucleotides of DNA. Messenger RNA has a similar structure to that of DNA only it is single stranded. Like DNA, mRNA is made up of nucleotides again consisting of a phosphate, a sugar, and an organic nitrogenous base. However, unlike in DNA, the sugar in a nucleotide of mRNA is different (Ribose) and the nitrogenous base Thymine is replaced by a new base found in RNA known as Uracil (U)3b and like Thymine can only bond to its complimentary base Adenine. As a result of how it bonds to the DNA’s template strand, the mRNA strand formed is almost identical to the coding strand of DNA apart from these
Inside the nucleus of our cells, our genes are on double-stranded molecules of DNA called chromosomes. At the top and bottom of the chromosomes are fragments of DNA known as Telomeres which defend our genes, give us the ability for our cells to divide, and hold secrets to how we age and how we get cancer. Telomeres are like the ends of shoelaces (because they keep the chromosomes’ ends from fraying). But when a cell divides, the Telomere gets smaller and shorter. When they get too short, the cell can’t divide. The Telomeres then become “senescent” or inactive. This shortening is linked with aging, cancer, and death-risk. Telomeres should also be compared to a bomb fuse. Without Telomeres, the main part of the chromosome would get smaller whenever the cell divides. This can cause a malfunction or cancer. An enzyme named telomerase adds bases to the ends of Telomeres. In young cells, telomerase keeps Telomeres from wearing down too much. But as cells divide repeatedly, there is not enough telomerase, so the Telomeres grow shorter and the cells age. Telomerase remains active in sperm and eggs, which are passed from one generation to the next. If reproductive cells did not have telomerase to maintain the length of their Telomeres, any organism with such cells would soon go extinct.
The molecule consisted of a double helix with phosphates, deoxyribose sugar molecules, and nitrogenous bases. If the spirals were split, the DNA could replicate, which explained why genes were transferred from parents to their children. Additionally, the order of compounds on the DNA indicated that there was a unique ‘code’ on each strand. Watson and Crick believed that this ‘code’ was translated into specific proteins. , ,
Hall, Linley Erin. “Understanding Genetics DNA and RNA.” New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2011. Print. 01 Apr. 2014.
In humans and other eukaryotes, there is an extra step. RNA polymerase can attach to the promoter only with the help of proteins called basal (general) transcription factors. They are part of the cell's core transcription toolkit, needed for the transcription of any
"The discovery of the structure by Crick and Watson, with all its biological implications, has been one of the major scientific events of this century." (Bragg, The Double Helix, p1) In the story of The Double Helix, James Watson tells of the road that led to the discovery of life's basic building block-DNA. This autobiography gives insight into science and the workings within a professional research laboratory that few members of society will ever be able to experience. It also gives the reader an idea of the reality of life for one scientist and how he struggled with the problem of DNA. However, the author's style is marked by his lack of objectivity and inclusion of many biased opinions and personal prejudices.
Telomere are special DNA structure that consist of repetitive nucleotide sequences, which serves as a “cap” to protect the ends of the chromosomes. These repetitive sequences can range from thousands of base pairs in Vertebrates to about a few hundreds of base pairs in yeast cells (Oeseburg, et al. 2009). Located at the ends of the chromosomes, the telomeres serves as a biological life line for cells. Once the telomeres reach a certain length, the cell will cease to divide. Oeseburg, et al (2009) suggested that the telomere has a crucial length, once reached, it could result in chromosome end-to-end fusion and chromosome dysfunction; which may eventually lead to cell apoptosis, c...
Almost all biology students learn the fundamentals of gene expression, DNA contains information which is transcribed into RNA to create protein. Students however, are not taught of RNA Interference, the biological process where RNA molecules inhibit a gene’s expression, RNAi for short. While RNAi is a fairly new discovery, its use in modern biological research is groundbreaking. RNA Interference works by binding Double-stranded RNA molecules (siRNA) to a complementary messenger RNA. The enzymes Dicer and Slicer then cleave the chemical bonds which hold the messeger RNA in place and prevent it from delivering protein silencing instructions thus, the term, Gene Silencing. This phenomenon was first discovered by Richard Jorgensen in 1990 when he was trying to produce deeper purple colored petunias by introducing more purple pigment genes to the flower. To his surprise, the purple petunia turned completely white and got the opposite of his predicted result. At the time Jorgensen coined this effect, “Cosuppression”. It was not until 1998 that Andrew Fire and Craig, C Mello explained the process of RNAi and discovered its use in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. Elegans). In 2006 Fire and Mello won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “for their discover of RNA Interference – gene silencing by double stranded RNA”. They utilized the nematode, C. Elegans due to its whole genome being sequenced. This unique characteristic allows for every gene to be tested
In Pauling’s own words he was “…a physicist with an interest in chemistry. [His] scientific work, however, has not been restricted to chemistry and physics, but has extended over X-ray crystallography, mineralogy, biochemistry, nuclear science, genetics, and molecular biology; also nutrition and various aspects of research in medicine, such as serology, immunology, and psychiatry” (Marinacci Ed., 1995, p. 26). Pauling received two Nobel Prizes acknowledging his contributions, one in Chemistry in 1954 and one for Peace in 1962.
In the late 1860’s, a Swiss chemist named Friedrich Miescher first identified DNA. It can be said that he successfully completed the first part of the gene puzzle. He found what he called nuclein in the pus he extracted from a surgical bandage. He called it “nuclein” because it was found in the nucleus of the cell. The term “nuclein” was later changed to “nucleic acid” and eventually to “Deoxyribonucleic Acid” or “DNA.” At this point, many scientists did not realize how important this information was, therefore many ignored this information. Then, in 1919, an American biochemist named Phoebus Levene laid the groundwork for the future studies of DNA. He was the first to identify and explain how the nucleic acid components, sugar and phosphate, combine to form nucleotides. Next, Erwin Chargaff, a student of Cambridge, fortified the foundation of studies that had already been made. He created a set of rules called “Chargaff’s rules.” The first rule he established is that, in human DNA, the number of adenine components equals the number of thymine components and the number of guanine components equals the number of cytosine components. The second rule he established was that the form of DNA is different in a human compared to in an animal. He found strong ...
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a self-replicating molecule or material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent in chromosomes. It encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and many viruses. Simply put, DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. The discovery and use of DNA has seen many changes and made great progress over many years. James Watson was a pioneer molecular biologist who is credited, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins, with discovering the double helix structure of the DNA molecule. The three won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1962 for their work (Bagley, 2013). Scientist use the term “double helix” to describe DNA’s winding, two-stranded chemical structure. This shape looks much like a twisted ladder and gives the DNA the power to pass along biological instructions with great precision.
Distinct characteristics are not only an end result of the DNA sequence but also of the cell’s internal system of expression orchestrated by different proteins and RNAs present at a given time. DNA encodes for many possible characteristics, but different types of RNA aided by specialized proteins sometimes with external signals express the needed genes. Control of gene expression is of vital importance for an eukaryote’s survival such as the ability of switching genes on/off in accordance with the changes in the environment (Campbell and Reece, 2008). Of a cell’s entire genome, only 15% will be expressed, and in multicellular organisms the genes active will vary according to their specialization. (Fletcher, Ivor & Winter, 2007).
The Double Helix tells a tale of fierce competition, perseverance, and scientific innovation as we follow James Watson and his cohort Francis Crick on their quest to discover the secret to life, the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid. Although already fascinated with DNA, Watson struggled with finding chemistry exciting enough to learn it in depth. He had studied birds in college and thereby managed to avoid any formal chemistry or physics courses. As he later pursued a PhD in biochemistry, he realized he could put it off no longer and attempted to learn organic chemistry at Indiana University. However, after a mishap in the lab, he was encouraged instead to study nucleic acid chemistry with Herman Kalckar in Copenhagen. There, his mind strayed from his work and he began doing unauthorized research in the lab of Ole Maaløe, studying phages. Herman stopped teaching Watson after going through a divorce with his wife, and sent Watson off to a scientific conference in Naples. Although he was bored by many of the lectures, Maurice Wilkins’s talk about X-ray diffraction fascinated Watson. He was struck by an X-ray diffraction picture of DNA that Maurice presented and was determined to study the acid. He later got to know more about Maurice’s colleague, Rosalind Franklin, who was proud, stubborn, and very difficult to work with. Watson greatly admired the lecture given by the renowned Linus Pauling, who had discovered the structure of the alpha-helix and was thought of as the leader in DNA research in the scientific world.