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
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during RNAi. RNA interference is now applied in many forms of biological science from, Physiology to Biotechnology.
RNA Interference has been successfully applied in many fields of medicines used to treat issues such as, Parkinson’s and Lung Cancer. One study, sponsored by Alnylam Phar...
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...available to help scientists better understand disease, pp. 1-2. Retrieved December 15, 2013
ScienceDaily. (2013, September 13). ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 10, 2013, from ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130913090609.htm
Sciences, A. I. (2013, July 16). RNA-Interference Pesticides Will Need Special Safety Testing. Retrieved 12 15, 2013, from ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130716080026.htm
Thomas, C. G. (2013, November 25). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Gene-silencing study finds new targets for Parkinson's disease, pp. 1-2. Retrieved December 13, 2013, from http://www.nih.gov/news/health/nov2013/ninds-24.htm
Trafton, A. (2013, June 23). MIT News. Enhancing RNA Interference, pp. 1-2. Retrieved 12 16, 2013, from http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2013/enhancing-rna-interference-0623.html
"Parkinson Disease." Genetics Home Reference. Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications, n.d. Web. May 2012. .
Goldmann, David R., and David A. Horowitz. American College of Physicians Home Medical Guide to Parkinson's Disease. New York: Dorling Kindersley Pub., 2000. Print.
Varanese, S., Birnbaum, Z., Rossi, R., & Di Rocco, A. (2010). Treatment of Advanced Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease.
With more than 200,000 US cases per year, Parkinson’s disease has become a major part
The insecticide has high ability to produce the desired results. It has a broad spectrum of insect and pest control for farm crops and cereal storage. The insecticide is less toxic to mammalian organisms. The toxic levels of the insecticide to human is very low but is designed in a way that it can control some pests such as rats, California quail bird and Rainbow Trout. It is toxic to bees if it is directly sprayed on them but its dried residue is nontoxic to bees (Thompsom, 2011). This insecticide has minimal environmental hazards as compared to other insecticides. Spinosad has a long residual effect that keeps cereals well protected to a period of 2 years.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by resting tremor, slowed movements, rigidity and postural instability (Casey G, 2013). It is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s (Martin and Mills, 2012). There is a great variability in reported incidence rates, probably due to difference in diagnostic criteria and case ascertainment, with reported rates in Australia and in Western countries ranging from 8.6 to 19.0 per 100,000 population (J Macphee and D Stewart, 2012). The two main brain structures affected by Parkinson’s are the substantia nigra pars compacta, which is located in the midbrain and other parts of the basal ganglia, w...
Langston, J. W. "Current Theories on the Cause of Parkinson’s Disease. " Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. 1989, suppl. ,pp. 13-i7.
A sequence can then be constructed by computers based on the image and base type at each site4. Illumina can be used in whole genome sequencing, as well as the sequencing of methylation, DNA fragments, total RNA, mRNA, siRNA, etc. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) acts in gene silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression1, 5.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Pesticides that behave like the female hormone estrogens can have serious effects on reproductive success and function on animal exposed to them. Reproductive success or fitness is defined by having live reproductively capable off...
"Pesticides." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 18 July 2005. Web. 20 May 2011. .
Monsanto should do more than manage the potential harm to plant and animal life as a result of using products such as Roundup (Ferrell, Thorne, & Ferrell, 2016). Monsanto must do more than maintain a stance that their product rarely gets in ground water. As part of their quality standard the herbicide manufacture will implement strict guidelines of testing, storing, and shipping their product. Ground samples will be routinely tested to validate contamination has not occurred. As the use of chemicals continues for a long period of time both weeds and bugs my develop immunity to the herbicide creating the need for even stronger herbicides. A herbicide is designed to kill unwanted plants; however the mixture could be so effective that it kills not only the undesired weeds, but also the kills the plants that are not the target. Safety concerns with herbicide will be handled in an
Ribonucleic acid or RNA is a polymeric molecule made up of one or more nucleotides. A polymeric molecule is a very large molecule that is chain- like. It is made up of monomers, which are smaller molecules. A strand of RNA can be thought of as a chain with a nucleotide at each chain link. Whereas, a nucleotide is a group of any type of molecules that are linked together because they form the “building blocks” of DNA (also known as deoxyribonucleic acid, and it is the carrier of genetic information.) Messenger RNA, which is called mRNA, carries the genetic information copied from DNA. Transfer RNA, which is called tRNA is the key to deciphering the code words in mRNA that forms a series of three-base code words. An enzyme is a substance that
The most recently proposed solution is the hypothetical and highly experimental “Gene Silencing” treatment, which suggests the use of DNA or RNA to temporarily turn of a specific gene. Theoretically, if the Prion Protein Gene were to be turned off the body would stop producing the Prions and effectively curing the patient, however it is very far away from becoming a reality in human patients
Ribonucleic acid is a large part of the modern world as RNA (Ribonucleic acid) is one of the major macromolecules which are known for playing an essential role in all known forms of life. The most common function of RNA is that it is a copy of DNA and is used to create proteins and other organic compounds. To produce a certain protein, it activates the area of DNA that codes for a specific protein needed. Thus it replicates that section of DNA in the form of messenger RNA. Ribosomes are then used to translate the genetic code found on the section that is coding for a particular protein. RNA can control how much protein is made but also when it is made.
In the 1970's, scientists discovered that strands of DNA could be cut using special enzymes, which could cut out genetic combinations. DNA contains information about genes particular organisms hold. Duplicates of genes are also possible through genetic engineering and are very useful for medical purposes. Advances in technology have raised issues such as animal and human cloning. These issues have caused many different sided arguments.