Dynamic DNA Labs: The Discovery of DNA (Part 2)
Dynamic DNA Labs: How DNA Was Discovered - Part 2
In our last blog, Dynamic DNA Labs looked at the initial discovery of DNA. Beginning with Gregor Mendel in the 1860s, we traced nearly 100 years of genetic research until the discovery of DNA’s double helix structure in the 1950s. Now, our exploration of DNA research continues. In this blog, Dynamic DNA Labs discusses some of the biggest genetic discoveries in the second half of the 20th century to explain how we got to where we are today.
Important Discoveries and Improved Understanding
After Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, and Francis Crick discovered DNA’s double helix structure, the field of genetic research took off. Scientists rushed to decipher the genetic code and how it worked. In the 1960s, Marshall Nirenberg discovered the importance of messenger RNA and how it can be used to decipher the genetic code. Niremberg went on to become the first person to sequence the genetic code, and in 1968, he won the Nobel Prize for his research. Later, in the ‘60s and ‘70s, cytogenetics, the study of chromosomes, took off as a major medical discipline. For the first time, genetic research and medicine intertwined.
Alec Jeffreys and DNA Profiling
In 1984, geneticist Alec Jeffreys made a scientific breakthrough by producing the world’s first DNA fingerprint. His discovery revolutionized scientific investigation. For the first time, crime scene investigators could use even the smallest traces of blood or sweat to convict criminals. Thanks to his research, thousands of criminals have been caught and imprisoned who would be walking free otherwise.
Genome Sequencing and the Human Genome Project
In 1990, the Human Genome Project began. The goal of this international, collaborative project was to map the entire human genome for the sake of advancing medicine. In 2003, the Human Genome Project was finally completed. The project revealed that there are roughly 20,500 human genes and each carries a specific trait. The Human Genome Project was one of the greatest scientific accomplishments to this date and opened the door for many more genetic discoveries. Without the project, recent genetic research, including our work at Dynamic DNA Labs, would not be possible.
Make Your DNA a Part of the Story with Dynamic DNA Labs
The future of genetic research is infinite, and at Dynamic DNA Labs, we are excited to be a part of that story. There are still so many more discoveries to be made in genetic research, so we are sure to return to this topic in the future. In the meantime, contact Dynamic DNA Labs about DNA testing. Whether you’re looking for innovative weight loss solutions, ancestry tests, or personalized medicine, we can help you get started.
