Genetic Testing- Friend Or Foe

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Introduction This essay will be about the study of genetics; what is it, how do we inherit genes, Genetic Diseases, what Genetic testing does and the Benefits and Disadvantages of DNA testing. Paragraph 1 Genetics is the study of our genetic structure, heredity of genes and the variation of organisms. By studying Genetics it enables scientists to identify many basic aspects of life and understand genetic diseases, which can lead to finding a cure for them. Paragraph 2 The major structural components of a DNA strand, called a Double Helix, consist of two long polymers which are called nucleotides. These nucleotides have a backbone which are made from sugars and phosphate, which are then called ester bonds. The two polymers coil up the strand in opposite directions and are not parallel. To each strand are attached four types of molecules called Bases. The sequence of these four bases, which run along the backbone, is what encrypts all of the information to the DNA. The information is known as the Genome. The bases of a DNA strand, which is made up of nitrogen, pair up with the other strand in the order of Adenine with Thymine, and Cytosine and Guanine. These bases are paired together with hydrogen bonds. DNA carries information and proteins, and controls the function of the entire body and is in every single cell. It contains genes, passed on from our parents, which construct our distinct features, e.g. Eye Colour, Hair Colour, Skin Colour etc. DNA must replicate in order to pass on the Genomes, the way this replication occurs is one DNA strand must act like a template and then it is copied to create a new strand which is an exact copy of the template. Protein is created by the information stored inside each gene’s DNA. The information is transferred to a molecule called Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). The type of RNA that contains the information is

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