Genetic Inheritance and the Function of DNA

To begin with, we need to identify how genetic characteristics are linking up in a DNA structure by looking at genes. A chromosome's segment is a gene and performs different roles within a cell. A gene can play many different roles within a cell. Current scientists are in agreement that the genes are corresponding to one or more DNA sequences carrying the coding information necessary in the production of specific proteins, and the proteins are, in turn, carrying out functions within the cell. Nucleotides molecules are making up DNA. Each nucleotide has a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group. Nitrogen bases are of four types, i.e., cytosine (C), guanine (G), thymine (T), and adenine (A), and these bases' order determines a genetic code or DNA's instructions. DNA making up the genes is packaged in chromosome structures, and that chromosomes are doubly contained in somatic cells in comparison to gametes. How and why we obtain our own set of DNA structures is via cell division/production since two daughter cells identical to each other and their original parent cell in terms of genes. A parent cell is duplicated into chromosomes before splitting into two, and the chromosomes will be containing the majority of the DNA of the cell. Now, during cell division, the original parent cell's one identical chromosome set is given to each daughter cell. Generally, cell division is vital to the life of an organism in many ways, such as replacing lost or damaged cells, reproduction, and growth. (Griffiths, 2010). For instance, Amoebas, divides into the half when reproducing, making the offspring to be genetic replicas of the parent, within an organism with a single cell in a process known as asexual reproduction since the production of offspring involves inheriting all of their single parent's chromosomes in a genetically-duplicated manner. Therefore, we can liken the chromosomes to instruction manuals, and this explains how we obtain genetic characteristics of our own.

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Protein synthesis involves ribosomes making various types of proteins in a cell using the DNA's coded information. The event is important because the protein is composed of enzymes catalyzing the production of organic biomolecules required for life, in addition to forming the cell's structural components. To retain all the information coded, the protein has to undergo several processes before being made from the DNA. The DNA undergoes a transcription process to produce RNA in the nucleus, before its transportation to the cytoplasm for the synthesis. At the ribosomes, information is classified into codons, the distinct nucleotides. Each codon consists of at least three nucleotides to enhance coding for a single amino acid. The genes codes both genotypic and physical characteristics in an organism. After copying the information to the RNA, the gene undergoes another process, as the RNA is translated into directing all the information coded a protein. The proteins will perform specific functions. For instance, synthesizing melanin will darken a skin color, as an example of a phenotypic characteristic resulting from the synthesis of gene-directed protein.

For individuals that belong to the same species, their genetic information varies. The DNA stores the information that represents certain traits; thus, with a slight alteration in the DNA's sequence, a totally different protein can be synthesized. This difference in information explains why human possesses varying degrees of complexion, or have unique fingerprints. Since the genes are inheritable, when an altered gene is inherited, malfunctioned proteins are produced, and consequently, the proteins synthesized may be malfunctioned as well (Griffiths, 2002, p.2). A defective protein will bring about the losing of phenotypic characteristics of the protein's functions are lost; a good example is when the gene HBB is mutated with red blood cells' code, the loss results in a sickle anemia condition, resulting from interfering with genes making up hemoglobin.

With the advancing technological knowledge, scientists are producing desired proteins in organisms, where specific genes are manipulated to overproduce desired characteristics. The living system's genes can be replaced by using clustered regular interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology, therefore, enhancing the production of organisms with desired characteristics.

Interference in protein synthesis can have cells' and the body's processes being disrupted due to the presence of substances that inhibit the synthesis of proteins. Examples of these substances are antimicrobial drugs targeting ribosomes' levels. They take to utilize the differing of prokaryotic and eukaryotic involving the differences in structure and size and the RNA-protein fractions. The structural difference makes see some antibiotics killing bacteria via inhabitation of their ribosomes, having the human ribosomes left without effects. Additionally, when an organism loses some organs, it is due to some genes being lost - deleting a particular gene results in a functional loss of a protein necessary for the coding. Therefore, genetic disorders deform physical characteristics. And, when vital body structures are lost, some bodily processes are destructed (Griffiths, 2002, p. 2).

Proteins are vital in our systems. They have to be supplemented in a diet daily. Essential and non-essential amino acids are all constituted in the building blocks of the proteins. Because the proteins are part of every cell, they must be provided by the body, typically as raw materials, for the process of synthesizing new cells. The proteins are, thus, essential. For instance, antibodies protect the body against disease-causing pathogens. Proteins repair worn-out body tissues. Hence, proper nutrition replaces cells and tissues rapidly and minimizes the malfunctioning possibilities of organs. Hormones relay information from the brain to target tissues; thus, malnutrition interferes with hormonal synthesis. Lastly, improperly synthesizing insulin can result in a deadly diabetes condition, and can be controlled via proper nutrition (Brestensky, Nitrayova, Patras & Nitray, 2018). Therefore, adequate dieting is ensuring that raw materials that are essential for the synthesis of healthy tissues are availed.

References

Brestensky, M., Nitrayova, S., Patras, P., & Nitray, J. (2018). Dietary Requirements for Proteins and Amino Acids in Human Nutrition. Current Nutrition & Food Science, 14. doi: 10.2174/1573401314666180507123506

Griffiths, A. (2002). Modern genetic analysis (p. 2). New York: W.H. Freeman.

Griffiths, A. (2010). Introduction to genetic analysis. New York, NY: W.H. Freeman and Co.