Using Lasers to Alter DNA

DNA... it is in the center of every cell in a person's body. It is also at the centre of every cell in a plants body, or a dog, or a cat. It is the central unit of all living things. Located in the nucleus, it is made up of tiny intricate strands that hold all the code for the organism it belongs to. Without DNA, life would not exist, period.

DNA is responsible for cell division, a cells health, and the functions of a cell. Overall, the DNA is what controls who we are, and perhaps even the way in which we think. DNA is made up of amino acids that are formed in chains or sequences. These sequences are made up of four basic amino acids named adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. The variations of these four base proteins are completely endless.

These same codes or sequences of the basic proteins determine almost everything about an individual organism. DNA is a very important avenue of study regarding modern health sciences, and even computer technology.

Researchers in Germany from Christian-Alberchts University have been working on a very amazing project. They have been studying the way that different sequences of DNA react to light. Their studies are conclusive that in fact DNA will mutate differently to light depending on its base sequences. This means that the code of one strand of DNA will change when light contacts it differently than another strand of DNA which has a different code.

The method through which they have made this world changing discovery is what they call time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy; analyzing the effects of light on DNA bases. In the long term, this research points to a possibility of using laser technology to control and purposefully mutant or change the structure of a DNA sequence; this gives health professionals a powerful tool to adjust the blueprint that governs a person's body.
What is really incredible about the potential surrounding this technology is considering the way this can revolutionize what we know about computer technology. Scientists believe that in time, DNA could be altered to create a type of bio-transistor. Transistors are the building blocks of circuit boards, and DNA is the building block of biology. We could possibly be on the brink of bio-electronics.

It is always important to remember that playing God isn't exactly what any scientist has in mind. The people who lead and dedicate themselves to this line of work are the people in the world who can really change things for the better. There is no telling what could be the positive results of amazing micro technology like what we have seen come from Germany just recently. Stay on the watch for more world-changing technology; the future is in the hands of science and those that support them.

DNA Testing: Reasons Why you Should Do It

The main reason I believe most people want to do DNA testing is because of Paternity. When Eddie Murphy answered when asked about Scary Spice's Mel B.'s baby, he was Saying something around the fact that they didn't know for sure. Once that DNA test was taken, the whole world knew what we all knew, that Eddie Murphy was the father of cute little Angel Iris Murphy Brown. The other reason is if you are tracing your history.

Another reason for DNA testing is when you are researching your genealogy. According to the Health and DNA website, you can learn all about the past by just studying what's in DNA today. You can order DNA tests and find out just what is in your past.

Another reason to find out your DNA is to prove what members are not a part of your family. Say that you had relatives you could do without. Meaning, a horde of black sheep. You don't hate them, but you just can't be around them. Testing your DNA may be a way of getting rid of said relatives if there is no factual evidence that they are really a part of your family. You could kick up yourself esteem a thousand notches and feel no guilt about dismissing people who are not really a part of your family.

Healthanddna.com can provide individualized tests. There is the Common Male Ancestor Test and Common Female Ancestor Test. There is also an Ethnicity DNA Test that gives you a world view of what your genetics is made up of, whether you have African, European, Asian or Native American genes. If the test shows that you have more European ancestry, the European Ethnicity DNA test will further refine your genetics down to Middle Eastern, Northern European, Mediterranean, South Asian or Native American ancestry.

Here are some things that you will find out through DNA testing. If you are of African descent, you can find out which tribe you are from. If you are of European descent, you will find out if your ancestors were hunter-gatherers or part of a clan. Native Americans have four groups. The website DNA Tribes has a database that has over 193,000 people and 665 populations. They also have a 467 indigenous population list.