Indicate whether the following statements about DNA technology in medicine are true or false.

DNA technology is used to identify hereditary diseases.
DNA technology is used to produce medicines and hormones.
DNA technology is used to identify mutations.
DNA technology is used to map human genes on chromosomes.
DNA technology is used to identify paternity.

Respuesta :

Answer: All statements are correct.

A. DNA technology is used to identify hereditary diseases - True

B. DNA technology is used to produce medicines and hormones - True

C. DNA technology is used to identify mutations - True

D. DNA technology is used to map human genes on chromosomes.  

E. DNA technology is used to identify paternity - True

Explanation:

A. Hereditary diseases are passed from parents to offsprings via the transmission of defective genes to the next generation. In principle, these genetic errors are present in the somatic cells of the parent, which are replicated as it is during the DNA replication process. Therefore, the offsprings carry the same genetic error causing the same hereditary disease. With the help of (recombinant) DNA technology, which is a set of modern biotechnological tools, it has helped us identify those genes which are associated with that particular disease.  

B. The (recombinant) DNA technology has helped us isolate specific genes that produce specific enzymes/hormones. After isolating them, we can incorporate these genes into the DNA of fast-growing model organisms such as bacteria. These bacteria multiply and produce millions of copies of these enzymes through gene expression (central dogma of life) and thus in a relatively short time, we can achieve our product that can be used for treatments of disease in diseased organisms. An example is the enzyme insulin, which is produced in humans by the INS gene. When humans are not able to produce insulin due to diabetes, we can provide insulin externally. This insulin is previously cultured/produced in E. coli bacteria in vitro having that INS gene obtained from healthy human being.

C. Mutations are the genetic errors in the DNA sequence that occurs during DNA replication. With the help of DNA technology, we can determine the sequence of a diseased organism and then we can compare it with a healthy organism. This helps us find out where the mutation occurred.

D. With the help of (recombinant) DNA technology, we can easily identify the position (locus) of each gene on the chromosome as well as the distance of two genes on a chromosome. This technology has been extensively used in the Human Genome Project in the past 2 decades. As of today, the Human Genome Project has been accomplished with in-depth details of genetic elements in human DNA.

E. Since DNA is a hereditary material, we can easily identify our paternity through DNA fingerprinting technologies such as whole genome sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Nowadays, this technology is being used for commercial purposes where one can know easily his/her paternity at low cost and relatively short time.

Answer:

true, true, true, true, false

Explanation: