Molecular biology: what is and its importance

Molecular biology conducts its studies at the cellular level and is directed exclusively to molecules that are found here. This study includes:

• The structure of the molecules.
• The composition of the molecules.
• The elements that make up the molecules.
• The functions carried out by the molecules.

The cells produce a variety of molecules, for example to encode information or to communicate. But they also have molecules to meet their Growth, reproduction or storage functions. According to their complexity and composition, small, macromolecules and inorganic compounds can be divided into organic molecules. Next, we will see them more detail:

• Small organic molecules: They are sugars, amino acid and nucleotide fatty acids that are united form more complex molecules.
• Macromolecules: They are built with several small organic molecules and generate polysaccharides, lipids, phospholipids, proteins, and the most important for the study of molecular biology: nucleic acids organized in the form of DNA and RNA. Small molecules are transformed and generate new molecular weight molecules, compared to small organic molecules.
• Compounds Inorganic: They are the medium where cellular activities occur. They have transportation, pH and structural regulation function. These compounds are divided into water and electrolytic mineral salts.

Perhaps it may also be interested in taking a look at this other article on cell biology: what is and its importance.

Molecular biology focuses especially on the genetic studies of DNA and RNA, of which the physical and metabolic characteristics of living beings are detached. Molecular biology has a wide application for human development.

Gene therapy

The study of DNA and RNA has achieved Explain congenital and hereditary diseases originating in genes. Together with this discovery, the possibility of generating solutions to cure diseases of this type came. An example is gene therapy, which consists in introducing a functional gene into a patient’s cells to correct the genetic defect caused by a disease. This mechanism can also be used to prevent the expression of harmful genes, such as cancer oncogenes. This gene therapy not only works against genetic diseases, but also applied to combat viruses or autoimmune diseases. Here genes are inserted that prevent the replication of the virus, or the immune response of the body.

Do not hesitate to read this other ecology article about the difference between viruses and bacteria to know more about the subject.

Genetic cloning

The study of genes occurs with the help of genetic cloning. For this I know Enter a gene into another organism by means of a vector that carries the exogenous gene. These can be bacteria, plasmids, viruses or yeasts. This chosen organism is multiplied to obtain several organisms with cloned genes for a particular function. This is known as genetic cloning and aims to get many copies of a gene to studywith multiple applications for knowledge of harmful genes or search for treatments.

Are viruses living beings? Discover the answer in this other article that we suggest.

Manufacture of vaccines

Another application of molecular biology for medicine is the manufacture of vaccines. For this I know They isolate antibodies against viruses or bacteria in particular and multiply with the help of molecular biology.

Agriculture

Molecular biology does not only apply to human beings, but to all living beings. We depend on them directly or indirectly and the application to other agencies can also benefit our development. An example of this is agriculture, where it is possible genetically modify crops so that resist pests, climatic factors or that they have a more efficient and high production rate, meaning a minor need for fertilizers or pesticides that translate in expenses for farmers.

Food industry

Molecular biology has also been used in the industry. Mainly occurs in the food industry. They have managed to create flavorings, sweeteners, aromatizers, vitamins or gelling through improved microbial strains by molecular technology.

Some of the fields in which we highlight the importance of molecular biology are the following:

Medicine

Molecular biology has allowed us to know the genes responsible for the expression of everything that composes living beings. This science developed the polymerase chain reaction technique, which could genetically and completely sequence the human being In the Human Genome Project. This means that you can start from this knowledge to detect diseases. In addition to the medical importance this has, the knowledge of the human genome has an intrinsic value independent of the applied function that can be given.

Thanks to the techniques generated from the molecular biology, it has been possible to advance rapidly in the field of medicine, both in alternatives, in the event that traditional treatments fail to be enough, and in complete solutions without which patients could not be treated.

Social Development

The advance in the knowledge of the basic units of life, such as DNA, has made us have an advanced development as humanity. It has been possible Take advantage of the ground more sustainable for food production with less external resources and there has also been a social impact because it has been The gap of food injustice decreased in countries of limited resources. In conclusion we can affirm that molecular biology improves in all aspects to the quality of life of the human being.

We leave you this other article so you can read about the importance of soils.

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