Molecular genetics

Molecular genetics is a sub-field of biology that addresses how differences in the structures or expressions of DNA molecules manifests as variation among organisms. Molecular genetics often applies an "investigative approach" to determine the structure and/or function of genes in an organism's genome using genetic screens. The field of study is based on the combination of several sub-fields in biology: genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Molecular genetics is a powerful methodology for linking mutations to genetic conditions that may aid the search for a cure for various genetic diseases.

History

The term "molecular genetics" sometimes refers to a fundamental theory alleging that genes direct the production of proteins, first made explicit by George Beadle and Edward Tatum in 1941. Their work and the work of others (including Max Delbrück, Alfred Hershey, and Salvador Luria) led to the development of the central dogma of molecular biology in 1958.

Techniques

Molecular genetics uses the techniques of genetics and molecular biology. These techniques include:

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Gel electrophoresis
• Macromolecule blotting and probing
• Microarrays
• Allele-specific oligonucleotide
• Southern blot

Applications

Molecular genetics can be used to study the function of any set of genes associated with a disease. This includes the genes for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and many other forms of cancer.

See also

• Genomics
• Genetic recombination
• Genetic code
• Gene therapy
• Molecular biology
• Molecular cloning
• Molecular evolution

References

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