This book addresses the flood of new DNA-related information that has flowed from the recent revolution in biotechnology: information that is transforming the food we eat; the way medicine is practiced, and even changing the ways in which crimes are solved. To be informed on all these topics of the moment requires an understanding of the basic principles of DNA biology. DNA and Your Body is written for a general audience, using non-technical language.
Author(s): Colin Masters
Publisher: University of New South Wales Press
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 207
CONTENTS......Page 6
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
A brief history of DNA......Page 15
Frequently asked questions......Page 17
CHAPTER 1 DNA, growth and differentiation......Page 21
The structure of DNA......Page 22
Growth and the transfer of genetic information......Page 24
DNA and cellular differentiation......Page 28
CHAPTER 2 DNA and disease......Page 33
Single gene disorders......Page 34
Chromosomal disorders......Page 39
Other types of genetic disorders......Page 41
Screening and diagnosis......Page 42
Treating genetic disorders......Page 46
Ethical issues......Page 47
CHAPTER 3 DNA and the human genome project......Page 50
What is the human genome project?......Page 51
Genetic technologies......Page 53
Limitations of the human genome project......Page 55
Ethical issues......Page 58
Genetic determinism......Page 62
CHAPTER 4 DNA and cloning......Page 64
Methods of cloning......Page 65
The historical background......Page 67
Dolly......Page 69
The cloning of humans......Page 71
Threats and promises......Page 73
CHAPTER 5 DNA and genetic engineering......Page 78
Gene technology......Page 80
Transgenics......Page 81
Plant transgenics......Page 82
Genetically modified foods......Page 84
Genetic engineering of animals......Page 87
Genetic engineering of humans......Page 89
CHAPTER 6 DNA and tissue engineering......Page 95
Strategic objectives......Page 97
Cellular engineering......Page 98
Stem cells......Page 100
Research with stem cells......Page 102
Ethical issues......Page 109
CHAPTER 7 DNA and the adult human body......Page 112
The role of DNA in the adult......Page 113
DNA and subcellular structure......Page 116
DNA and metabolic controls......Page 118
Tissue metabolism......Page 121
CHAPTER 8 DNA and ageing......Page 126
Physiological ageing......Page 127
Causations of ageing......Page 130
Oxygen free radicals......Page 132
Defences against free radicals......Page 134
Peroxisomes......Page 136
Degenerative disease......Page 137
Slowing the ageing process......Page 140
CHAPTER 9 DNA and aberrant development......Page 142
Aberrant development and pregnancy......Page 143
Abberant development in cancer......Page 149
CHAPTER 10 DNA and proteomics......Page 156
Proteins and amino acids......Page 157
Transport of nucleic acids in the cell......Page 159
The human proteome......Page 161
Protein analysis......Page 165
Structural genomics......Page 167
CHAPTER 11 DNA and the future......Page 169
The rise of genomic medicine......Page 171
The big picture......Page 172
‘Junk’ DNA......Page 174
The DNA industry......Page 175
Bioinformatics......Page 177
Ethical issues......Page 180
Looking ahead......Page 182
Glossary......Page 184
Further reading......Page 193
Index......Page 197
