Now humans can accurately calculate the period of celestial bodies, predict the weather, and even fly into space and land on the moon. However, human beings seem to know very little about themselves: why are some people healthy and strong, while others are born with disabilities? Some people can live a long life, while others die young?
As a result, people turn their eyes to fingerprints with different characteristics, and associate fate with the so-called "palm reading", thinking that a person's palm can predict his fate. This is of course unscientific. So, is there anything in the world that can affect people's birth and death? The answer is yes, it is human genes.
Now scientists are deeply involved in the human genome project, that is, deciphering the code of life, telling you why this is happening now and whether you will get sick in the future. Maybe one day, if there is something wrong with your body, you just need to take your genetic map and find the gene with the problem, and you will recover after treatment.
Scientists tell us that the external morphology of different organisms is controlled by their genes. Genes control protein synthesis in cells and various genetic characteristics of organisms. The human body is a multicellular system, and each cell contains 46 pairs of chromosomes. Every 23 chromosomes make up a genome. Genes controlling traits are located on these chromosomes. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the main part of chromosome, and DNA at each chromosome level constitutes a genome. It is estimated that the human genome contains about 654.38 million+genes. Any genetic disease is caused by gene mutation.
Through decades of research around the clock, scientists have found the position of 16000 genes on chromosomes. However, how can people have a comprehensive understanding of the structure and function of the whole genome?
From 65438 to 0989, mankind began the human genome project. The sequencing work is divided into three steps. First of all, "signposts" are set at regular intervals along the DNA chain to divide the gene into many fragments. Then take them apart one by one and sort each segment in detail. Finally, the sequencing results were supplemented and corrected by fine processing.
1 99965438+February1,2 16 The scientists of the joint research group of the Human Genome Project officially announced to the world that they had completely deciphered the genetic code of the 22nd human chromosome and determined the exact location of 33.4 million base pairs contained in all protein-encoded genes on this chromosome.
This great discovery immediately attracted the attention of the whole world. Scientists and the press generally believe that this is another breakthrough in the field of science. After Darwin put forward the theory of evolution in 1859, the great discovery of human cognition of the world opened the door for human to understand the microscopic life world. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome Project, even thinks that this discovery is more important than the first atomic bomb explosion and the human landing on the moon.
Genes invisible to the naked eye contain the secrets of life, which determine people's life and death. With the development of drugs, drugs aimed at human genetic characteristics are no longer fantasies and myths, and human beings will have powerful weapons to prevent and overcome diseases.