What is Molecular Biology, & Why Do We Study?
Applications for molecular biology techniques include the prevention and treatment of disease, the creation of new protein products, and the modification of plants and animals—all this to produce desired phenotypic traits.
Keep reading this article to understand more about it!
What is Molecular Biology?
The area of biology known as molecular biology is concerned with the molecular underpinnings of biological activity.
All living and even nonliving things are composed of chemicals. Each of those chemicals has its functions. Molecular biologists try to understand how those chemicals interact with one another. Not just with one another but also how they function independently.
Specifically, molecular biologists study the functions, processes, and complete structures at a micro level. It is mainly to understand how people function.
Even though every living thing has a variety of molecules, most molecular biologists concentrate on genes and proteins. Within living cells, proteins carry out various tasks, and genes store the data needed to produce additional proteins.
Concepts in Molecular Biology
Within molecular biology, there are multiple fields of study. If you want to study this subject, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one and try to understand all its different personality traits.
Here are a handful of the more popular fields that molecular biology is related to, either intimately or distantly:
Molecular Genetics
It is the study of an individual’s DNA makeup.
Toxicogenomic
It is the study of how genes perform or react to toxins.
Comparative Genomics
Comparative Genomics is a field of study that examines the genomic characteristics of several organisms.
Proteomics
Proteomics is the broad study of proteins and protein structures.
Functional Genomics
Functional Genomics is a branch of genomics that focuses on understanding how genes work together in the body.
Pharmacogenomics
This area investigates how a person’s genes may influence how they react to specific treatments to create safer pharmaceuticals. An example would be how a specific cancer patient’s body reacts to chemotherapy.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is an experimental discipline that aims to manipulate genes to treat or prevent disease.
Spatial Genomics
Spatial Genomics is the study and description of three-dimensional protein structures using computer modeling and experimental methods. This is also known as structural genomics.
DNA Forensics
In criminal investigations, DNA samples are frequently used to identify suspects. They can also be used to determine a victim’s identity or to confirm a suspect’s parentage.
The Differences Between Genetics, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology is considered to be quite similar to the fields of biochemistry and genetics. However, each of these studies is very different and has a range of applications.
Biochemistry
It also emphasizes nucleic acids and the chemical reactions that occur when greater substance concentrations are present, like venoms. Additionally, many biochemistry techniques are based on organic chemistry research.
Genetics
Heritable features and how modifications to the genetic code impact an organism are the main topics of genetics. Due to its emphasis on heredity, genetics is a far more expansive field than molecular biology and is frequently best researched at the population level.
Why Do We Study Molecular Biology?
Molecular Biology is helpful in the detection and treatment of illnesses. It aids in the identification of pollutants in the environment. As a result, it is helpful not just to the study of science but also to the government and educational institutions.
A forensic DNA analyzer, plant geneticist, research associate or technologist, and other positions are all possible with a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology and genetics.
However, most jobs, including the more advanced researcher and geneticist positions, often require a master’s or doctoral degree.
Molecular biology includes helpful research in the study of disease. Most of these are fatal conditions, just like cancer. Research into the characteristics of cancer cells has led to several important basic biological discoveries, such as the identification of reverse transcriptase, RNA splicing, and protein kinases.
In recent years, knowledge has begun to flow in the opposite direction, and we are finally starting to see molecular biology produce useful findings for treating and managing human cancer.
Conclusion
As the study of molecular biology develops, many more advances will come forward. The field has a great deal of potential, and even though sometimes it doesn’t get the due support it requires, it has provided a great deal of aid in detecting illnesses and their treatments.
