Why dna is important

Nat Rev Microbiol. Amyloid-DNA composites of bacterial biofilms stimulate autoimmunity. Mechanisms and regulation of extracellular DNA release and its biological roles in microbial communities.

Front Microbiol. Article Google Scholar. Interactions of DNA with biofilm-derived membrane vesicles. J Bacteriol. Explosive cell lysis as a mechanism for the biogenesis of bacterial membrane vesicles and biofilms. Nat Commun. PLoS Pathog. Multifaceted roles of extracellular DNA in bacterial physiology. Curr Genet. Extracellular DNA required for bacterial biofilm formation.

Download references. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. Correspondence to David S. Reprints and Permissions. Pisetsky, D. The biological functions of DNA: from the sublime to the slime. Arthritis Res Ther 19, Download citation.

All living things have DNA within their cells. In fact, nearly every cell in a multicellular organism possesses the full set of DNA required for that organism. Key Concepts DNA chromosomes. Topic rooms within Genetics Close.

No topic rooms are there. Browse Visually. Other Topic Rooms Genetics. Student Voices. Creature Cast. Simply Science. When placed together in the correct order, each protein has a unique structure and function within your body. But what happens in between? Simply put, this occurs via a two-step process:. First, the two DNA strands split apart. Then, special proteins within the nucleus read the base pairs on a DNA strand to create an intermediate messenger molecule.

It travels outside of the nucleus, serving as a message to the cellular machinery that builds proteins. This process is called translation. There are two types of cell — eukaryotic and prokaryotic. Humans and many other organisms have eukaryotic cells. This means that their cells have a membrane-bound nucleus and several other membrane-bound structures called organelles.

In a eukaryotic cell, DNA is within the nucleus. A small amount of DNA is also found in organelles called mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cell. There are several different stages of packaging, however the final products are the structures that we call chromosomes. Organisms like bacteria are prokaryotic cells. In prokaryotic cells, DNA is found tightly coiled in the middle of the cell. The cells of your body divide as a normal part of growth and development.

When this happens, each new cell must have a complete copy of DNA. In order to achieve this, your DNA must undergo a process called replication. When this occurs, the two DNA strands split apart. Then, specialized cellular proteins use each strand as a template to make a new DNA strand.

When replication is completed, there are two double-stranded DNA molecules. One set will go into each new cell when division is complete. DNA is pivotal to our growth, reproduction, and health. It contains the instructions necessary for your cells to produce proteins that affect many different processes and functions in your body. It is an undeniable fact that the discovery of DNA has positively impacted the world of science, assisting scientists on their quest to learn more about the genetics of various organisms.

Such information has been beneficial in understanding epidemiology, ultimately improving our quality of life. Aitken , G. De Iuliis and R. Devaux, J. Rolain and D. Wang, X. Zhu, L. Shangguan and J. Barcelos, F. Lupki, G.