The Application of Biology Today - Essay Example

Biology Today DNA Forensic Science DNA Forensic Science uses a number of biological evidence for DNA analysis. Commonly, hair, skin, urine, saliva, semen, and blood are important source of evidence that inform DNA evaluation. Forensic science is significant in blood typing, DNA profiling, and gender determination based on the analysis of the chromosome. DNA profiling refers to the technique that identifies individuals by analyzing the characteristics contained in their genetic material. The technique is crucial in investigating criminal cases such as rape. The DNA in the rape cases is contained in the sperms, and the evidence gathered can assist in identifying the criminals (Brown, 2010). Similarly, forensic scientists utilize the hair to profile the DNA in order to identify the culprits involved in crimes. DNA blood typing is important in paternity testing. The technique identifies the biological parent of a child. Fundamentally, the forensic scientists compare the baby’s DNA with that of the potential father. The commonly DNA blood typing is ABO. The process involves the determination of the antigens on the red blood cells encoded by ABO locus on the human chromosome (Brown, 2010). Notably, the typing can solve the cases of paternity. Similarly, the DNA forensic science can determine the gender by analyzing the Y chromosome. The scientists utilize the amelogenin marker located on the sex chromosome. The theoretical principle in the technique centers on the identical combination of alleles between the son and father (Brown, 2010). Population Evolution and Microbial Life Population evolution and microbial life examine distribution, as well as, changes in allele frequency in a particular population. Notably, the population is subject to evolutionary processes that entail genetic drift, natural selection, gene flow, and mutation. The field of population evolution and microbial life is important in enhancing the comprehension of genome changes, plant breeding systems, and medical research. Genomic changes involve the evaluation of particular genes that have evolved in successive generation. It is possible to map the genes to identify the genetic material, which has a casual connection to the phenotypes. Notably, the mapping of genes has been instrumental in the discovery of genetic variants that influence the physical attributes of organisms (Pepper et al, 2009). The plant breeding systems utilize the principles of natural selection to select the plants with the beneficial traits. The technique entails systematic production of the crop populations that possess desirable characteristics. Using the technique, plant breeders establish the plant lines that exhibit favorable allele combinations (Arterburn, Jones, & Kidwell, 2013). The experimental designs, as well as, replication techniques facilitate the production of the plants with stable and superior lines. Modern molecular techniques such as marker-assisted selection enable the scientists to recognize the quantitative trait locus that has the traits of interest. Similarly, scientists can use population evolution to study diseases and discover therapies. Pepper et al (2009) argue that biological and biomedical research relies on the population evolution to study acquired drug resistance, disease progression, and drug development. Plant and Animal Evolution The study of the evolution of plants and animal traces the genetic variation has occurred over successive generations. The evolutionary biologists contend that plants and animals evolved over a long period. The study is instrumental in the understanding of plant and animal diseases, designing improvement programs, and creating medicines. Scientists apply the patterns of evolution to study the plant and animal diseases. Notably, the contemporary research on plants and animals involves the identification of the genetic factors that have a connection with the disease phenotypes, as well as, other traits (Edge, Gorroochurn, & Rosenberg, 2013). Specifically, the scientists focus on the discovery of the loci susceptible to diseases. The identification of the alleles that have a statistical association with disease occurrence can facilitate the production of modern medicine. Scientists apply the plant and animal evolution in designing breeding programs that increase the chances of combining alleles with beneficial traits. Plant and animal improvement programs rely on principles of recombination and natural selection. The scientists maintain the beneficial traits for mass multiplication. Techniques such as tissue culture do not improve the modification of DNA. The technique involves multiplication of cells with desired traits. Similarly, the scientists have developed transgenic plants that have increased resistance to diseases and enhanced nutritional value. The discovery of the genes for desired traits has facilitated genetic improvement in plants and animals (Arterburn, Jones, & Kidwell, 2013). The research to discover the medicine for animals and crop pesticides depend entirely on the study of loci responsible for disease (Edge, Gorroochurn, & Rosenberg, 2013). The scientists study both possible designs of the therapeutic interventions to eradicate the plant and animal diseases by understanding the set of genes in certain quantitative trait loci. Population Growth Population growth examines the number of organisms that belong to the same species in a particular geographic. Population tends to undergo distinct life cycles that comprise of growth, stability, and decline. The concept of population growth is applicable to experiments involving microorganism, prediction of chances of extinction of certain animals and plants, and human profiling of the age structure. The scientists utilize the principles of population growth to control the development of microorganisms needed for experimental studies in the laboratories. Notably, the researchers ensure that the organisms do not undergo the decline phase by providing the growth requirements in order to attain their goals (Russell, Herz, & McMillan, 2011). Similarly, the scientists can modify the growth conditions to understand the developmental patterns of the organisms. The prediction of extinction of certain species is possible through the application of the principles of population growth. By observing the growth patterns, scientists can predict the extinction with high precision. Likewise, the understanding of population age structure informs the distribution of human beings in certain geographical area. Through comparing the birth and death rates, the scientists can determine the growth, stagnation, or shrinkage of a particular population. Biomes and Ecosystem Ecosystem science defines the areas that have similar geography, climate, plants, and animals, and their interaction with the abiotic factors (Rafferty, 2011). The study is applicable to the understanding of the distribution of plants and animals, adaptation, and conservation programs. The interaction of the biotic and abiotic factors enhances the comprehension of distribution patterns of plants and animals. Ecological biologists examine the specific factors attributable to the concentration of certain plants and animals in a particular geographic area. Similarly, the scientists endeavor to analyze the adaptation features that facilitate certain plants and animals to survive in specific areas. Adaptation is a significant attribute in natural selection (Rafferty, 2011). Likewise, the conservation biologists and environmentalists use biomes to study how the human activities have altered the environment. Such studies are instrumental in influencing the conservation efforts and restoration of the ecological habitats. References Arterburn, M., Jones, S., & Kidwell, K. (2013). Plant breeding and genetics. Soils, Plant Growth, and Crop Production, 1, 1-9. Brown, T. A. (2010). Gene cloning and DNA analysis: An introduction. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Edge, M., Gorroochurn, P., & Rosenberg, N. (2013). Windfall and pitfall: Application of population genetics to the search for disease genes. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health Advance. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pepper, J., et al (2009). Cancer research meets evolution biology. Evolutionary Application 2 (1), 62-70. Rafferty, J. P. (2011). Biomes and ecosystems. New York, NY: Britannica Educational Pub. Russell, P. J., Herz, P. E., & McMillan, B. (2011). Biology: The dynamic science. Belmont: Cengage Learning Read More