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Article: DNA
- Article from:
- Dictionary of American History
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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DNA
DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) is a nucleic acid that carries genetic information. The study of DNA launched the science of molecular biology, transformed the study of genetics, and led to the cracking of the biochemical code of life. Understanding DNA has facilitated genetic engineering, the genetic manipulation of various organisms; has enabled cloning, the asexual reproduction of identical copies of genes and organisms; has allowed for genetic fingerprinting, the identification of an individual by the distinctive patterns of his or her DNA; and made possible the use of genetics to predict, diagnose, prevent, and treat disease.
Discovering DNA
In the late nineteenth century, ...