Ronai, Isobel (2023) How molecular techniques are developed from natural systems. Genetics, 224 (3). iyad067.

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Abstract

A striking characteristic of the molecular techniques of genetics is that they are derived from natural occurring systems. RNA interference, for example, utilizes a mechanism that evolved in eukaryotes to destroy foreign nucleic acid. Other case studies I highlight are restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing, polymerase chain reaction, gene targeting, fluorescent proteins (such as, green fluorescent protein), induced pluripotent stem cells, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated 9. The natural systems’ strategy for technique development means that biologists utilize the activity of a mechanism's effector (protein or RNA) and exploit biological specificity (protein or nucleic acid can cause precise reactions). I also argue that the developmental trajectory of novel molecular techniques, such as RNA interference, has 4 characteristic phases. The first phase is discovery of a biological phenomenon. The second phase is identification of the biological mechanism's trigger(s): the effector and biological specificity. The third phase is the application of the trigger(s) as a technique. The final phase is the maturation and refinement of the technique. Developing new molecular techniques from nature is crucial for future genetic research.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Ronai, Isobel isobel.ronai@sydney.edu.au 0000-0002-1658-857X
Keywords:	RNAi, PCR, GFP, iPS, CRISPR-Cas, gene knockdown, gene silencing, co-suppression, philosophy of biology, scientific practice
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics General Issues > Experimentation
Depositing User:	Unnamed user with email iron2888@uni.sydney.edu.au
Date Deposited:	21 Oct 2024 15:17
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2024 15:17
Item ID:	24085
Journal or Publication Title:	Genetics
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyad067
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Molecular Biology/Genetics General Issues > Experimentation
Date:	July 2023
Page Range:	iyad067
Volume:	224
Number:	3
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24085

Available Versions of this Item

• How the techniques of molecular biology are developed from natural systems. (deposited 21 Apr 2017 13:34)
  • How the techniques of molecular biology are developed from natural systems. (deposited 23 Jan 2019 14:58)
    • How molecular techniques are developed from natural systems. (deposited 21 Oct 2024 15:17) [Currently Displayed]

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