Molecular biology

Molecular biology /məˈlɛkjʊlər/ is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells, including biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactions.[1][2][3]

Molecular biology was first described as an approach focused on the underpinnings of biological phenomena—uncovering the structures of biological molecules as well as their interactions, and how these interactions explain observations of classical biology.[4]

The term molecular biology was first used in 1945 by physicist William Astbury. In 1953 Francis Crick, James Watson, Rosalind Franklin, and colleagues working at the Medical Research Council Unit, Cavendish Laboratory, created the double helix model of DNA. They proposed the DNA structure based on previous research done by Franklin, which was conveyed to them by Maurice Wilkins and Max Perutz.[5] This led to the discovery of DNA material in other microorganisms, plants, and animals.[6]

The field of molecular biology includes techniques which enable scientists to learn about molecular processes.[7] These techniques are used to efficiently target new drugs, diagnose disease, and better understand cell physiology.[8] Some clinical research and medical therapies arising from molecular biology are covered under gene therapy whereas the use of molecular biology or molecular cell biology in medicine is now referred to as molecular medicine.

  1. ^ Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, Walter P (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell, Sixth Edition. Garland Science. pp. 1–10. ISBN 978-1-317-56375-4.
  2. ^ Gannon F (February 2002). "Molecular biology--what's in a name?". EMBO Reports. 3 (2): 101. doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kvf039. PMC 1083977. PMID 11839687.
  3. ^ "Molecular biology – Latest research and news | Nature". nature.com. Retrieved 2021-11-07.
  4. ^ Astbury, W. T. (June 1961). "Molecular Biology or Ultrastructural Biology ?". Nature. 190 (4781): 1124. Bibcode:1961Natur.190.1124A. doi:10.1038/1901124a0. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 13684868. S2CID 4172248.
  5. ^ "Rosalind Franklin: A Crucial Contribution". nature.com.
  6. ^ Verma, P. S. (2004). Cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, evolution and ecology. S Chand and Company. ISBN 81-219-2442-1. OCLC 1045495545.
  7. ^ Morange, Michel (2016-02-15), "History of Molecular Biology", eLS, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. 1–8, doi:10.1002/9780470015902.a0003079.pub3, ISBN 9780470016176, retrieved 2021-11-07
  8. ^ Bello, Elizabeth A.; Schwinn, Debra A. (1996-12-01). "Molecular Biology and Medicine: A Primer for the Clinician". Anesthesiology. 85 (6): 1462–1478. doi:10.1097/00000542-199612000-00029. ISSN 0003-3022. PMID 8968195. S2CID 29581630.

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