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Young World
Looking alike?
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The International DNA Day was celebrated on April 25.
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Discover yourself: At the Science centre
Remember the sci-fi film
`Jurassic Park' and the
deadly dinosaurs cultured
by extracting the genes
from their fossil eggs! Can such
a world be created? Such intriguing
questions and their
startling answers were unveiled
on April 25, to mark the
International DNA Day, at the
BM Birla Science Centre. Now,
you would not have to wonder
what makes your peers look so
different while you share a
common feature or two with
your sibling. Well, there are
minute, microscopic structures
called chromosomes present
in the cell that contain a
nucleic acid, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic
acid). It contains characteristics
and information
that not only determine our
physical appearance but also
lend the individuality we possess.
To decode
It took scientists hundreds
of years to decode the information
present in these miniscule
structures, the Andhra Pradesh
Academy of Sciences ensured
that the nutshell
information was available to all
in the simplest way possible.
While the developmental
history (from 1869 till date)
traced the events and experiments
conducted on the very
topic other sections like extracting
DNA from your own
cheek cell and separation of
multi-sized DNA molecules
through electrophoresis entertained
the visitors making
them understand by means of
practical demonstration.
Hybrid varieties of food
grain, cross-breeding of animals
and such other enigmatic
phrases were simplified by
young scholars. Taking the
DNA from a fluorescent-coloured
jelly fish they inserted it
in bacteria and the hitherto
colourless bacteria started reflecting
fluorescent colour.
Well, this is how you get genetically
modified organisms.
Mr. Anil Kumar, coordinator
DNA Day, observed, "the interest
in practical sciences among
children is dwindling with the
onslaught of other engaging
factors. This event is a step in
the direction of reviving the interest
and establishing the relevance
of this vast arena of
knowledge".
SANA SYED
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