DNA molecules or deoxyribonucleic acid which contains two polynucleotide strands that are coiled around each other are to form double helix. (Watson D. et al, 2004) The structure of DNA is shown in Figure 1. The structure is composed of sugar-phosphate which is in the backbone of each strand of the helix and the pairs of bases which are consist of adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T) or cytosine (C). These pairs of bases are held together in the horizontal rods. (Watson and Crick, 1953) These bases of DNA structure are divided into two classes which include purines and pyrimidines. The purines, there are adenine and guanine, and for the pyrimidines are thymine and cytosine. When they are interact with each other in the correct pair where G will only be paired with C and A will only be paired with T, this is called complementary base paring due to the bases that form pairs between the two DNA strands. (Winter et al, 2002). The complementary base pairing is fundamental importance in the DNA structure because with the incorrect pairings, replication (copying of DNA) will not happen and therefore the genetic information cannot be passed on for the cell to divide. (Lewis, 2003) Furthermore, when the DNA is replicated, the information is encoded which can be regulated in producing RNA molecules in order to then be used to manufacture protein.
An application that involves with the DNA structure which causes a disorder but however, this disorder is a rare inherited disorder therefore not everyone will be affected from this type of disorder easily. The reason is that because only a family member that got the affected with the disease will inherit to the next generation. The disorder is called Bloom syndrome. The causes of Bloom disorder is from the mutations in the BLM gene (Bloom syndrome, RecQ helicase-like) which cause the BLM protein to not function properly. The advantages of BLM gene are that it helps to repair the damaged DNA and provides instructions for producing RecQ helicases which is necessary for DNA replication. When the BLM gene is mutated, the damaged DNA (by the UV light) cannot be repaired during the replicating process because of the absence of BLM protein. This results in the changes of the genetic material that could impair normal cell activities and therefore causing the health problems associated with this condition. Health problems that could develop without the help of BLM protein are include an increased risk of cancer, an increased risk of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), learning disabilities, skin rash and they affect men and women differently. (2015)
There has no specific treatment for this type of disorder due to the least majority people were suffered from it and also the disorder causes symptoms to occur therefore a specific treatment is required to treat that symptom.
Even though this disease is rare and not many people are affected to it, it does not mean that the disease cannot transmit traits to the other members of the family. The research has shown the number of population that were affected since 1950 with 100 cases and it is more common in eastern European Ashkenazi Jews background. (2015)
Overall, the discovery of DNA structure is the most essential tools in the science history. More importantly with the known double helix structure shows how life is functioned and through that, many new researches came in to aid with certain diseases and to improve the stability of survival either to humans or animals or even plants. By understanding the DNA structure, therefore the replication was discovered where it is a key to limiting drugs which is the most advantage in biomedicine in order to provide the best treatment to people who suffer from diseases.