A deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) scientist is someone who studies genetics and DNA using cutting-edge technology and computers. DNA serves as a blueprint or guide for the construction of all life on the planet’s basic building blocks. DNA carries the genetic instructions required for the development and function of all known modern organisms, as well as some viruses, and is made up of long chains of polymers connected into double helix shapes. For medical research, criminal investigations, and bioengineering efforts, a DNA scientist tries to better understand the structures, functions, and purposes of DNA.
While DNA is relatively simple in that it is one of the smallest and most fundamental components of life, it is also complex, and it can be difficult to fully comprehend how it works. A DNA scientist tries to comprehend the millions of lines of genetic information encoded in the various strands of DNA found throughout the body of any living organism. This includes the completion of the International Human Genome Project, in which scientists were able to map out the genes found in human DNA almost completely.
A DNA scientist’s research and efforts could lead to breakthroughs in medical treatments and technology, criminal forensics, and new technologies like nanotechnology, cloning, and genetic engineering. Through the work of a DNA scientist, medical researchers can gain a better understanding of how viruses, bacteria, and cancer can affect the human body and cause harmful outcomes. If scientists can fully comprehend what part of the genetic code causes a cell to become cancerous or causes birth defects and other genetic disabilities, they will be one step closer to discovering ways to prevent these diseases.
The use of DNA in criminal cases has given prosecutors more tools to convict criminals and exonerate the innocent by allowing them to use evidence such as blood or sperm. While a law enforcement officer may collect the evidence, it is usually processed by a DNA scientist to see if it matches the DNA of a suspect. Such evidence is difficult to comprehend, and it was initially defended by making the technology appear faulty or difficult to comprehend. However, as the general public gained a better understanding of DNA, such attempts became less effective.
A DNA scientist may also work in fields that are still in the early stages of development. DNA scientists are working on nanomachines that are smaller than a single cell and are injected into the human body to fight illness, as well as the cloning of individual organs for those in need of transplants and the genetic engineering of genetically preferable fruits and vegetables. While politicians, religious leaders, and philosophers may debate the moral or cultural implications of this type of research, scientists and researchers do the actual work.