DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)


·       Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

·       Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases, and more than 99% of those bases are the same in all people.

·       Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA). 

·       The chemical DNA was first discovered in 1869, but its role in genetic inheritance was not demonstrated until 1943.

·       In 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick determined that the structure of DNA is a double-helix polymer, a spiral consisting of two DNA strands wound around each other. They won the Nobel Prize for the same in 1962.

·       DNA bases pair up with each other, Adenine (A) with Thymine (T) and Cytosine (C) with Guanine (G), to form units called base pairs. Each base is also attached to a sugar molecule and a phosphate molecule. Together, a base, sugar, and phosphate are called a nucleotide. Nucleotides are arranged in two long strands that form a spiral called a double helix.

·       An important property of DNA is that it can replicate, or make copies of itself. Each strand of DNA in the double helix can serve as a pattern for duplicating the sequence of bases. This is critical when cells divide because each new cell needs to have an exact copy of the DNA present in the old cell.

 

DNA Technology Bill

·       The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019 aims to establish the identity of missing persons, victims, offenders, under trials and unknown deceased persons.

Provisions of the Bill

·       Bill seeks to establish a national DNA data bank and regional DNA data banks.

·       It envisages that every databank will maintain indices like the crime scene index, suspects' or under trials' index, offenders' index, missing persons' index and unknown deceased persons' index.

·       It also seeks to establish a DNA Regulatory Board. Every laboratory that analyses DNA samples to establish the identity of an individual, has to be accredited by the board.

·       The bill proposes a written consent by individuals be obtained before collection of their DNA samples. However, consent is not required for offences with punishment of more than seven years in jail or death.

·       It also provides for the removal of DNA profiles of suspects on the filing of a police report or court order, and of under trials on the basis of a court order. Profiles in the crime scene and missing persons' index will be removed on a written request.

 

 

 

 

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