{"id":3702,"date":"2018-06-30T07:43:21","date_gmt":"2018-06-30T07:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/?page_id=3702"},"modified":"2026-06-20T15:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T15:10:26","slug":"dna-and-its-impact-on-medicine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/medicine-through-time\/modern-medicine-c1900-to-the-modern-day\/dna-and-its-impact-on-medicine\/","title":{"rendered":"DNA and it’s impact on medicine"},"content":{"rendered":"

DNA is the molecular structure of a body. This structure was identified and explained by scientists James Watson and Francis Crick. The discovery of DNA and identification of it’s structure was a major breakthrough in science. It explained a structure that can be applied to cells within the body. This information allowed medical scientists to develop treatments and tests based on this knowledge. The most famous experiment based on the use of DNA is perhaps the cloning of an animal. Dolly the Sheep is a clone, a molecular living copy.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Improved<\/a><\/p>\n

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Discovery and uses of DNA<\/h2>\n

How was DNA discovered?<\/h3>\n

Scientists had known that DNA must exist for some time but did not know the structure or how it worked. In 1951 the scientists James Watson and Francis Crick began a chemical study with the aim of identification of the structure of DNA. They experimented with molecule structures, chemical analysis and studied X Ray findings and previous molecular studies. In 1953 they published their findings. They had identified a structure that could be applied to all cells, the double helix.<\/p>\n

How does knowing about DNA help doctors?<\/h3>\n

Understanding of the double helix structure of DNA allowed the genetic code to be understood. This was accomplished in the early 1960’s. This development has led to a number of medical advances: cloning of DNA has the potential to lead to a range of almost unbelievable operations becoming possible – think of the implications of the development of clones, it can lead to replacement body parts amongst other things. In 1982 genetically engineered insulin was produced as a result of the DNA breakthrough. This has been of great value to people with Diabetes.<\/p>\n

Ethics<\/h3>\n

There are many ethical issues surrounding potential uses of the knowledge that Crick, Watson and their colleagues have shared with the world. The potential to clone human genes was first achieved in 1977 – the same year that\u00a0Luke 1977<\/a>\u00a0was launched. Human gene cloning is now subject to extremely strict restrictions on ethical grounds. Genetic cloning as a result of these findings has resulted in clones animals being created. The first was ‘Dolly the Sheep<\/a>‘ who was born (if that’s the right word?) in 1996.<\/p>\n

Medicine and Health Links<\/h3>\n

Schoolshistory home<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0History teachers resources<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Medical History Timelines<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Liberal Reforms<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Welfare State<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The NHS<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Alexander Fleming<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Florey and Chain develop Penicillin<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0DNA and it\u2019s impact on modern medicine<\/a><\/p>\n

Medicine Through time<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Resources for Medicine Through Time<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Prehistoric Medicine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Ancient Egyptian Medicine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Ancient Greek Medicine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Medicine in the Roman Empire<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Medieval Medicine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Renaissance Medicine<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Public Health in the Industrial Revolution<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Fight against infectious disease<\/a>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Modern Medicine<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DNA is the molecular structure of a body. This structure was identified and explained by scientists James Watson and Francis Crick. The discovery of DNA and identification of it’s structure was a major breakthrough in science. It explained a structure that can be applied to cells within the body. This information allowed medical scientists to… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3964,"parent":3699,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3702","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t