| Molecular biology is the science of study of biology at | | | | medicine to advance to such a degree so that we |
| the molecular level. William Astbury in Nature | | | | may begin to cure the previously incurable, and to |
| described molecular biology as: | | | | eventually find cures for every disease that afflicts |
| "... not so much a technique as an approach, an | | | | human kind. |
| approach from the viewpoint of the so-called basic | | | | Molecular biology depends not only on biology but |
| sciences with the leading idea of searching below the | | | | also chemistry, genetics, and biochemistry. The |
| large-scale manifestations of classical biology for the | | | | understanding of the interactions between DNA, |
| corresponding molecular plan. It is concerned | | | | RNA, proteins and lipids is vital in understanding how |
| particularly with the forms of biological molecules and | | | | cells work and how diseases affect these |
| ..... is predominantly three-dimensional and structural - | | | | interactions. Researchers and scientists are slowly |
| which does not mean, however, that it is merely a | | | | piecing together these interactions and how each |
| refinement of morphology - it must at the same time | | | | biological molecule functions. By understanding this, |
| inquire into genesis and function" (W.T. Astbury, | | | | scientists can then examine disease conditions, and |
| Nature 190, 1124. 1961) | | | | see if the function of any of the molecules has |
| Molecular biology has allowed us to uncover the | | | | changed. If a molecule or interaction is affected by |
| mysteries of the human body, viruses, bacteria and | | | | disease, scientists can then create therapies which |
| all other life. As such, it has allowed the progress of | | | | target these alterations and repair them. |