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