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