2003 Media release

On 25 April 2003, the world celebrates the discovery of the three-dimensional molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) 50 years ago. DNA carries genetic information and conveys it from one generation to the next. This discovery not only changed the history of genetic research, but also provided new tools for answering old questions relating to health, agriculture and the environment. Today, the application of DNA-based technology is used in diagnostic tests, cloning, genetically modified foods (GM), paternity tests, and forensic tests.

South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) launched a programme on the Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) at the beginning of 2003. "The commemoration of the discovery of the DNA structure 50 years ago – the basis of biotechnology – forms part of this initiative," explains Marina Joubert of the Foundation for Education, Science and Technology (FEST), the organisation tasked with the PUB programme. "The aim is to promote a clear understanding of the potential of biotechnology and how it impacts on our lives. The PUB programme targets to involve people at all levels of society in communicating the far-reaching implications of the advances of biotechnology, while addressing social and ethical issues concerning DNA," she says. FEST forms part of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

James Watson and Francis Crick’s discovery (drawing on research done by two scientists, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin) led to an explosion of genetic research as the structure of DNA revealed how it could pass on genetic information from one generation to the next. Scientists showed how the DNA code directs the synthesis of proteins - the structural and functional components of all living organisms - and how DNA mutations cause genetic diseases. Advances in DNA analysis have enabled scientists to read genetic code faster, find the faulty genes responsible for many diseases, and map the genes of organisms ranging from microbes to plants and human beings.

"The science of genomics has profound implications for humankind. It provides the opportunity to improve people’s lives through judicious application of new genetic knowledge," reflects Joubert. Research in this area sheds new light on the mysteries of the development and causes of disease. It also leads to new ways to assess risks to human health as well as the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of plant, animal and human diseases. DNA analyses are used to identify criminals, to establish family relationships, as well as to identify the remains of humans.

Population screening can reveal genetic differences that make some people more prone than others to particular genetic diseases. Scientists can design new drugs that target the causes of specific diseases and tailor them to suit patients who are genetically different.

Genetic modifications of other organisms can produce useful pharmaceutical and commercial products, improve plant and livestock varieties, and create animal models for human genetic disease. In South Africa, gene transfer to crops is assisting food production by reducing production costs and introducing more environmentally friendly farming practices.

"As with any emerging technology there are questions about its potential benefits and possible risks, and how far its applications should be regulated," says Joubert. "Current controversies concerning genetically modified food, cloning, genetic testing, as well as the ownership and exploitation of genetic information, illustrate the many ways in which the events of 1953 have reached across half a century to affect our lives. This highlights the importance of informed debate about these important issues," concludes Joubert.

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