Why do you think that early molecular biologists used viruse

Why do you think that early molecular biologists used viruses to investigate the function of molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids? Explain what we mean by the ATP cycle in nature. Describe this cycle in both plants and animals.

Solution

Answer:

1. To a large extent, molecular biology was born in the laboratories of biologists studying viruses that infect bacteria. Experiments with these viruses provided evidence that genes are made of nucleic acids, and they were critical in working out the molecular mechanisms of the fundamental processes of DNA replication, transcription, and translation.

Beyond their value as experimental systems, viruses have unique genetic mechanisms that are interesting in their own right and that also help us understand how viruses cause disease. In addition, the study of viruses has led to the development of techniques that enable scientists to manipulate genes and transfer them from one organism to another. These techniques play an important role in basic research, biotechnology, and medical applications. For instance, viruses are used as agents of gene transfer in gene therapy.