Science Discovers Eternal Wisdom

Author(s): Amarendravijay, J D Lodaya, Bhuvanchandra
Publisher: Jain Sahitya Academy

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Peruma did manage to produce the basic five chemicals Adenine, Guanine, Cystine, Tyrosine and Uracil - the building blocks of a cell, the elementary unit of all living beings; but by themselves they remain as mere chemicals, inert nonlife material without any vital quality or viability. From these chemical substances, how genes the determinants carrying genetic code for transmitting hereditory traits of animal and plant life and having self-propagating capacity are produced, remains an unsolved mystery for science so far.
Limitations of science :
It may be feasible for science to manufacture proteins or amino acids by chemical synthesis, but it has so far failed to create even a single cell. A million scientists putting their heads together cannot produce even a single drop of blood nor can they synthesise carbonic compounds despite having full knowledge of their chemical composition. Science has not as yet succeeded in its attempts to produce synthetic hormones like insulin from purely chemical sources which can replace the natural hormone or make good its deficiency in diabetics. Despite having complete knowledge of the molecular structure of insulin or blood, when need arises for either of them, science has to have access to organic sources - human or animal - for the supply.
Until now, for production of insulin, animal pancreas obtained from slaughterhouses was utilised exclusively, (it still continues to be) but now another source has been developed by science through biotechnology. It manages to produce insulin in the laboratory with the help of bacteria. It has now become possible to splice genetic material from another cell to the gene of living E. Coli bacterium that ensures insulin production. This process of slicing and splicing within the cell is known as genetic engineering. It will be possible to obtain other hormones similar to insulin from E. Coil through this technique. Production of growth hormone secreted by pituitary gland controlling bodily growth and another important factor 'interferon' that gives the
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