Page 63 - Kerala calling OCTOBER 2020

have focused on a region called observations of nearby galaxies of different genes and their possible
Sagittarius A at the centre of our reveal that such super massive black role in the progression of disease. In
galaxy. The orbits of the brightest holes are not unique to the MIlky plant breeding, researchers can give
stars closest to the middle of the Way. The formation of such a large plants specific characteristics, such
Milky Way have been mapped black hole and how it affects the as the ability to withstand drought
with increasing precision. The evolution of its host galaxy are not in a warmer climate. In medicine,
measurements of these agree with well understood. this gene editor is contributing
finding an extremely heavy invisible to new therapies and attempting
object that pulls on the stars, causing The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to cure inherited diseases. This
them to move around at high speeds. is awarded to Emmanuelle technology has revolutionised the
An object with around four million Charpentier of the Max Planck molecular life sciences, brought new
solar masses is there in a region no Unit for the Science of Pathogens, opportunities for plant breeding, is
larger than our solar system. Germany and Jennifer A. Doudna contributing to innovative cancer
of the University of California, USA therapies and may make the dream
The question of the existence of black for the development of a method for of curing inherited diseases come
holes resurfaced with the discovery genome editing. This is the first time true. The development of this
of quasars, the brightest objects two women share the Chemistry technology has enabled scientists
in the universe. Using the world’s Nobel. Since Charpentier and to modify DNA sequences in a
largest telescopes, Genzel and Ghez Doudna discovered the CRISPR/ wide range of cells and organisms.
developed methods to see through Cas9 genetic scissors in 2012 their This technology is used widely in
the huge clouds of interstellar gas use has increased. The genetic basic science, biotechnology and in
and dust to the centre of the Milky scissors have taken the life sciences the development of therapeutics.
Way. They developed new techniques to new heights and, in many With extremely high precision, just
to compensate for distortions caused ways...J.D. Watson and F.H.C. Crick in eight years of the finding the
by the Earth’s atmosphere. This has reported the molecular structure researchers were successful in getting
opened a new area in the study of of DNA in 1953, and ever since, the most coveted prize in science.
compact and super massive objects. scientists have tried to develop
These exotic objects pose many technologies that can manipulate
questions that require answers and the genetic material of cells and The orbits of the brightest
motivate future research. Even organisms. With the discovery of the
though we cannot see the black CRISPR-Cas9 system, an effective stars closest to the middle
hole, it is possible to understand method for genome engineering has of the Milky Way have
its properties by observing how its now become a reality. been mapped with
gravity influences the motions of the increasing precision
nearby stars. Researchers can use these to change
the DNA of animals, plants and
Our galaxy is shaped like a disc microorganisms. The work that
about 100,000 light years across, it eventually led to the discovery Genzel and Ghez
consists of a few hundred billion began with the identification of developed methods to see
stars. From Earth, enormous clouds repeated genome structures present through the huge clouds
of interstellar gas and dust obscure in bacteria and Archaea. When the of interstellar gas and
most of the visible light coming from researchers started investigating the dust to the centre of the
the centre of the galaxy. Initially immune system of a bacterium, they Milky Way
infrared telescopes and radio expected to develop a new antibiotic.
observations allowed astronomers But, they discovered a tool that can
to see through the galaxy’s disc and be used to make precise corrections
image the stars at the centre. Taking in genetic material, making it Just in eight years of the
the orbits of the stars as indicators, possible to easily change the genetic finding the researchers
Genzel and Ghez produced the code itself. These genetic scissors were successful in getting
evidence for an invisible super have reshaped the life sciences. the most coveted prize in
massive object. A black hole is the Biochemists and cell biologists can science
only possible explanation. Recent now easily investigate the functions
prd.kerala.gov.in/publication/keralacalling/OCTOBER 2020 63 KERALA CALLING