The ‘central dogma’ of biology that genetic information of DNA in cell nuclei decides the vital phenomena of human bodies is to be shaken to its core by Korean researchers. The accepted explanation was that protein is created on the basis of RNA, copied information of DNA. In other words, DNA was thought to be the original blueprint and RNA a copied one, through which protein is created.

However, the Genomic Medicine Institute of SNU’s College of Medicine announced that “Genetic mutations were alleged to take place only in DNA but through the process of genome analysis of 18 Koreans, we have confirmed that up to 1800 genome mutations were observed only in RNA.” This research finding was published in the July 2011 issue of Nature Genetics.

Until now, scientists had thought that physical problems of the human body are caused by DNA mutation, not by RNA malfunction. Thus, researchers have concentrated mostly on deciphering DNA sequences in the belief that all vital phenomena will be explained by the results of DNA analysis. The SNU researchers, on the contrary, deciphered not only DNA but also RNA sequences of 18 Koreans, which led to a great discovery that there are unique genetic mutations taking place only in RNA.

Professor SEO Jeong-Sun, director of the Genomic Medicine Institute of SNU’s College of Medicine, mentioned that “RNA sequence analysis will be an essential part of genetic studies hereafter.”

Written by LEE Tae Joon, SNU English Editor, leetjoon@hanmail.net
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor