Introductory Chapter: Gene Regulation, an RNA Network-Dependent Architecture

Abstract

Genetics is known as an old and ancient science that its origination goes back to at least 7000 years ago. Iranians are one of the earliest pioneers in genetics from ancient world. The brilliant Iranian (Persian) literature epic of Shahnameh edited by the Iranian shining star literate “Abolqasem Ferdowsi Toosi” is an invaluable evidence to prove this claim. By the time and progression in biology, the superamazing molecule of DNA was discovered. Today, we know that the unique molecule of DNA involves the genetic and vital data within its bases as constitutional structures of nucleotides. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic chromosomes are made up of DNA molecules. In addition to DNAs, the role and importance of RNAs are not lesser than DNAs [1]. In 1953, the interesting structure of DNA molecule with anti-parallel doublehelix architecture was recognized by Watson and Crick. In 1958, the hypothesis of central dogma of molecular biology was published by Crick in which he described the translation of genetic language located on DNA into amino acid sequences of protein by the transient molecule of RNA (mainly messenger RNA (mRNA)). The primitive biological characteristics of mRNA were recognized in 1961, while these properties regarding ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules were determined in the 1950s [2].