Biotechnology
MEDICAL USES
Diagnostic Biotechnology Uses
Biotechnology plays a vital part in the diagnostic science, as it uses our knowledge of both DNA and genes to help determine the following.
Determine the sex of an unborn baby
Prenatal Screening, such as screening for Down syndrome.
New-born Screening, used to pick up diseases such as HIV
Presymptomatic testing for adult onset disorders, this includes testing for familial high blood cholesterol.
Conformational testing for diagnosis of symptomatic individuals, with diseases such as Huntingtons Disease.
Forensic or Identity testing, for example examination of semen for sexual offenders and analysis of blood, bone or hair for murder victims.
During diagnostics scientist scan DNA for errors or mutations. Two Techniques are mainly used, the first involves the use of a short strand of DNA know as a “probe” to identify mutations and the second involves the use of genes and comparing it’s sequences to that of a healthy individual.
Therapeutic Biotechnology Uses
Biotechnology contributes to the treatment against disease in two ways, gene therapy and pharmacongenomics.
Gene Therapy involves the treatment of disease by changing the genetic message or instructions of body cells. There are three approaches to gene therapy; replace a faulty gene with a functional one, the ‘knocking out’ of a faulty gene and introducing a new gene into the body to fight disease.
Therapeutic Cloning is a procedure in which cells are taken from a patient and inserted into a fertilized egg whose nucleus has been removed. The resulting cell is stimulated to divide repeatedly to form a mass consisting of 100-200 cells. Stem cells are then extracted from the blastocyst and used to grow tissues that are a perfect genetic match for the patient.The differentiated cells can potentially be transplanted into the patent to treat disorders such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Pharmacongenomics involves
Diagnostic Biotechnology Uses
Biotechnology plays a vital part in the diagnostic science, as it uses our knowledge of both DNA and genes to help determine the following.
Determine the sex of an unborn baby
Prenatal Screening, such as screening for Down syndrome.
New-born Screening, used to pick up diseases such as HIV
Presymptomatic testing for adult onset disorders, this includes testing for familial high blood cholesterol.
Conformational testing for diagnosis of symptomatic individuals, with diseases such as Huntingtons Disease.
Forensic or Identity testing, for example examination of semen for sexual offenders and analysis of blood, bone or hair for murder victims.
During diagnostics scientist scan DNA for errors or mutations. Two Techniques are mainly used, the first involves the use of a short strand of DNA know as a “probe” to identify mutations and the second involves the use of genes and comparing it’s sequences to that of a healthy individual.
Therapeutic Biotechnology Uses
Biotechnology contributes to the treatment against disease in two ways, gene therapy and pharmacongenomics.
Gene Therapy involves the treatment of disease by changing the genetic message or instructions of body cells. There are three approaches to gene therapy; replace a faulty gene with a functional one, the ‘knocking out’ of a faulty gene and introducing a new gene into the body to fight disease.
Therapeutic Cloning is a procedure in which cells are taken from a patient and inserted into a fertilized egg whose nucleus has been removed. The resulting cell is stimulated to divide repeatedly to form a mass consisting of 100-200 cells. Stem cells are then extracted from the blastocyst and used to grow tissues that are a perfect genetic match for the patient.The differentiated cells can potentially be transplanted into the patent to treat disorders such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Pharmacongenomics involves