| Aliciaa |
Posted
on 23-Jul-03 06:54 AM
Beyond the Genome
The next goal of DNA research makes the breakthrough of the past few years look like high school biology. As science celebrates the decoding of the human genome, the invention, which made it all possible isnt cheering. Thousand and thousands of researchers have been working for more than 10 years to map the chemicals that make up each of human kinds 30,000 genes but the problem seemed to be that all the hard work could be little less valued. Despite those struggles, it has been believed that this genome project could very well demand more computing power that exists in planet. Even though they have been improving, human genome project hasnt still been able to usher in biotech golden age, which they had once promised.
When scientist understand the functions of genes and proteins that performs all cell functions, they will be able to develop tests for errors that led to diseases. Another advantage is that in the pharmaceutical industry, it would be the ultimate growth strategy: to make lifelong customers with no symptoms. It seems like much of the excitement that genomic currently generates is based on an overly simple premise. As scientists has already been able to identify and catalog each human gene, the next steps seems to be that it is necessary to find out what is the function of every single genes and also cure of diseases that lead to the dysfunctions of certain genes. Reading many different things abt genome projects in newspapers and books, it becomes clear that drug researchers being unable to see the big picture are forcing themselves into the dark.
The development of the new software system begins, as to record everything happening to every genes and proteins in cell. A scientist could use nanolab to study the interplay of genes and proteins that gives rise to disease such as prostate cancer. If this nanolab plans goes according to plans scientist believe that they will be able too produce oceans and oceans of data in coming three to five years. They also believe that, they would use use the nanolab program to turn genes on and off, or introduce drugs into the systems and see what happens. Scientists suggest that once the system is understood, doctors could compare patients cells with the model and arrive at an early diagnosis or even a predictive one. Scientists are confident that through a series of software uncontrolled experiments, the nanolab would be able to test drugs on infected cells and if a drug works to creat a blueprint to perform the same tests in animals and people. Thus in the future scientist believe that a 40 year old mans genes might be tested in the nanolab, and if a prediposition to prostate cancer were found, doctors could prescribe a drug that shuts off the abberant system.
Such type of human genome project is taking the first step towards understanding how life works at the genetic level. Using nanolabs program, biology expertise believe that it helps to create new technologies, completely analyzing the trillions of possible interreactions in genetic networks and also drug discovery and other fields with commercial applications.
But before systems biology can deliver on any of those promises, however, a great many obstacles must be overcome, not all of them scientific or it may result in metaphor.
|
| Echoes |
Posted
on 23-Jul-03 12:15 PM
That was an interesting thought.
I agree that there is much to be discovered and the concept of the NanoLab does sound promising.
However, not that I think the "high school biology" isn't factual or is too trivial,
but it may not be fair to say that the accomplishments so far haven't been significant.
I was reading a piece of news recently, which reported on how the use of DNA in forensic labs has greatly helped investigators even in developing countries track down criminals who might otherwise never have been identified.
Conan O'Brien (NBC) humored on his show last night in which he said a group of researchers were about to discover a drug that could let humans live for as long as 180 years. But it seems, with the help of the NanoLab, it might not be all that impossible!
|
