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Medical research historically relied upon DNA from human donors in order to research options for medical treatments. This has led to a better understanding of genetic disease, treatments, and how to approach sickness. Nowadays, these researchers can access DNA that’s been created in a lab to do more testing and get more consistent results. By working with these DNA pieces, they can create better medical models that are expediting research and getting solutions to market faster. If you’re in the field of genetics and biotechnology, let’s explore a quick guide to figuring out which type of DNA will work best for your research projects.
Evaluating Parental Genes and a Child’s Health
So much of DNA research has focused on hereditary diseases. Scientists now have a better understanding of how a parent’s genes can influence the health of their child or children. Medical researchers often look for similar markers to determine health outcomes. Trying to figure out which genes were inherited from each parent can help create a more precise treatment plan in the event of the emergence of disease.
Using DNA from both the child and the parent can help these scientists uncover better options that can improve the health of both parties. Finding the traits doesn’t mean sickness is imminent, but it can help determine what lifestyle factors may impact the DNA the most.
Using Clonal Genes in Medical Research
Consistency is very important in genetic studies. When you want to find a treatment, too many variables can lead to inconsistent outcomes. Because of this, clonal genes have been developed to help researchers duplicate experiments with more precision.
These genes are exact copies of a specific DNA sequence. This is what makes it possible to reproduce experiments more easily. Instead of relying on genes from a variety of donors, it allows for more control over the variables that can impact the results.
These samples are especially helpful when it comes to creating new medications. By testing a clonal gene against a drug, scientists can see exactly how this gene could respond in vivo. Many of these clonal genes have been used in cancer research already.
Uses of Recombinant DNA
Recombinant DNA technology has been around a lot longer than some other biotechnology. In fact, some researchers have been using it since the 1970’s. In this approach, scientists combine DNA from more than one source to create genetic material they can use for testing.
Synthetic insulin, for example, was created using recombinant DNA techniques. By removing the human insulin gene and inserting it into a bacterial DNA, they created bacteria cells that could now produce human insulin. This revolutionary discovery has allowed countless people to receive insulin who would otherwise die without it. Other medical advancements that rely on recombinant DNA include vaccines, gene therapy, and more targeted cancer treatments. Choosing recombinant DNA for your project means you know what genes you need and how to use it to make a protein or product for helping human health.
Using Mitochondrial DNA in Medical Research
Mitochondrial DNA is distinct from nuclear DNA because it gets passed down from the mother only, and not the mother and the father. It’s also used only for functions within the mitochondria, whereas nuclear DNA benefits the entire cell. This makes it a very interesting DNA to study when it comes to metabolic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases.
Mutations in the mitochondria have been connected to different health conditions including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, and even some muscular disorders. By studying this kind of DNA, researchers get insight into the past and future of humanity through changes in the genetic code passed down maternally.
CRISPR and Gene Editing for Medical Research
CRISPR is actually an immune system in bacterial cells that helps the cells find and get rid of harmful invaders. When used in genetic research, CRISPR can be used to edit DNA sequences much more precisely. Gene editing techniques mean that scientists can use different methods to find a gene and repair it or find it and replace it with a healthy gene.
They configure CRISPR to find the location they need and leverage it to help splice in the new genetic material. For patients who have something like sickle cell anemia or leukemia, this method is highly effective in seeking out the cells and making the needed changes. When you can precisely edit genes, you have countless possibilities in medical research.
Figuring out the right DNA approach for your research needs can be challenging. Whether you need to be able to test more precisely, target specific genes, or create products that patients can use to treat illnesses, it’s clear that various DNA technologies are powerful tools for medical research.
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