In the 21st Century tension may well grow between scientific achievement and people's desire for a simpler and healthy lifestyle. The object is to maintain a healthy balance, to avoid risk of potential dangers arising from advances in genetics to apply them, instead, to positive applications.
Researchers today are taking revolutionary steps regarding development of new molecules for eradicating the causes of disease. Hence genetic testing before prescribing drugs will ensure that individuals take drugs that will treat their ailments effectively without any risk of side effects. The map of our genome helps to diagnose and treat diseases in an effective way without harming the host cells.
In connection to these wide spectra of genetic information, researchers have prepared a periodic table of life and its projects.
· 1990: launching of human genome project (HGP)
· 1993: New HGP - five year plan
· 1994: Detailed human genetic map
· 1995: Physical map of human genome completed.
· 1996: Human DNA - sequencing begins
· 1998: HGP - map includes 30,000 human genes New - HGP - goals for 2003
· 1999: Full-scale sequencing begins
· 2000: Chromosome 21st, 2nd human chromosome fully sequenced.
· 2002: U.K. - Govt. declares officially its green signal for completion of the Human Genetic Map.
· 2003: Planned completion of human sequencing
Nature has provided a suitable environment for all living organisms. Even though man has to be struggling to lead his life comfortably, that too free from inadequacy, due to physiological acceptance consequently, microbes are declaring war repeatedly.
In a particular disease a proper gene is required for specific treatment. To tackle these disorders revolutions are needed in designing of new drug molecules and gene testing is badly required before prescribing drugs so that individuals take drugs that will treat their ailments effectively. Society has to accept gene technology and utilize the benefits.
Importance Of Genome
Genes carries genetic information for making all proteins required by all organisms. The proteins determine, among other things, how the organism looks, behaves and how well the body metabolizes food or fights various infections.
The DNA sequences can lead to an understanding of their natural capacities that can be applied towards solving challenges in health care, agriculture and environmental clean up.
Clinical Significance
This is a new revolutionary step to diagnose, treat and someday prevent thousands of disorders -- virtually every human ailment, except perhaps trauma, has some genetic basis. Common diseases like diabetes mellitus, heart diseases, cancer and mental disorders are not inherited in a simply way. But studies comparing disease risks have shown how heredity does influence the onset of these conditions in certain descendants.
For the benefits of patients, with the genome project having released a torrent of data about human DNA and promoting growing understanding of human genes, the role of genetics in medicine will drastically change.
Genetics will no longer be limited to guiding medical surveillance based on family histories or classifying numerous but relatively rare conditions that stem from changes in single genes. Usually genes contribute to the greater risks like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. In connection to these diseases one or another genes, which are involved and go toward increasing the risk of diseases slightly.
Hence, researchers must promptly get involved in diagnosis of specific gene responsible for specific diseases. Our object should include the increasing role of researchers to bring to light molecular processes that normally maintains the human body in a good working order.
Researchers should develop and supply methods that analyze many drugs at a time for their potential effect on disease-related genes and gene products. Later on this knowledge has to be incorporated to reach pharmacogenomics so as to make prescription of drugs a much more individualized affair in the future.
Current Genomic Research
An intense effort is in progress to develop a catalogue of human DNA variations. While our DNA sequences are 99.9% identical to each other. The 0.1% of variations is expected to contain many clues about the genetic risk for illness. Of course the technology will help develop the study of expressions of many genes.
It is definite that by year 2010, predictive, genetic tests are likely to be available for many common conditions. By 2020 the impact of genetics on medicine will be even more widespread. New gene-based designer drugs will hit the market.
Next Step in Genomic Revolution
The complete human genome sequence will facilitate identification of all genes that contribute to disease. The functional classification of disease genes and their products will reveal general principles of human disease.
Originally, protemics meant isolation and identification of proteins from normal versus perturbed cells. Today, proteomics encompasses aspects of functional genomics - linking protein expression with gene expression.
Structural protemics - determining large numbers of protein 3D structures by spetroscopic or computational techniques and protein-protein interactions and biochemical pathway studies.
The process starts with a gene sequence, Clients determine the specific proteins involved in disease processes in which they are interested, and scientists should express, purify and isolate the proteins.
In conclusion, we face a time of dramatic change in medicine. As we cross the threshold of the new millennium, we simultaneously cross a threshold in to an era where the human genome sequence is largely known.
-- The author is Lecturer, Bapuji Pharmacy College Davangere, Karnataka