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Recombinant DNA Technology and Gene Therapy Using Viruses
Published in Patricia G. Melloy, Viruses and Society, 2023
Viruses do not just cause disease. Naturally or through genetic engineering, viruses can be used to help humans. Genetic engineering, also known as recombinant DNA technology, was developed about 50 years ago as a method to bring together DNA from different organisms. This technology has revolutionized biomedical research, allowing scientists to express any gene of interest in a new organism, including producing recombinant proteins such as human insulin outside of the body. Recombinant DNA technology includes the use of viruses as one type of vector to deliver a gene for expression in a new organism, and these viral vectors have been used in both gene therapy treatments and vaccines, among other applications. Gene therapy treatments involving viral vectors are being used to treat all different kinds of diseases, including cancer. Viral vectors are also used in vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines. Undoubtedly, viruses will be a part of many therapeutic applications to prevent or treat diseases in the future.
Reliable Biomedical Applications Using AI Models
Published in Punit Gupta, Dinesh Kumar Saini, Rohit Verma, Healthcare Solutions Using Machine Learning and Informatics, 2023
Shambhavi Mishra, Tanveer Ahmed, Vipul Mishra
This application is used in various fields of biology such as medical diagnosis, virology, biological research, medical diagnosis and biological systematics. Genomic sequencing is one of the basic processes that determine the exact order of nucleotides in the DNA molecule.
Genetics and exercise: an introduction
Published in Adam P. Sharples, James P. Morton, Henning Wackerhage, Molecular Exercise Physiology, 2022
Claude Bouchard, Henning Wackerhage
We have already mentioned that DNA sequence variants influence body height, strength, VO2max trainability or disease risk. We will now discuss how variations in the DNA sequence occur, the different types of DNA variants and their frequency in human populations. But first we need to explain the vocabulary used to define DNA variants. A mutation is an event that changes a DNA sequence. The consequence of a mutation is a DNA variant. For example, a mutation may change a “…CTGT…” to a “…CTAT…” sequence resulting in a G/A DNA variant. Alleles are DNA variants of a given sequence. For example, assume that 20% of a population have a “CTGT” and 80% a “CTAT” DNA sequence in the myostatin gene (important in muscle mass regulation, covered in Chapter 4 and 8); the CTGT variant would be the minor (frequency) allele, whereas the CTAT variant would be the major (frequency) allele. Alleles with a frequency of less than 1% are referred to as rare alleles, whilst those in the range of 1–5% are known as low frequency alleles. DNA variants with a minor allele carried by 5% and more of the population are labelled as common alleles. If a one-base substitution occurs in at least 1% of a population, then it is termed a single-nucleotide polymorphism and is abbreviated as SNP. SNPs are the most studied DNA variants.
STOX1 promotor region -922 T > C polymorphism is associated with Early-Onset preeclampsia
Published in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 2022
Seyda Akin, Ergun Pinarbasi, Aslihan Esra Bildirici, Nilgun Cekin
DNA sequencing was conducted by Sanger sequencing method. A 3–5-μL aliquot of PCR product (collected directly or from re-amplification of excised SSCA bands) was used in a standard protocol for fluorescently labelled dideoxy-nucleotides (BigDye, Applied Biosystems, Life Technologies), with injection into a capillary electrophoresis instrument (ABI 3500, Life Technologies) for separation and detection. The sequences obtained were compared with the reference sequence NC 000017 (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), and deviations were recorded as mutations or polymorphisms. Chromas Lite 2.6.6 software was used to display the results and to scan the changes in the array. Also, DNA sequencing was employed using the next generation sequencing system Illumina technology. IGV 2.6.3 (Archived) program was utilised to display the results and to observe the changes in the array.
Gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases: progress and possibilities
Published in Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 2021
Monica L Hu, Thomas L Edwards, Fleur O’Hare, Doron G Hickey, Jiang-Hui Wang, Zhengyang Liu, Lauren N Ayton
Gene therapy refers to the use of genetic material (DNA or RNA) to modify gene expression, in order to treat disease. Since its conceptualisation several decades ago, diverse techniques have been developed. These aim to accomplish the major therapeutic principles of facilitating restoration of gene function in the case where a mutation has inactivated it, or inactivating a mutated gene with aberrant function, such as a dominant negative effect as seen in autosomal dominant RP (adRP) caused by mutations in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene. The genetic material can be delivered to the target cells by either direct administration to the target tissue, for instance the retina (an in vivo approach), or to cells extracted from a patient for subsequent reintroduction to the body (an ex vivo approach).11 The genetic payload can be given in the form of naked genetic material,12 or can be packaged into a specialised vector (vehicle used to deliver the transgene) to be delivered into target cells.
Ethical considerations for DNA testing as a proxy for nationality
Published in Global Bioethics, 2021
Valedie Oray, Sara H. Katsanis
DNA is a unique identifier that every individual has, so is an invaluable tool for documenting identity and verifying biological relationships. The technological advancements make this tool an imprecise but informative tool also for genetic ancestry. With fraud a common concern among government officials processing refugee petitions and asylum claims, the reliance on scientific evidence to support or refute a petition is tempting. The imprecision renders the tool no more effective than reviewing paper documents. Unlike paper documents, genetic data is difficult to fake. For this reason, utilizing DNA testing in cases to support an individual might be valuable as additional evidence of nationality, and to empower displaced persons. For individuals who do not have any additional form of documentation to prove their place of origin, DNA testing could be a critical component in their immigration or legal proceedings. However, the use of ancestry DNA testing broadly as a precondition for state memberships will lead to additional ethical issues, including stigmatization, discrimination, bias, and potentially eugenics. For refugees who might have other forms of legitimate identification, genetic information cannot be a justified addition to their petition.