Introduction to gene cloning, gene therapy and trans-genesis
Introduction:
The term biotechnology represents a fusion or an alliance between biology and technology. Biotechnology is as old as human civilization and is an integral part of human life. Thus biotechnology is a newly discovered discipline for age-old practices. Biotechnology has wide range of applications in fact, there is no other branch of science which has many applications as biotechnology. Biotechnology has benefited medical, health, agricultural, environmental and industrial sciences.
It has become a comprehensive scientific venture from the point of academic and commercial angles within a short time with the sequencing of human genome and genomes of other organisms. The future scope in biotechnology will be exciting. It may be rather difficult to make any specifications are rapidly replacing the existing technologies. It is expected that the development in biotechnology will lead to a new scientific revolution that could change the lives and future of the people. It changes in many aspects of modern life.
Scope of gene cloning:
In recent years techniques for manipulating prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic DNA have witnessed remarkable development. This allowed breakage of a DNA molecule at two desired places to isolate a specific DNA segment. Using this technique, we can isolate and clone copy of gene into indefinite number of copies this is called gene cloning with this technique genes can be isolated, cloned and characterized, so that the technique has significant progress in all areas of molecular biology.
Scope of gene therapy:
Gene therapy is the permanent solution for genetic diseases. It involves isolation of specific gene, making its copies, inserting them into target tissues cells to make the desired protein. The story does not end here. It is essential to ensure that the gene is harmless to the patient and is appropriately expressed. It may be true that of now, gene therapy due to several limitations, has not progressed, despite intensive research. But a break through may come anytime and a day may come when almost every disease will have a gene therapy, as one of the treatment modalities. And gene therapy will revolutionize the practice of medicine.
Scope of trans-genesis:
The dependence of man on animals for various purposes is well known improvement in genetic characteristics of live stock and other domestic animals in the early days was carried out by selective breeding methods. Although selective breeding is very time consuming and costly, it was the only method available till some years ago. With the advent of modern biotechnology, it is now possible to carry out manipulations at genetic level to get desired character in animal. Trans-genesis refers to the phenomenon of introduction of exogenous DNA into the genome to create and maintain a stable heritable character.
Trans-genesis has now become powerful tool for studying the gene expression and developmental process in higher organisms. Transgenic animals serve as good models for understanding the human diseases. Further several protein produced by transgenic animals are important for medical and pharmaceutical applications. Thus transgenic farm animals are a part of the lucrative world wide biotechnology industry, with great benefit to mankind.