Biotechnology advances can make significant difference in the world through improving food and healthcare. It is also able to help with environmental issues and energy requirements. But anything new and innovative is bound to raise concerns and questions. This is especially relevant when it comes to medical biotechnology. This technology is a rapidly expanding field, with numerous advances and positives, but it also raises serious issues like gene therapy, ethics in stem cell research, and the misuse of genomic information.
Pharmacogenomics is among the most significant developments in the field of medical biotechnology. It is the study and analysis of proteins and genes to determine how people react to various medicines. In the near future doctors will be able customize treatments more efficiently for patients. This could reduce the number of patients suffering from unpleasant side effects and prevent the development of diseases.
Monoclonal antibodies are yet another biotech breakthrough. They are able to target a disease and stop its progress. It could be used in the future to treat a range of conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to cancer.
Recombinant DNA technology allows scientists to splice genes and create genetically modified organisms that produce therapeutic proteins. The development of recombinant insulin in the 1980s is an iconic example of how this biotech breakthrough has improved lives and saved lives. This technology is used to produce numerous medications and vaccines, including some for rare diseases. It is also being used to create microbes that can remove toxic chemicals from the environment.