Application of Biotechnology Medicine

Biotechnology has revolutionised and transformed many areas of activity, particularly medicine, with new solutions for diagnosing, treating, or preventing diseases. Biotechnology applications, especially in medicine, focus on producing medical products and therapies from biological systems, organisms, or their derivatives. This topic is covered in class 12 of the CBSE Biology chapter on Biotechnology and Its Applications. It is important to the students preparing for competitive exams like NEET, AIIMS, nursing and paramedical entrance exams.

Also Read:

• Biotechnology And Its Applications
• Biotechnology: Principles And Processes
• Biotechnology In Agriculture
• Biosafety Issues

Medical Biotechnology

It is a branch of medicine that makes use of cell materials and living cells for the research and development of pharmaceutical products. These products are used in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various diseases. Human DNA has been mapped with about 23 markers identified. Vaccines for various deadly diseases like smallpox and COVID-19 have been developed. Drug treatments for diseases like cancer and artificial tissue culture are the most recent developments in the field of medical biotechnology.

Major Advancements In Medical Biotechnology

• CRISPR: It stands for the molecular DNA splicing mechanism. The Cas9 protein is used as a molecular scissor for DNA slicing and in genetic engineering. It helps in the alteration of gene sequences for various applications like the treatment of diseases, agricultural improvement, and prevention of the spread of diseases.

• Recombinant DNA: As the name suggests, it involves the recombination of the DNA molecules of two different species and the insertion of the recombinant DNA into the host cell. The host organism with recombinant DNA produces results that will have the combined effect of the parent genes. It is a method used for improvements in the agricultural industry by combining two superior genes to produce super-quality seeds.

• HPV vaccine: The vaccine is used for the treatment of cervical cancer caused by the Human papillomavirus (HPV). It has significance since cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer in women.

Applications Of Biotechnology In Medicine

Biotechnology has great importance in medicine since it helps in the development of various drugs to cure diseases. Some of its applications are:

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is the direct alteration of an organism's DNA via biotechnology. In medicine, it has several applications,

Gene Therapy: By modification of genes, it has been able to treat or prevent disease conditions. It will be highly beneficial for disorders due to faulty genes in humans, such as cystic fibrosis, haemophilia, and muscular dystrophy.

Production of Insulin: The insulin was previously obtained from animals. The process was rather long-winded and not very efficient. Using genetic engineering, human insulin is produced through the introduction of the gene for insulin into bacterial cells, making its mass production possible.

Biopharmaceuticals

Biopharmaceuticals are pharmaceutical drugs produced through biotechnology, usually through genetically engineered organisms. Some of the major applications of biotechnology in biopharmaceuticals are:

Monoclonal Antibodies: They are artificial proteins produced in the laboratory, aiming to reproduce the ability of the immune system to fight pathogens. These monoclonal antibodies are used for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections.

Vaccines: Biotechnology helps to prepare recombinant vaccines using parts of the pathogen, such as proteins, to achieve an immune response without causing the disease.

Stem Cell Therapy

The field of regenerative medicine is expanding speedily with stem cell therapy. The direct application of stem cells for the repair and replacement of damaged tissues and cells is being used.

Applications include leukaemia diseases to be cured with bone marrow transplantation, heart diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders in the form of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how an individual's genetic makeup dictates responses to drugs. The field allows:

Personalized medicine: Tailoring therapeutic approaches according to an individual's genetic profile leads to enhanced therapeutic outcomes and reduces adverse drug reactions.

Drug development: Biotechnology enables the rapid development of drugs since drugs can be designed to target specific genetic mutations.

Molecular Diagnostics

Molecular diagnostics are the applications of biotechnology in the detection of diseases at a molecular level.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): PCR is used to amplify targeted DNA sequences since genetic mutations and infectious agents like viruses have to be detected.

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS): The strength of NGS is in the sequencing of the complete genomes, which serves to provide personalized treatment of cancer and inherited diseases.

Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering comes in the category of biotechnology. This is to create artificial organs or tissues that will be made with the assistance of biological materials. It may be used for:

Organ Transplant: Artificial organs or tissue-engineered constructs may help to reduce the number of requests placed by a person for donor organs.

Skin Graft: Biotechnologically engineered skin may be used on burn patients or those suffering from severe injuries in the skin.

Application Of Biotechnology On Medicinal Plants

Biotechnology affects medicinal plants more indirectly, providing some techniques for medicinal compound production and further improvement of plant traits:

Modified Medicinal Plants: With biotechnology, yield levels of medicinal compounds in plants like Artemisia, used for malaria treatment, may be increased.

Plant-Based Vaccines: Vaccines can also be made using plants as bioreactors. Plants such as tobacco and potatoes have already been engineered to produce vaccines for hepatitis, for example.

Other Applications Of Biotechnology

• The production of alcohol, curd, and bread by fermentation is the earliest form of biotechnology.

• Crop breeding by creating varieties mixing the desirable characteristics of species benefits the agriculture sector.

• Tissue culture helps in the multiplication of plants with the help of plant tissue. Endangered plants can be multiplied by this method.

• Biotechnology in forensic science is used to solve parental disputes and criminal identification.

Scope Of Biotechnology

Biotechnology has applications in pharmaceuticals, food, agriculture, medicine, and many other industries. Genetic engineering is gaining popularity for producing biological organisms and other materials like proteins. Developing antibodies, transgenic animals and plants, tissue culture, etc., are some branches where biotechnology has been established.

Ethical And Medical Issues Of Biotechnology

• Human life at risk - The clinical trials of the new medicines put human life at risk.

• High cost - These most modern technologies involve a huge expenditure, making the cost of such treatments higher.

• Privacy issues - Interpreting the DNA sequence of a person is a breach of a person's privacy.

• Bioterrorism - Biowars are possible using these technologies. These lead to the depletion of funds in search of a cure to the diseases caused intentionally.

Tips, Tricks, And Strategies For Learning Biotechnology Applications

Diagrams and Tables: Make flowcharts for complex processes, like recombinant DNA technology or PCR.

Mnemonics: Memes can be developed for remembering the applications of biotechnology. For instance, "GET PH" can be associated with Gene Therapy, Enzyme Production, Tissue Engineering, Pharmacogenomics, and Hormones.

Multimedia Learning: The message that should be delivered by the animation or video regarding genetic engineering and molecular diagnostics should be viewed.

Flashcards: Flashcards can be made for some of the important terms such as recombinant DNA, monoclonal antibodies, stem cells, etc.

Weightage Of Biotechnology Applications In Exams

Below is the table for the weightage of questions from biotechnology applications in medicine in various exams:

Types Of Questions Asked In Exams From The Topic Biotechnology Applications In Medicine

The table given below indicates the types of questions asked about this topic in various exams:

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