DNA Diagnostic Technologies Description

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Microarray Technology
Nanotechnology
Prenatal genetic testing
Gene therapy
DNA fingerprinting
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

In today’s world, new technologies keep on coming up. The latest among these is DNA Diagnostics which has been very useful. For instance, in December 2009, a man who had been held for 18 years was set free based on DNA tests. DNA diagnostics has also been used in paternity and maternity tests and more recently in diagnosing genetic diseases that once proved to be fatal. The potential of this technology is simply amazing. This paper looks at some of the new DNA Diagnostic technologies and what impact they have had on individuals and society as a whole.

Microarray Technology

Microarray technology is one application of DNA Diagnostic Technology. It has enabled scientists to analyze many genes in a single experiment or reaction; a fete that was not possible using traditional methods. This has made it possible to understand the aspects concerning the development of human life as well as genetic causes of abnormalities that are seen in the human body. An array is made up of several DNA samples arranged in an orderly manner. This helps to identify the genes. Scientists conduct the tests by combining the molecule of an mRNA and the original DNA pattern, A sample contains thousands of spots known as probes. The probes are put on a solid support like a nylon membrane or glass slide for analysis. Analyzing a single DNA chip can give information on a lot of genes at the same time. (Mandana and Walker 2).

Microarray technology has been instrumental in the early diagnosis of cancer among other diseases. Instead of focusing on the primary organs in which cancer develops, researchers can now be able to identify the exact type of cancer based on the changes taking place in the tumor cells concerning gene patterns. As a result, significant strides have been made in the treatment of cancer due to the development of drugs that deal with particular types of cancer. This renders them more effective (Schena 96).

Microarray technology has also been useful in drug discovery and synthesis. Genes from a diseased cell and a normal cell can be analyzed and compared to identify the biochemical structure of the proteins produced by the diseased cell. This information can then be used to manufacture drugs that will combat these proteins and hence manage the disease (Mandana and Walker 4).

Microarray technology is a valuable tool in the scientific study of toxins, their effects on body cells, and how they are passed on to the next generation. Using the results obtained from these studies, a relationship is established between the responses of the cells to toxicants and how the genetic patterns of these cells change. An antidote is then developed. This has led to better management of diseases in human beings, animals, and plants. (Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology”, par.2).

Nanotechnology

DNA Diagnostic Techniques have been used in the scientific field of Nanotechnology to build small but practical machinery. In this case, DNA is used as a structural substance rather than a carrier of information. DNA is very useful in nanotechnology for making electric circuits because it self-assembles or repeats itself and can assume various states and formations. The most basic form of DNA devices that are expected to display some almost real functions is DNA tweezers. This notion was first introduced in 2000 by scientists at Bell Labs and Oxford University. To demonstrate their use, two complementary DNA strands are alternately placed in a buffer solution that contains the tweezers. One strand is used for closing the tweezers while the other opens them. DNA tweezers can be used in microsurgery, constructing molecular motors, or small cell circuits. It can also be used to assemble nano-scale devices (Seeman, par.2)

Prenatal genetic testing

A new DNA diagnostic technology exists for routine prenatal genetic testing. It is still under review at Sequenom, Inc. It has been offered as an alternative to traditional screening measures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, which have been considered invasive. This new technology can be extremely helpful for women with high-risk pregnancies. This technique uses a combination of ultrasound and a sample of the mother’s blood to detect any birth defects before the child is born. This is accomplished through the Fetal Nucleic Acid Technology, which analyses the nucleic acid of the fetus obtained from the mother’s blood sample. It has opened the door for treating other diseases such as cystic fibrosis and Downs Syndrome. (Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology”, par.4).

Gene therapy

In the treatment of genetic diseases, Gene Therapy, a DNA Diagnostic Technique has been used. It involves inserting genetically- altered cells into a patient’s body to replace the non-functional ones. Once recognized in the body, the new genes begin synthesizing the genetic codes for proteins the patient is deficient in. Gene therapy has been used in patients with melanoma which is vituperative skin cancer. Lymphocytes that generally attack tumors are secluded and treated with genes for an anticancer protein called tumor necrosis factor. The altered lymphocytes are then infused back to the patient’s body where they generate the new protein needed to destroy the cancer cells hence effectively combat the disease (Schena 102).

DNA fingerprinting

DNA Diagnostic techniques have been used in a forensic procedure called DNA fingerprinting. This process, also known as profiling, involves matching DNA molecules to each other for identification. The actual fingerprints are not required. Instead, it makes use of a sequence of base pairs called microsatellites which repeat themselves on the surface of the DNA strands. These are the distinguishing factors when comparing the DNA of different individuals because they are unique. As a result, it becomes easier to identify an individual because no two microsatellites are the same. It is a reliable method of identification because only a single cell of body fluids or tissue is required to extract the DNA. This can be obtained from a sample of blood, hair, semen, or even saliva.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DNA Diagnostic Technologies have a wide array of applications. These include microarray technologies, gene therapy, and DNA fingerprinting, prenatal genetic testing, and gene therapy. The benefits are huge and can be felt in terms of quicker disease diagnosis, especially at the fetal stage and drug discovery as well as more accurate identification. This study is by no means exhaustive. Innovations in the scientific arena are being made daily and we can only look forward to more intriguing and progressive applications based on DNA Diagnostic Technologies. With the future looking this bright, governments all over the world should inject more resources and funds into research institutions to boost this upward trend in technology. It is also the role of the government to create awareness and promote public knowledge of these innovations so that people can be able to utilize them more effectively.

Works Cited

Mandana, Ssanfar and Walker, Graham, (“DNA Microarray Technology. What is it and how is it useful?” Web.

“Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology”. CliffsNotes.com, 2010. Web.

Schena, Mark. DNA Microarrays, A practical Approach. London: Oxford University Press, 1999.

Seeman, Radian. ‘DNA in a material world”. International weekly Journal of Science (2003): 427-431.

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