UPSC Exam  >  UPSC Notes  >  Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC  >  Medical Biotechnology

Medical Biotechnology | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Historical Background


  • 10,000 years ago: Humans domesticated crops and livestock
  • 6,000 years ago: Biotechnology used for leavening bread and fermenting beer (Egypt)
  • 6,000 years ago: Production of cheese and fermentation of wine (Sumeria, China, and Egypt)
  • 2,500 years ago: First antibiotic discovered in China, used to treat boils

Definition of Biotechnology


  • Biotechnology combines biological processes with technology to solve problems and create useful products
  • Humans have employed natural biological processes for food production and disease treatment for thousands of years

History of Medical Biotechnology


  • 1797: Edward Jenner's first vaccination against smallpox
  • 1919: First use of the term "biotechnology" in print
  • 1928: Discovery of penicillin as an antibiotic by Alexander Fleming
  • 1938: Coining of the term "molecular biology"
  • 1941: First use of the term "genetic engineering" by Danish microbiologist A. Jost
  • 1942: Mass production of penicillin in microbes
  • 1944: Isolation of streptomycin, an effective antibiotic for tuberculosis, by Waksman

Medical Biotechnology Aims


  • Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases
  • Involves basic research on disease mechanisms and genomic and genetic determinants of diseases

Genomic Complexity


  • Only 1% of the human genome is transcribed into mRNA and translated into proteins
  • Additional 0.5% serves as a template for noncoding RNA and regulatory regions controlling gene expression
  • The remaining 98.5% of the genome, referred to as "dark matter," contains functional conserved noncoding elements

Genetic Nature of Diseases

  • Diseases can be monogenic (inherited) or polygenic (acquired)
  • Complex diseases result from the cumulative and interactive effects of multiple loci

Tools and Products of Medical Biotechnology


  • Prevention, diagnostics at the nucleic acid level, and treatment using recombinant DNA technology, genetic therapy, cell therapy, and biomedical engineering

Prevention Measures


  • Primary: Health promotion and immunization
  • Secondary: Early disease detection through screening and case finding
  • Tertiary: Reversing, arresting, or delaying disease progression and preventing complications of chronic diseases
  • Quaternary: Avoiding consequences related to overmedication, overdiagnosis, or incidental findings

Genetic Tests


  • Cytogenetic analysis, detection of mutations, PCR technology, and sequencing used for disease diagnosis and risk assessment

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations


  • Lifetime risk of breast cancer: BRCA1 mutations (50-80%), BRCA2 mutations (40-70%)
  • Risk of ovarian cancer: BRCA1 mutations (40%), BRCA2 mutations (20%)
  • Mutations in these genes account for a small percentage of breast and ovarian cancers

Genetic Testing Purposes


  • Preimplantation diagnostics after in vitro fertilization
  • Prenatal and postnatal diagnostics

Human Genome Project (HGP)


  • Completed in 2003, identified genes, determined DNA sequences, and addressed ethical, legal, and social issues
  • Project catalyzed the biotechnology industry and fostered medical applications development

Development of Sequencing Technology


  • Sequencing of the human genome and other organisms made possible by DNA sequencing technology advancements
  • Maxam-Gilbert sequencing method, based on chemical modification of DNA, allowed rapid analysis of sequences

PCR Technology


  • PCR technology, developed by Kary Mullis, enables the amplification of specific DNA sequences
  • Cycles of DNA denaturation, primer annealing, and extension result in exponential amplification of target DNA

Genetic Testing and Disease Diagnosis


  • Genetic testing plays a crucial role in diagnosing diseases and assessing risk
  • PCR technology used to detect mutations associated with diseases like cystic fibrosis
  • Identification of mutations in genes like BRCA1 and BRCA2 helps assess the risk of hereditary diseases

The Human Genome Project


  • Completed in 2003, aimed to identify all human genes and determine DNA sequences
  • Addressed ethical, legal, and social issues arising from genomic research
  • Catalyzed the growth of the biotechnology industry and facilitated medical applications development
Advancements in sequencing technology and techniques like PCR have revolutionized medical biotechnology. Genetic testing and the Human Genome Project have significantly contributed to our understanding of genetic diseases and paved the way for personalized medicine and targeted therapies. These advancements continue to shape the future of medical research and healthcare, offering new avenues for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of various diseases.
The document Medical Biotechnology | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC is a part of the UPSC Course Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC.
All you need of UPSC at this link: UPSC
181 videos|346 docs

Top Courses for UPSC

181 videos|346 docs
Download as PDF
Explore Courses for UPSC exam

Top Courses for UPSC

Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Related Searches

Sample Paper

,

mock tests for examination

,

Semester Notes

,

pdf

,

Medical Biotechnology | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC

,

Medical Biotechnology | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC

,

Previous Year Questions with Solutions

,

Extra Questions

,

Exam

,

Objective type Questions

,

Medical Biotechnology | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC

,

practice quizzes

,

Important questions

,

ppt

,

Free

,

study material

,

MCQs

,

video lectures

,

Viva Questions

,

shortcuts and tricks

,

past year papers

,

Summary

;