Main applications of the human genome project
Knowledge of the human genome makes it possible to understand the transmission processes of all types of characteristics and diseases. It is so called because it is the set of genes that make up the biological heritage of each person and contain the keys to genetic inheritance.
Its applications can be mainly limited to the following areas:
Advances in the treatment of diseases thanks to the genome of cats
Technological advances have taken research into the human genome to a new level where it is claimed that the cat genome is more similar to that of humans and can make a difference by becoming the key to preventing and curing diseases.
- Science
A database on the human DNA sequence helps to solve some of the basic questions related to gene expression, differentiation and specialization mechanisms, immune processes, among others.
- Information
Demonstrate the predisposition to acquire certain diseases, or the aptitude to perform a certain job. In addition, it allows the elaboration of a genetic identity card for unequivocal identification for various purposes, including judicial ones.
- Therapy
Prevent, diagnose and cure genetic diseases by inserting healthy genes or modifying the expression of harmful genes.
- Eugenics
Selecting individuals on the basis of their genetic information and attempting to modify the genetic heritage of gametes to obtain individuals with predetermined characteristics.
The field of health
In medicine, knowledge of the human genome makes it possible to understand diseases that have a genetic basis, such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and cardiovascular disease, leading to important changes in clinical practice.
In this sense, the International Bioethics Committee of Unesco has mentioned that somatic gene therapy is an important avenue for the alleviation of genetic and acquired diseases, since the 20 most frequent ailments that kill about 80% of the population are associated with about 200 genes that make up the human body.
Undoubtedly, one of the diseases on which most efforts are being focused is cancer, since according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with about 10 million deaths in 2020. Through gene therapy, in addition to curing cancer, the discovery of DNA gears will allow almost total prevention, eliminating the chances of developing this disease.
Private initiative has been intensively dedicated to the study of genetics for the pharmaceutical industry, as a result, there are already patents on the genes discovered in many ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, arterial hypertension, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease, baldness and several types of cancer.
The countries that initiated research in the Human Genome Project (HGP) were: Australia, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Holland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
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