Human Genome Project And The Meaning Of Our Chromosomes

Human genome project and the meaning of our chromosomes

The human genome project was created in order to decipher the information within our chromosomes in order to interpret its meaning, regulation and functioning in normal and pathological conditions;These advances could give us several benefits to help the human race. Some applications for this project have been carried out, including: the fight against diseases that currently has no cure, such as cancer, in which thanks to the discovery of DNA gears will allow almost total prevention toIn the future to reach the complete elimination of this disease;Genetic engineering makes this type of discovery possible, since it is one of the types of genetic modification whose function consists in the addition of one or more genes to the genome of an organism through this process, the DNA is physically extracted and genes are transferredmodify the characteristics of another gene. The uses of advanced genetic tests may carry out the identification of the possible effects given by the treatments, since the consequences could be harmful to the health of the organism. Some of the most important derivations of this project are called genomic medicine, gene and pharmacogenomy treatment, then they can break down to be able to carry out the understanding of their functions and importance.

As a first point, it should be understood that there are genetic diseases that can be chromosomal (alterations in the structure of chromosomes), gene mono (the alteration or mutation of a gene in the DNA sequence) or multifactorials (produced by environmental changes and mutationsin several genes).

Genomic medicine focuses on this type of diseases because the information of its genomes and their derivatives (RNA, proteins and metabolites) allow to guide medical decision making either by diagnosis or some other treatment. This type of medicine allows to know the cartography of the human genome, which provides valuable information to take into account when detecting genes involved in certain diseases;One of its objectives is to provide immediate information about the state of each organ in order to create personalized treatments, that is, create different medicine required for the condition in which the patient is and achieve internal balance;Another of its objectives is to identify DNA variations to recognize the predisposition to common diseases such as arterial hypertension, asthma, diabetes mellitus, among others, in order to establish immediate medical care.

As a second point we have gene therapy, which is a method of approaching the treatment of human diseases based on the transfer of genetic material to the cells of an individual. The purpose of this transfer is to restore a cellular function that is abolished or defective, in order to introduce a new function or interfere with an existing function. There are some strategies based on the combination of three key elements: the genetic material to be transferred, the transfer method and the cell type that will incorporate said genetic material. This type of treatment focuses on mono gene diseases, previously this treatment was concentrated on cancer. One of the genetic therapy tools is to obtain genetic material, which can be obtained from natural genes, DNA pieces that form proteins with a desired effect, synthesized genes in laboratories (also called chimeric) or short nucleic acid sequencesto make a cell lose a function specifically;Another tools is the transduction that consists in introducing the genetic material in the cell to achieve the desired effect.

Pharmacogenomy is the term used to describe the study of the contribution of the differences in an individual’s genes. The differences between the genes depend on the production of the specific proteins that participate in different processes of the organism, from their absorption, their access to the bloodstream, their distribution in the tissues and their subsequent elimination of the body. Genes variability is related to our hereditary information, since we have 50% of a person and 50% of another person. Pharmacogenomics also allows the study of an individual’s study to design customs to measure adapting to the hereditary characteristics to increase effectiveness and reduce side effects. Also with the use of genetic information, changes can be identified in the functioning of different genes among individuals, as well as the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for different responses to medications in such a way by increasing the safety and effectiveness of treatments. While the environment, diet, age, lifestyle and health status can influence a person’s reaction to medicines, understand the genetic constitution of the individual can be the key to prescribing a better treatment insteadto use the test and error method.

To conclude, the human genome project is important, since knowledge advance at high speed and this can carry out the cure of several diseases that are currently unknown to be able to heal them completely. Genetic medicine is based on the knowledge of all types of genes;While we know genes are those that contain complete information about our body at biological and physical levels. With the new knowledge acquired about genetic information, the analysis of the structure of the human genome has been achieved, determining the content of the genes, finding out the causes and consequences of genetic diseases in order to prevent or cure them. In some cases it can be evidenced that the proposed methods are not adequate or own according to the ethical point of view. Biomedical science places us in a situation in front of the values proposed by the human being: life, death, health, personal integrity, among others, creating an ethical-social conflict between religion and morals.