Understanding Genomics and Global Health Impacts

Summary

With the exclusion of viruses, which are intracellular parasites, living beings are split up into two universal categories. First, there are eukaryotes whose cells have an intricate compartmental internal construction; they comprise algae, fungi, plants and animals. Second, there are prokaryotes, single-celled microorganisms with an elementary internalarrangement, which comprise bacteria and related organisms. Genetic data is transmitted from one generation to the next by subcellular structures called chromosomes.

The achievements of contemporary molecular genetic science are founded firmly on classical genetics, which developed after the rediscovery of the work of Gregor Mendel at the start of the 20th Century.

The revolution in genetic science, which contributed to the molecular era, was motivated by an outstandingly sophisticated series of new technologies, which developed in the 1970s. It became possible to fractionate DNA into pieces of foreseeable size and insert them into plasmids, small circular entities that are able to split up within bacteria. This method, increased with the evolution of more advanced vectors of this kind, which would admit larger pieces of DNA, was utilized to bring forth libraries of these recombinant carriers of DNA, which were grown in bacterial cultures. Individual colonies containing genes of interest could then be separated and grown in adequate quantities for analysis, a process which became known as cloning, simply because each derivative from individual colonies contained an identical fragment of DNA.

The study of disease at the cellular and molecular level has been developing quickly over the last twenty years and already a considerable amount of progress has been made. Hence, although the entire implications for the additional growth of this field that may accompany future progress in human and pathogen genomics are still uncertain, it is possible to make some cautious predictions about the clinical applications that may be generated along the way. They are supported by the logical assumption that, if it has been possible to make extensive progress in human molecular genetics and pathology without knowledge of entire genome sequences and functional genomics, as this is obtained the field should move much faster.

This report, Understanding Genomics and Global Health Impacts, analyzes how the field of genomics has evolved over the years and the crucial role it has now come to play in global healthcare.

The report analyzes the various segments of healthcare, which are being affected by developments, and advances in genomics, such as dealing with thalassemia, leukemia, and other diseases.

Through case studies, the report establishes how developing countries are benefiting from genomics, by deriving cures for many diseases and thus increasing the lifespan of their population.

The report looks at how decoding the genomes of various organisms, including humans, is benefiting scientists and doctors in providing better healthcare services for humans across countries.

Contents

• Executive Summary
• Genome Projects and Genomics
  • Overview
  • Introduction to Genes
  • Development of Molecular Genetics
  • Traditional Genetics
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Illustrating the Human Genome
  • Identifying Human Disease Genes
  • Looking at the Human Genome Project
  • Charting the Human Genome
  • Functional Genomics
  • Genome Annotation of the Human Genome
  • Proteomics
  • Transcriptomics
  • Gene Regulation
  • Bioinformatics
• Analyzing the Genomes of other Animals
  • Overview
  • Pathogen Genome Project
  • Genome of Disease Vectors
  • Genomes of Worms, Fruit Fly, Yeast and Others
  • Mouse Genome Project Implications and Importance
  • Plant Genomics
  • Conclusion
• Genomics and Healthcare
  • Overview
  • Monogenic Diseases
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Cancer
  • Complex Multifactorial Diseases
  • Mental Retardation and Other Developmental Problems
  • Problems with an Ageing Population
  • Understanding Pharmacogenomics
  • Understanding Gene Therapy
  • Understanding Stem Cell Therapy
  • Human Health and Plant Genomics
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Understanding Biotechnology
  • Challenges and Issues of Biology
  • Conclusion
• Importance of Progress in Genomics for World Health
  • Dealing with Global Health Problems through Genomics
  • Timeline of Genomic Advances and Medical Applications
  • Economics of Genome Research for Medical Applications
  • Conclusion
• Developing Genomics Capacity in Developing Countries
  • Overview
  • Present-day Status of Medical Application of Genomics
  • Hemoglobin Disorders
  • Resistance to Communicable Diseases
  • Development of DNA Diagnostics for Communicable Diseases
  • Drug-Resistant Organisms
  • Pharmacogenomics
  • Non-communicable Diseases
  • Development in Clinical Genetics and DNA Technology
  • Future Use of Genomics and Communicable Diseases
  • Importance of Regional Cooperation
  • IT and Bioinformatics
  • Conclusion
• Risks Associated with Genomics
  • Overview
  • Genetic Exploitation
  • Issues Associated with Non-human Genomics
  • Animals and Insects
  • Plants
  • Altering the Genome of Entire Populations and Individuals
  • Building Genetic Databases
  • Horrors of Biological Warfare and Various Political Abuses
  • Stem Cell Gene Therapy
  • Conclusion
• Case Studies
  • Brazil
  • China
  • India
  • Icelandic Health Sector Database
  • Estonian Genome Project
  • Population Database of Tonga
• Appendix
• Glossary
• List of Tables and Figures
• Figures
• Figure 1: The Structure of DNA
  • Figure 2: From Gene to Protein
  • Figure 3: Mitotic and Meiotic Cell Division
  • Figure 4: DNA Fingerprinting
• Tables
• Table 1: The Pathogen Genome Project - Completed Genomes
  • Table 2: The Pathogen Genome Project Genomes in Progress
  • Table 3: Pharmacogenomics and Consequences
  • Table 4: Clinical Trials in Gene Therapy Carried Out Recently
  • Table 5: Analysis of Deaths from Infectious Diseases in 1998
  • Table 6: Population Control of Common Disorders of Hemoglobin
  • Table 7: Examples of Human Genes Involved in Varying Susceptibility to Communicable
  • Disease