Mapping the Gene

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the advances made as a result of the mapping of the human genome are substantial in medicine and most specifically, in pharmacology. The paper explains that the traditional "trial and error" methodology of medicine discovery of the past century has ended with the new methodology being that of creating drugs to design. The paper looks at the scientists' accomplishments and their tests on animals and humans.

Outline:
Introduction
Searching the Public Genome Database
Using Microarrays to Narrow the Options
Identifying and Isolating the Drugs
Testing on Animals
Testing on Humans
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In 1998 a team used the reasoning of other drug companies who have "often found new medicines by seeking compounds similar to ones they already know, and since most pharmacologically active compounds are based on proteins" or in actuality "chemicals manufactured naturally from genetic instructions" to attempt improvement on the drugs used for lower blood-pressure which are known as 'ace inhibitors'. The researchers went to work and "plugged in some genetic sequences found in the gene for ace and came up with 10,000 genes that might have comparable activity." (Lemonick, 2001)"

Sample of Sources Used:

• Drug Design in the Fast Lane: Speeding Drug Design (nd)http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.roboo.com/anna/zyhy9.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DACE-2%2Binhibitor%2Band%2Bgenetic%2Bcompatibility%2Bwith%2Bdrugs%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D.
• Elmer-Dewitt, Phillip (2001) The Future of Drugs. Time Asia 22 January 2001 Vol. 57, No. 3 Online available at: http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2001/0122/cover1.html.
• Lemonick, Michael, D. (2001) Brave New Pharmacy - Time Asia 22 Jan 2001 Vol. 157. No. 3 Online available at: http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2001/0122/drug.impact.html
• Kher, Unmesh (2001) DNA Microarrays: The Workhorse of Genomic Medicine - Time Asia 22 Jan 2001, Vol. 157 No. 3. Online available at: http://www.time.com/time/asia/magazine/2001/0122/drug.impact_sb1.html
• Riordan, James F. (2003) Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme and Its Relatives - Genome Biology 2003, 4:225 25 July 2003. BioMed Central Ltd. Online available at: http://genomebiology.com/2003/4/8/225

More papers on Mapping the Gene:

• Essay # 26278 : "Gene Therapy"
• Essay # 62707 : "The Human Genome Project"
• Descriptive Essay # 115890 : "The Human Genome Project"

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