Bioinformatics

Evolution Of Bioinformatics

DNA is the genetic material of organism. It contains all the information needed for the development and existence of an organism. The DNA molecule is formed of two long polynucleotide chains which are spirally coiled on each other forming a double helix. Thus it has the form of spirally twisted ladder. DNA is a molecule made from sugar, phosphate and bases. The bases are guanine (G), cytosine(C)adenine(A) and thiamine(T).Adenine pairs only with Thiamine and Guanine pairs only with Cytosine. The various combinations of these bases make up with DNA. That is; AAGCT, CCAGT, TACGGT etc.

Biochip

Biochip is an IC who’s electrical and logical functions are performed by protein molecules appropriately manipulated. Advances in molecular biology and semiconductor fabrication have resulted in new formats for hybridization arrays. Instead of these being based on a membrane or a glass slide platforms these arrays several electrodes covered by a thin layer of agarose coupled with affinity moiety.

About

Bioinformatics is an inter disciplinary research area. It is a fusion of computing, biotechnology and biological sciences. Bioinformatics is poised to one of the most prodigious growth areas in the next to decades. Being the interface between the most rapidly advancing fields of biological and computational sciences, it is immense in scope and vast in applications.

   If you are not tall enough, the stature could be altered accordingly. If you are weak and not strong enough, your physique could be improved. If you think this is the script for a science fiction movie, you are mistaken. It is the future reality.

Human Electronics

          The nucleus is the most obvious organelle in the human cell. Within the nucleus is the DNA responsible for providing the cell with its unique characteristics. The DNA is similar in every cell of the body, but depending on the specific cell type; some genes may be turned on or off-that is why a liver cell is different from a muscle cell, and a muscle cell is different from a fat cell. About 99.9% of the sequence is identical between any two people. But because the small percentage of DNA that differs can relate to an individual’s disease. Scientists are comparing sequence using DNA chips from healthy people and those from patients with a specific disease to help identify genetic targets for drug discovery information about genetic variation can help to predict which patients are likely to benefit from specific drugs.

Glucose measurement

          Nowadays diabetics measure the level of sugar glucose in their blood by using a skin prick and a hand held blood test and medicate them with insulin. The disadvantage of this simple system is that the need to draw blood makes the diabetics not to test the sugar levels themselves as often as they could.

Clinical chips

A decade ago, an eight-year old kid jumped from his swing set and landed flat, shattering a leg bone where most kids would have sprained an ankle. An X-ray revealed this problem. Where there should have been hard bone, a soft tumour was present. The kid needed a precise diagnosis. If the cancer was aggressive, it needed immediate treatment with the powerful but toxic drug 'adriamycin'. If the tumour was growing slowly, doctors had the time to try out weaker but safer drugs.

Eye implant

          Vision occurs as the light reflected from a body is received by photoreceptors, the light sensing cells at the back of the eye. Blindness occurs if the photoreceptors are lost in retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disease and in related macular degeneration.

Cochlear Implant

          Hearing aids used in present days are glorified amplifiers, but the cochlear implant is for patients who have lost the hair cells that detect sound waves. For these individuals no amount of amplification is enough.

Abstract                  

    

          Rapid advances in bioinformatics are providing new hopes to patients of life threatening diseases. Gene chips will be able to screen heart attack and diabetics years before patients develop symptoms. In near future, patients will go to a doctor’s clinic with lab- on- a- chip devices. The device will inform the doctor in real time if the patient’s ailment will respond to a drug based on his DNA. These will help doctors diagnose life-threatening illness faster, eliminating expensive, time-consuming ordeals like biopsies and sigmoidoscopies.

Conclusion

Days aren't far off when beauty saloons will perform fundamental body changes apart from customizing looks of the people. If you aren't born perfect, free from any diseases and deformity, you need not despair. Rapid advances in bioinformatics are providing new hopes to such patients.