Science and Technology topics of July 2014 for Mains

Food Irradiation

    Source

Gene Therapy

    Wikipedia

Genome Editing

    Wikipedia

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft

     Source

Mapathon 2013 - A Google's competition accused of violating Indian laws

     Source

Ebola virus

Special 301 Process by U.S.

Evergreening of Patents - Section 3(d) of Indian Patent Act

Google Glass

Wikipedia

Hindu

Plasmon sensor technology

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Anti-tank missile detector to fight malaria

  Hindu

Global warming potential (GWP)

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Brain Research Initiative - some facts

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Blue Brain Project:

Wikipedia

Google's 3D smartphone - Project Tango:

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How do we classify a species as endangered?

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Plastic waste - marine environment

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SOFIA - Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

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SRI - System of Rice Intensification

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Oleoresin

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Broadband speed:

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Universal Immunization Programme

PIB

ROV - Remotely operated underwater vehicle

Hindu

4K Ultra HD resolution:

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Wikipedia

'Guardians of the Skies’ (GOTS)

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Zoonotic diseases in developing world:

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Smart Glasses, B-Mobile

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1 comment:

  1. UnknownAugust 9, 2014 at 10:21 AM

    GENE THERAPY
    • Gene therapy is an experimental technique that introduces a gene with the capacity to cure or prevent the progression of a disease.
    • A gene that is inserted directly into a cell usually does not function. Instead, a carrier called a vector is genetically engineered to deliver the gene.
    • Certain viruses are often used as vectors because they can deliver the new gene by infecting the cell.The viruses are modified so they can’t cause disease when used in people
    • At a very simplistic level, gene therapy is the use of a person’s own cells to provide a therapeutic effect.
    • Gene therapy was first conceptualized in 1972. There are 2 types of gene therapy
    • 1. Germ line gene therapy: where germ cells (sperm or egg) are modified by the introduction of functional genes, which are integrated into their genome.
    • 2. Somatic gene therapy: where therapeutic genes are transferred into the somatic cells of a patient.
    • EARLY ISSUES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
    • Three patient’s deaths have been reported in gene therapy trials, putting the field under close scrutiny.
    • The first was that of Jesse Gelsinger in 1999 which represented a major setback in the field. One X-SCID patient died of leukemia following gene therapy treatment in 2003.
    • In September 1990(first approved) a four year old girl undergone treatment for a genetic defect that left her with ADA-SCID ,a severe immune system deficiency. The effects were only temporary, but successful.
    • Successes since 2006 have bolstered new optimism in the promise of gene therapy. These include successful treatment of patients with the retinal disease ,ADA-SCID etc.
    • in 2012 Glybera became the first gene therapy treatment to be approved for clinical use in either Europe or the United States.
    • PRESENT STATUS
    • As of 2014, gene therapy was still generally an experimental technique.
    • Gene therapy is currently only being tested for the treatment of diseases that have no other cures.
    • 2013 and April 2014, US companies invested over $600 million in gene therapy.
    • In March 2014 researchers at the University of Pennsylvania reported that 12 patients with HIV had been treated since 2009 in a trial with a genetically engineered virus with a rare mutation known to protect against HIV. Results were promising.
    • ADVANTAGES
    • Gene therapy could eventually target the correction of genetic defects, eliminate cancerous cells, prevent cardiovascular diseases, block neurological disorders, and even eliminate infectious pathogens.
    • Very effective when delivered to tissue correctly.
    • You can avoid drug side effects. It fixes the problem at its source.
    • Gene therapy can eliminate and prevent hereditary diseases.
    • It has been speculated that genetic engineering could be used to change physical appearance,metabolism and even improve physical capabilities and mental faculties like memory and intelligence, although for now these uses are limited to science fiction.
    • DISADVANTAGES
    • hard to deliver genes efficiently throughout a tissue or system.
    • It can be quite expensive.
    • The long term effects of gene therapy are unknown.
    • Short-lived nature of gene therapy.Patients have to undergo multiple times of gene therapy.
    • Might have unforeseen risks.
    • FUTURE RESEARCH
    • Using Stem Cells for Gene Therapy
    • Stem cells have the ability to self-renew, which means that the need to provide repeated administrations of gene therapy can be reduced or possibly even eliminated
    • Gene therapy is still in its infancy, but it is believed that as it matures, it will become an effective treatment for the myriad of genetic diseases that affect humanity.
    • As gene therapy is uprising in the field of medicine, scientists believe that after 20 years, this will be the last cure of every genetic disease.

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