Written by: The Midland Certified Reagent Company

One of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the twenty-first century is the ability to decode the human genome and essentially read our own genes. We’ve learned a lot since that point, but we still have a long way to go applying this knowledge in a way that benefits patients. Someday, dual-labeled probes will be able to screen DNA from parents to analyze a child’s potential for disease. First, we need to identify the genes that cause these mutations, so we can better understand how to deal with them.

Identify Harmful Genes

Scientists hope that soon we’ll be able to identify a disease based on its genetic makeup, which an important step in curing. The challenge lies in what to attack. Without knowing the genetic makeup of diseases, any vaccines engineered to fight them might hurt well-meaning cells too. Medical scientists are beginning to use the automated process of oligo synthesis to study how a disease might react before we try to use a cure on a live subject.

Synthesize Cures

Part of understanding the body means understanding how medical science impacts it. We might not know that a particular vaccine could alter someone’s genetic structure and cause mutations we don’t want unless we experiment for those outcomes. A modified oligo allow techs to simulate the disease with normal human DNA, literally diagramming how a potential cure alters the genetic material involved.

Final Thoughts

With a greater understanding of the human genome, we can fight disease at a molecular level instead of treating symptoms as they arise.