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How Biomedical Engineering Saves Lives and The History and Techniques of DNA Sequencing

Technology is changing the face of health care and products that make life easier. Biomedical Engineering is just another way technology is working to improve the quality of life.
Modern technology, especially in the medical field, is advancing by leaps and bounds, in large part through the science of Biomedical Engineering. The combination of engineering and medical technology has made these advances possible. From prosthetics to artificial organs like the Jarvik7 artificial heart to breast implants for cancer patients, biomedical engineering is improving the quality of life for millions of people all over the world. Amputees can walk and even run with the use of biomedical engineering technology. Patients who need heart transplants can rely on technology when real hearts are not available. People who are facing blindness can have their sight restored with biomedical engineering.
Biomedical Engineering Technology
When Dr. Jarvik invented his breakthrough artificial heart, it was through biomedical engineering. The heart is made of materials designed to limit rejection and function much the same as a real heart would, pumping blood into the arteries and receiving oxygenated blood from the lungs. Tiny telescopic lenses can be fitted into the eyes of people who are losing their sight to restore vision. Missing limbs can be replaced with biomedical prosthetics, allowing patients to walk or use their new “hands” in almost the same way the original parts operated.
How Biomedical Engineering Saves Lives
Not only does the Jarvik7 artificial heart save the lives of patients who would otherwise have died from heart disease, but diabetic patients can thank biomedical engineering for a new insulin implant that keeps the right amount of insulin going to the pancreas at a pre-determined rate to prevent insulin shock or diabetic coma. Cochlear implants are part of biomedical engineering that allow deaf people to hear everything from music to TV to sirens and traffic noises, the latter two of which can allow them to travel and even drive with a greater level of safety.
Overview
Biomedical engineering covers many different fields from drugs to imaging to replacement parts. Combining two intensive sciences such as medicine and engineering is proving to be the solution to a variety of problems. Not only is biomedical engineering extending life expectancy, but improving the quality of life for millions. Breast implants for cancer patients are a great quality of life enhancer. Biomedical engineering is especially important to wounded military personnel during wartime. Being able to restore people to their normal quality of life is one of the most important parts of biomedical engineering.
The History and Techniques of DNA Sequencing
One of the key requirements for developing personalized medicine is a fast and accurate DNA sequencing technology. Learn about the history of DNA sequencing here.
What is DNA sequencing?
DNA sequencing is the process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA. DNA sequencing is often talked about in the context of the Human Genome Project, in which, the human genome was successfully sequenced in 2001, providing scientists an incredible amount of data. The technology of DNA sequencing has evolved rapidly in the past 15 years. You now can pay companies to obtain your
personal genome sequencing. This allows you to access your disease risk and to analyze and compare your genetic traits.
How does DNA sequencing work?
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DNA molecules consist of repeating nucleotides, which are the the bases of DNA. Nucleotides consist of adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C). DNA molecules are double-stranded, with two complimentary DNA strands forming a double helix. DNA sequencing aims to determine the exact order of the bases, A, T, C and G in a DNA fragment.
The basic principle of DNA sequencing is simple and consists of two main steps. In the first step, labeled nucleotides are inserted into copies of a DNA fragment. In the second step, the DNA sequence is derived from the locations of the labeled nucleotides. The first step involves a technique called DNA amplification. First, the original double-stranded DNA is heated and separated into two single DNA strands. Then, these single strands are used as a template for making complementary copies. We then end up with a large number of fragments of different lengths. The second step involves separating the DNA fragments according to their lengths. This is often done by electrophoresis in a polyacrylamide gel. The base at the end of each fragment is identified, allowing reconstruction of the DNA sequence.
History of DNA Sequencing
Prior to 1970s, no progress had been made toward the sequencing of DNA. In the mid 1970s, the technology of DNA sequencing was revolutionized by Sanger, who later on won his second Nobel Prize in chemistry for this invention. The complete DNA sequence of a viral genome was reported by Sanger in 1977. However, Sanger's technique of DNA sequencing was still very slow.
By the begining of 1990s, only a handful of groups were able sequence DNA up to 100,000 bases at extremely high costs. The start of the Human Genome Project had inspired scientists and engineers to come up with automation techniques that not only speed up the process of DNA squencing but also to substantially lower its cost. DNA sequencing is now done routinely all round the world. There are now many laboratories that can sequence 100 million bases or more every year. In addition to the human genome, DNA sequencing is also used to obtain genomes of many organisms, including mice, rats, fruit flies, worms, yeast, fungi, microbes, plants, mosquitos, bacteria and viruses.


Applications of Genomics in Medicine - Personalized Medicine
This series of article introduces readers to existing and potential applications of genomics in improving disease treatment. We focus on the topics of personalized medicine (pharmacogenomics), DNA technology and genetic screening.
1.
COLARIS: A Genetic Test for Hereditary Colon Cancer
2.
23andMe: Personal Genetics
3.
Personalized Medicine and Politics
4.
The History and Techniques of DNA Sequencing
5.
Applications of DNA Sequencing
See More About:Personalized medicine, DNA, DNA sequencing history
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