Genetic technology applied to medicine

Genetic Technology in Medicine: Overview

Genetic technology has a wide variety of applications in medicine.
Application areas include the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, vaccine development, drug design and personalised medicine.
It often involves techniques such as gene therapy, pharmacogenomics, genetic screening, and GMOs production.

DNA fingerprinting is used to profile individuals’ unique genetic blueprints, applied in forensic medicine to solve crime.
Genetic screening involves testing individuals for genetic disorders or genetic predisposition to certain diseases.
Prenatal genetic screening allows for the detection of congenital genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, early in pregnancy.
Carrier screening can inform couples whether they carry any genetic disorders that could be passed onto their offspring.

Gene therapy replaces or alters disease-causing genes, offering solutions for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and some cancers.
Genetically modified microorganisms are used to produce human proteins such as insulin and growth hormone.
Genetic technology enables the development of customised drugs, based on an individual’s genetic makeup, known as personalised medicine.

Genetic technology plays a crucial role in vaccine development, for instance by genetically engineering harmless viruses to stimulate immunity.
The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 are an example of genetically engineered vaccines.

Genetic screening of embryos using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can help detect genetic disorders before the embryo is implanted in the womb.
Neonatal screening allows for the early detection and treatment of genetic disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU).

Ethics plays a significant role when considering genetic technology in medicine, with concerns arising around informed consent, genetic privacy, and potential misuse of genetic information.
Other contentious issues include the moral implications of gene editing and the screening of embryos for non-medical traits.
Responsible application of genetic technology in medicine requires robust regulatory frameworks and ongoing ethical debates.