RJA 8a

The field of genomics is incredibly interesting.  For hundreds of years, we as a race have been finding ways to react to disease, but here we have the possibility to proactively prevent it by essentially changing our building blocks; our genetic structure.  While practical application on that high a level isn’t in the near future, the fledgling science that is genomics is catching on.  There are already tests that can be conducted via spinal tap that can determine if a fetus has Downs’ Syndrome or Turner’s Syndrome.  Criminal forensics has been using a DNA database to match criminals with DNA found at the scene of a crime, and these matches are within 99.9%.  In addition, the developments of cloned sheep and cloned organs have shown us just how far-reaching this science is.  There has been recent study done on heart-attack patients in conjunction with stem-cell research.  In a small group of 18 patients who had suffered heart attacks; myocardial infarctions typically leave behind irreparable scar tissue.  Cells were drawn from the healthier portions of the patients’ hearts and used to develop new tissue.  This tissue was then implanted into the scarred portions of the heart.  In patients who had this procedure was done, doctors observed a significant improvement; over two years, nearly 70% of the scar tissue had regenerated.  Patients who did not participate saw little to no improvement.  It’s crazy to think that healthy tissue generated by your own body could help essentially rebuild organs.  My grandmother passed away due to complications from cystic fibrosis, which is passed genetically.  It also skips generations, so my cousins and I are at a higher risk for it.  It’s wild to think that people with cystic fibrosis could eventually be able to regrow lung tissue and live a healthy life.