modern medicine

• Genes

  The chemical 'instructions' that plan out human characteristics, like sex and hair colour. They are stored in cells as DNA.
• Your DNA is a mix of your parents' DNA
• DNA structure

  A double helix (a kind of spiral) that can reproduce by splitting
• Francis Crick and James Watson first described the structure of DNA


  1953
• Watson and Crick's discovery

  Allowed other scientists to find the genes that cause genetic conditions
• Genetic conditions

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Haemophilia
  • Sickle-cell anaemia
• Knowledge of genetic conditions

  • Improved diagnosis and treatment
  • Scientists can now produce a synthetic protein to replicate the work of a faulty gene and treat inherited conditions using techniques like genetic engineering
• The Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, identified all the genes in human DNA
• A healthy diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors have long been suggested as ways to prevent illness
• It was only in the 20th century that lifestyle choices were linked to particular health conditions
• Smoking

  Has been shown to cause lung cancer
• Obesity


  Increases the chance of getting heart disease
• DNA

  Gives insight into genetic conditions
• Genes


  Chemical instructions that plan out human characteristics, like sex and hair colour
• DNA

  Stored in cells, a mix of parents' DNA
• Structure of DNA

  • Double helix (a kind of spiral) that can reproduce by splitting
• DNA double helix structure first described by Francis Crick and James Watson


  1953
• Watson and Crick's discovery

  Allowed other scientists to find the genes that cause genetic conditions
• Genetic conditions

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Haemophilia
  • Sickle-cell anaemia
• Knowledge of genetic conditions

  • Improved diagnosis and treatment
  • Scientists can now produce synthetic protein to replicate a faulty gene and treat inherited conditions using gene therapy
• Completion of the Human Genome Project - identified all the genes in human DNA

  2003
• The structure of DNA is a double helix
• Lifestyle factors can increase the risk of some diseases
• Lifestyle factors

  • Smoking causes lung cancer
  • Obesity increases chance of heart disease or diabetes
  • Drinking too much alcohol causes liver disease
  • Overexposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer
• Advances in science and technology since 1900 have shown that there is not just one cause of disease
• Disease can be caused by viral infections, genetic mutations and lifestyle choices
• This makes treatment and prevention more complex, with so many different causes, treatment needs to be more targeted to the specific disease