Gene Therapy and genetic finger printing

• What is gene therapy?

  Gene therapy is a medical approach that involves introducing genetic material into cells to treat or prevent a disease.
• What is the goal of gene therapy?

  The goal of gene therapy is to replace, modify, or supplement a faulty or missing gene to restore normal function.
• How is genetic material delivered into target cells in gene therapy?

  Genetic material is delivered into target cells using various delivery methods.
• What are the main goals of gene therapy?

  - Treat genetic disorders by replacing or repairing defective genes. - Treat acquired diseases like cancer and heart disease. - Prevent disease development before symptoms appear. - Enhance desired traits, though this is controversial.
• What is one potential application of gene therapy for acquired diseases?

  Gene therapy can introduce genetic material to treat acquired diseases like cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
• How can gene therapy prevent disease?

  Gene therapy can introduce genetic material to prevent the development of a disease before symptoms appear.
• What is gene addition in gene therapy?

  Gene addition involves introducing a normal, functional copy of a gene to compensate for a defective one.
• What is gene editing in gene therapy?

  Gene editing uses tools like CRISPR to directly modify or repair a defective gene.
• What is gene silencing in gene therapy?

  Gene silencing involves blocking or reducing the expression of a problematic gene.
• What are the potential benefits of gene therapy?

  - Treat genetic disorders by addressing the root cause. - Treat acquired diseases like cancer and heart disease. - Prevent disease development before symptoms appear. - Provide a long-term or permanent solution.
• What are the potential risks of gene therapy?

  - Safety concerns: immune reactions, insertional mutagenesis, off-target effects. - Delivery challenges: difficulty in delivering genetic material to target cells. - Ethical considerations: concerns around genetic enhancement. - Cost and accessibility: high costs limiting availability.
• Mechanisms of gene therapy Genetic screening DNA sequencing Gene delivery
• genetic screening:

  Scanning of an individuals genetic makeup to find heritable defects that causes the genetic disorders or may cause disorders in the near future
• Methods of genetic screening

  1. Molecular genetic tests/gene test
  2. Chromosomal genetic tests
  3. Biochemical genetic tests
• DNA sequencing is the process of determining the order of nucleotides in a DNA molecule
• What is the primary use of DNA sequencing?

  To determine the sequence of individual genes, larger genetic regions, full chromosomes, or entire genomes.
• How does DNA sequencing contribute to biological research?

  It provides the order of individual nucleotides in DNA or RNA from various sources.
• In which fields has knowledge of DNA sequences become indispensable?

  Basic biological research, medical diagnosis, biotechnology, forensic biology, virology, and biological systematics.
• What can researchers identify using information obtained from DNA sequencing?

  Changes in genes, associations with diseases and phenotypes, and potential drug targets.
• Why is DNA sequencing significant in evolutionary biology?

  It helps study how different organisms are related and how they evolved.
• What is metagenomics?


  It involves the identification of organisms present in various environments.
• Why is knowing which organisms are present in an environment critical?

  It is essential for research in ecology, epidemiology, microbiology, and other fields.
• How does DNA sequencing aid in understanding microbiomes?

  It enables researchers to determine which types of microbes may be present in a microbiome.
• How can medical technicians use DNA sequencing?

  They may sequence genes or complete genomes of patients to assess the risk of genetic diseases.
• What is genetic testing?


  It is the process of analyzing genes to determine the risk of genetic diseases.
• How is DNA sequencing used in forensic identification?

  It may be used along with DNA profiling methods for forensic identification and paternity testing.
• What types of samples can DNA sequencing be performed on?

  Samples from animals, plants, bacteria, archaea, or virtually any other source of genetic information.
• What does DNA sequencing reveal about proteins?


  It helps study genomes and the proteins they encode.
• How does DNA sequencing contribute to the field of virology?

  It provides insights into viral genomes and their interactions with hosts.
• What is the relationship between DNA sequencing and ecological research?

  DNA sequencing helps identify organisms in various environments, aiding ecological studies.
• What is the purpose of paternity testing?

  To determine biological relationships between individuals
• Who first described the sequencing of nucleotides in DNA?

  Allen Maxam and Walter Gilbert
• What method did Frederick Sangar develop for DNA sequencing?

  The dideoxy chain termination method
• What are ddNTPs in the context of DNA sequencing?

  Dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates
• What happens when a ddNTP is incorporated into a growing DNA strand?

  It terminates the growing DNA strand
• Why does the incorporation of a ddNTP terminate the DNA strand?

  Because it lacks a 3'-OH group
• What distinguishes each ddNTP in the sequencing process?

  Each ddNTP is tagged with a distinct fluorescent marker
• What is the advantage of third generation sequencing compared to earlier methods?


  It is much faster and less expensive
• What is the shotgun sequencing method used for?

  Sequencing DNA segments longer than 1000 bp or whole genomes
• How does the shotgun sequencing method work?

  Target DNA is broken into random fragments, sequenced independently, and reassembled