The development of recombinant DNA technology

[The development of recombinant DNA technology --

In the 1950s, the double helix structure of DNA was explained, has opened a new chapter in the life sciences, opening up a new era of science and technology. Subsequently, the molecular mechanism of genetic - DNA replication, genetic code, genetic information transfer rules at the centre, as the basic unit of genetic engineering and cell gene blueprint for the regulation and control of gene expression and have been recognized. So far, it has been fully aware of all the biological control is the fate of the things it contains DNA and the genetic, biological evolution and the different life course, it is because the operation of DNA and gene locus different.

Aware of the important role of DNA and values, life scientists can begin thinking in certain closely related to the interests and the human aspects of the natural genetic break the iron rule, the prevalence of gene改邪归正to cure purpose of the different sources of gene fragments "pharming," in order to produce new varieties and new quality…… Thus, the temptation of a full scientific fantasy miraculously become a reality. This is the 20th century occurred in the early 1970s things.

Achieve this scientific miracle means of science and technology is recombinant DNA technology. 1972, the United States scientist Paul Berg first successful restructuring of the world's first batch of DNA molecule, marking recombinant DNA technology - genetic engineering as the basis of modern bio-engineering, modern biotechnology and the life sciences, the foundation and core of .

Recombinant DNA technology is the adoption of the specific content of artificial means will be different sources of a specific DNA fragment of the gene reorganization in order to achieve change of a specific gene type and the purpose of the gene product of a high-science and technology.

By the late 1970s, the emergence of projects and the achievement of recombinant DNA and post-processing projects are of the nature, genetic engineering or genetic engineering as a synonym for recombinant DNA technology is widely used. Now, genetic engineering also includes the transformation of genomic DNA sequence analysis, molecular evolution analysis, molecular immunology, gene cloning, gene therapy and gene diagnosis, and so forth. It can be said that the creation of recombinant DNA technology nearly 30 years has obtained great achievements of the people into a fantastic incredible scientific world, human life was a mystery and open for preventing and curing diseases, "Box" gold key.

At present, recombinant DNA technology has already been achieved in many ways. To the end of the 20th century, the largest recombinant DNA technology applications in medicine, including active peptides, proteins and vaccine production, disease pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, the new gene separation and purification, and environmental monitoring.

Many active peptides and proteins have the treatment and prevention of disease, and they are from the corresponding gene in the. However, because the tissue production is very low, so it is difficult using conventional methods sufficient quantity for clinical application.

A breakthrough in genetic engineering, this limitation can be mass production of such peptides and proteins, have been successfully produced and schizophrenia treatment of diabetic insulin, the blood and certain solid tumors therapeutic antivirals -- Interferon treatment Zhouruzheng of human growth hormone, treatment Acromegaly and acute pancreatitis, such as growth hormone releasing factor inhibiting more than 100 kinds of products.

Genetic engineering can also be relevant antigens into the DNA of living organisms, such microorganisms in by the host immune stress can be generated in vivo growth of live attenuated vaccines, a large dose of antigen stimulation, and lasted for a long time, and other benefits. Currently being developed genetically engineered vaccine alone dozens, in terms of dealing with leprosy bacteria have against bacteria, pertussis bacteria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, such as the meningococcal vaccine to combat the virus have against hepatitis A, hepatitis B , cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, influenza, such as human immunodeficiency virus vaccine……. Hepatitis B virus carriers in China and as many as 412 million hepatitis B patients, the situation is even encouraged Chinese scientists successfully developed its own hepatitis B vaccine, made tremendous social and economic benefits.

Antibodies are the body's immune system disease prevention one of the main weapons in the 20th century, the 1970s creation of monoclonal antibody technology in the aspects of preventing resistance played an important role, but because human monoclonal antibody difficult to obtain, making single - Anti-clinical application is limited. To address the problem, in recent years scientists used recombinant DNA technology has been a human antibody, the antibody can guarantee it with the antigen-binding specificity and affinity can ensure that the normal functioning of play. At present, there are a variety of antibodies that a clinical trial, such as the anti-HER-2 monoclonal antibody treatment of human breast cancer has entered the stage Ⅲ test, anti-IGE human monoclonal antibody treatment of asthma has entered Phase Ⅱ.

Antibiotics in the treatment of diseases has played an important role, along with the increase in the number of antibiotics, using traditional methods of discovering new antibiotics likely getting lower and lower. In order to obtain more new antibiotics, using recombinant DNA technology has become an important means of one. Currently people have been dozens of genetic engineering "hybrid" of antibiotics for clinical application has opened up a new therapeutic approach.

It is worth noting that the above genetically engineered peptides, proteins, vaccines, antibiotics and other drugs not only in the effective control disease control, and to avoid side effects also often superior to the traditional methods of production of similar drugs, making it more favored by the people .

Human diseases are directly or indirectly associated with the gene, the gene at the level of diagnosis and treatment of disease, the diagnosis can achieve the accuracy and primitive, and the diagnosis and treatment can achieve strong specificity, high sensitivity, simple Fast purposes. At the level of genes in the diagnosis and treatment of professional called genetic diagnosis and gene therapy. At present genetic diagnosis as a fourth-generation clinical diagnosis technology has been widely used for genetic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, viruses, bacteria and parasitic diseases such as the diagnosis of occupational diseases, and the goal of gene therapy is through recombinant DNA technology to create a specific recombinant gene function to compensate for the loss of the gene function, or a function to facilitate the increase of abnormal cells corrected or eliminated.

In theory, gene therapy to tackle the cured without any side effects of treatment. However, despite the international community so far has been more than 100 gene therapy programme is in a clinical trial phase, but the gene therapy in theory and in a number of technical problems still to this treatment from the large-scale application there is a long distance. Determine whether the gene causes or genetic diagnosis, gene therapy, study the mechanism of disease, the key prerequisite for it is necessary to understand the specific disease-related genes. Along with the "Human Genome Project" is approaching completion, the scientists of all human genes will be comprehensive understanding of this technology for the use of recombinant human health made forced to create conditions for the cause.

However, although the human gene technology to display its wonderful "magician" like charm, but there are also a large number of scientists on the development of this technology to human ethics and the evolution of the ecological impact of the laws of nature expressed great concern. Theoretically speaking, the development of this technology is a limit to human life with the creation of any form or have never biological capacity. People can imagine how this will be the outcome?