Genetic engineering has become a part of our culture and it is difficult to tell

Question

Genetic engineering has become a part of our culture and it is difficult to tell the difference between unmodified and genetically modified food sources such as plants and animals. After reading this module's material regarding vectors in biotechnology, consider the potential for nanotechnology and gene therapy.

For your initial discussion post, research nanotechnology and its potential use in biotechnology. Explain the potential advantages and disadvantages of nanotechnology in health care and discuss whether you would or would not support further research.

For your reply post, expand on your peer's ideas by sharing examples from your own experience or readings, suggesting outside resources to support the topic, and/or asking furthering questions to dig deeper into the topic.

Explanation / Answer

*Potential for nanotechnology and gene therapy :

Gene therapy is emerging as a new class of therapeutics for the treatment of inherited and acquired diseases. However, poor cellular uptake and instability of DNA in the physiological milieu limits its therapeutic potential, hence a vector which can protect and efficiently transport DNA to the target cells must be developed. Nanotechnology-based non-viral vectors have been proposed as potential candidates. Various polymeric nanoparticles have been shown to be suitable, with high cellular uptake efficiencies and reduced cytotoxicity. These delivery vectors form condensed complexes with DNA which result in shielding against enzymatic degradation and enhanced cellular targeting. Advantages including easy manipulatibility, high stability, low cost and high payload, mean that nanoparticles from various polymers have been exploited. Gene therapy gives a systematic account of the many aspects of nanotechnology mediated gene therapy, from the preparation of nanoparticles to physicochemical characterization, and follows with applications in in vitro and in vivo models. This book emphasizes the various aspects of nanotechnology-based gene therapy, with initial chapters detailing the tools and techniques available for preparation and in vitro and in vivo characterization of nanoparticles. Later chapters provide exhaustive details on polymeric systems employed for gene therapy.

*Potential advantage of nanotechnology in health care :

Nanotechnology has the potential to bring major advances in medicine. Nanobots could be sent into a patient's arteries to clear away blockages. Surgeries could become much faster and more accurate. Injuries could be repaired cell-by-cell. It may even become possible to heal genetic conditions by fixing the damaged genes. Nanotechnology could also be used to refine drug production, tailoring drugs at a molecular level to make them more effective and reduce side effects.

*Potential disadvantage of nanotechnology in health care :-

Nanotechnology has increased the chance of the health issues. Due to microscopic size of nanoparticles, it increases the risk of inhalation that can severely damage lungs and could also lead to fatal health issues. It increases the risk of damaging the lungs if nanoparticles are inhaled for 60 seconds.

*Though these advantage and disadvantage of nanotechnology in health care fields, further research is necessary to provide comfort and wellbeing of individuals.

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