Biotechnology

- Erythropoietin treats anemia (stimulates red blood cell production).
- Asthma is treated with Omalizumab (anti-IgE antibody).
- Tissue plasminogen activator treats stroke or heart attack (dissolves blood clots).
- Emphysema is treated with Alpha-1 antitrypsin (prevents lung tissue breakdown).
Completed chart:

Gene Therapy

Gene therapy is a modern medical technique used to treat or prevent diseases by correcting the underlying genetic problem. It works by introducing, altering, or repairing genetic material inside a patient’s cells.

Uses of Gene Therapy:

• Treating single-gene disorders: Applied in inherited diseases caused by a single faulty gene, such as:
  • Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Hemophilia
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
• Cancer treatment: Used to modify immune cells (e.g., T-cells in CAR-T therapy) to recognize and destroy cancer cells. It can also introduce suicide genes into cancer cells, making them self-destruct.
• Treating viral infections: Ongoing research explores ways to make cells resistant to viruses like HIV by modifying their genetic makeup.
• Treating degenerative diseases: Promising applications include replacing or repairing defective genes in diseases such as:
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Muscular dystrophy
• Vaccine development: DNA vaccines, a form of gene therapy, can trigger a strong and long-lasting immune response.

The correct sequence for the steps of DNA fingerprinting is:

1. Isolation of DNA (b): DNA is extracted from the cells of a biological sample (like blood, saliva, or hair).
2. Restriction digestion (d): The isolated DNA is cut into smaller fragments using restriction enzymes.
3. Gel electrophoresis (a): The DNA fragments are separated according to their size by running them through an agarose gel. Smaller fragments move faster and further.
4. Southern blotting (c): The separated DNA fragments are transferred (blotted) from the gel onto a nylon membrane.

The correct sequence is: (b) (d) (a) (c)

Explanation:

DNA fingerprinting involves a series of steps to analyze genetic material. The process begins by isolating the DNA from the sample. Next, restriction enzymes are used to cut the DNA into smaller fragments. These fragments are then separated by size using gel electrophoresis, where smaller fragments move faster than larger ones. Finally, Southern blotting is used to transfer the separated DNA fragments onto a membrane, where they can be analyzed further, often using a probe to identify specific sequences.

Conclusion:

The correct sequence for DNA fingerprinting involves the following steps: (b) Isolation of DNA, (d) Restriction digestion, (a) Gel electrophoresis, and (c) Southern blotting.