Biotechnology Research Equipment Industry Trends

Antibody Therapy for Cancer

Many human cancer cells multiply only after chemical receptors on the surface of a cell bind with specific signaling molecules in the cell's environment. By producing antibodies that attach to either the receptors or the signaling molecules, researchers have been able to block the growth signal. To produce antibodies that the body won't reject, but that can be grown in large quantities, researchers have fused human with cultured mouse cells to produce either human-mouse ("chimeric") antibodies or 100 percent human antibodies.

Genomics

The complete sequencing of the human genome in 2001 (by Celera Genomics and the government-funded Human Genome Project) is expected to lead to the development of new therapies as researchers identify genes that control specific biological functions and as the interactions of genes and the proteins they produce become better understood. Identifying the estimated 30,000 protein-producing genes among the 3 billion coding elements is being done with the help of specialized computer programs.

Genetically Modified (GM) Foods

By introducing genetic material from one plant into another, researchers have produced plants with special characteristics, such as faster growth or resistance to insects and diseases. Monsanto has produced varieties of soybeans, cotton, and corn that are resistant to its Roundup herbicide, allowing the herbicide to be sprayed on fields without damaging the crop. Concerns remain about the effect GM plants will have on the ecosystem; regulators in some countries have prevented the use or import of GM foods.

Gene Therapy

Some human diseases are caused by genes that produce defective proteins. To correct this, researchers have tried to insert corrected copies of a gene in human volunteers. To be successful, such insertions must be made in thousands or millions of cells in an individual. Viruses have been tried as the "vector" to bring the corrected gene into cells. So far, gene therapy hasn't been effective, and some human volunteers have died.

DNA Testing

The DNA of any two humans differs in about 3 million places among the 3 billion genetic code elements. In addition to allowing identification of individuals by their genetic material, these 3 million "single-nucleotide polymorphisms" (SNPs) are expected to shed light on the mechanisms of disease, and the susceptibility of individuals to particular diseases.

Computer-Designed Drugs

Many drugs are effective because their shape (conformation) and active elements either accelerate or interfere with natural biochemical reactions in the body. As the shape of natural biological molecules is being revealed, researchers are able to use computers to "build" synthetic molecules with the correct shape and function.