How Can Gene Cloning be a Possible Way of Curing Diseases?
Gene cloning is one of the massive breakthroughs in understanding the genes needed for developing medicines, which are later used to provide the effective treatment options required to treat human diseases.
It includes different techniques for isolating deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragments from living organisms’ genes, selecting DNA sequences, and targeting gene expression in the specific host cells.
Nevertheless, the gene cloning method is currently being replaced by advanced and automated techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or automated thermal cycler, which can replicate the DNA faster.
This article highlights in-depth gene cloning and its purpose. It also talks about the present market scenario of gene cloning services.
Overviewing of DNA or Gene Cloning
Gene cloning refers to a technique of making identical and multiple copies of a particular DNA for the treatment of diseases.
The first step in a standard DNA cloning method is to insert DNA fragments inside a specific DNA, known as a plasmid. The insertion is performed with the help of enzymes by cutting and pasting DNA that creates molecules of recombination plasmid from different sources.
The next step starts with introducing the recombination plasmid into bacteria which select and carry them forward to grow inside the living organism’s body.
Later, these DNA plasmids are passed from organisms to their offspring by creating different DNA copies, resulting in gene cloning.
Purpose of Gene Cloning
- Determining the nucleotide sequences responsible for creating genes
- Identifying and analyzing the nucleotide sequence for controlling genes
- Better examination of RNA functions, enzymes, and proteins encoded by specific genes
- Identifying mutations taking place inside the genes and cause diseases
- Performing different engineering organisms for purposes such as resistance to pests and producing insulin
Market Overview of the Gene Cloning Services
Gene cloning is integral to healthcare aids and decision-making by getting required information related to disease treatment.
Most players in the global gene cloning service market offer several gene cloning services, such as sub-cloning, mutagenesis, cloning, and biology services.
Also, several pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies are working together to develop other gene cloning services for the applications in different diseases to enable better treatment selection, monitoring treatments, dosage selection, and efficient diagnosis options.
According to BIS Research, the global gene cloning services market is supposed to grow from $1,983.6 million in 2020 to $11,524.4 million by 2031, with a CAGR of 17.29% during the forecast period 2021–2031.
The increasing cases of cancer, genetic diseases, infectious diseases, and heart diseases are among the major driving factors for choosing gene cloning techniques to develop an advanced way of treating such disorders.
Gene Cloning to Eliminate Disease
A gene refers to a particular part of DNA that can be cloned by passing it from one organism to another and creating replicates. The process of passing DNA is known as the recombinant DNA technique of DNA cloning.
Creating clones of the human embryo is among the most controversial cloning. This type of cloning is known as therapeutic cloning, and the purpose of this cloning is to do research activities on the embryos.
Working of Gene Cloning
Several people still oppose this type of cloning because the human embryos created through therapeutic cloning are destroyed during the analysis works.
Stem cell therapeutics is one of the most promising research areas of therapeutic cloning. Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University became the first to make stem cells by cloning embryos in 2013.
These stem cells are said to be most helpful in healthcare medicine because they can be turned into any cell type.
The role of stem cells can be crucial in patients developing diseases related to kidney infection or seeking a new kidney. Though there can be a chance of a patient’s family member having a similar body type and being able to donate the kidney, one may be lucky to get an organ donor.
However, there is always a chance of the patient’s body rejecting the organ donated by someone else. So, to overcome the problem of organ rejection, stem cells can be a better option.
Due to stem cells’ capabilities of getting turned into any cell type, they can be used by the experts to create the tissue or organs needed by the patients for their cells.
Stem cells can keep other cells away from the difficulties and challenges inside the body.
Conclusion
Gene cloning is a revolutionary technique in the healthcare sector that is constantly getting more advanced. This technique has multiple uses and has promising capabilities of helping experts eliminate several dangerous diseases such as cancer.
