Decoding the Human Genome: Applications and Biotechnology

In the early 1990s, research on the human being began with the Human Genome Project. In April 2003, the entire nucleotide sequence of the human genome was completed. Today, we know that:

• Our haploid genome (all 23 different chromosomes that we possess) contains 3,000 million pairs of nitrogenous bases, which equates to about 30,000 genes.
• 99.9% of these genes are the same in all people: the differences between us do not represent more than 0.1% of the genome.
• 90% of the genome has no known coding function, which does not mean it has no function, such as gene regulation or various biological controls. It is thought that some of this DNA may correspond to genetic remains of our ancestors.

Applications of the Human Genome Project

The practical applications derived from the human genome are very important:

• Diagnosis and prevention of genetic diseases.
• Gene therapy, i.e., treatment of disease by altering the genes responsible.
• Design of more efficient drugs that act in a personalized way, according to individual genetic characteristics.
• New research in human genetics.

Biotechnology: An Overview

Biotechnology is a field of application of biology that uses living organisms for human benefit.

Without knowing its basis, humans have used biotechnological processes to manufacture products in common use since ancient times. However, today's biotechnology has adequate knowledge to design processes based on human needs.

There are two types of biotechnology: traditional and contemporary.

Traditional Biotechnology

It is based on the use of microorganisms for the production of useful products. The food industries are among the best known: bread, dairy products, alcoholic beverages.

Apart from some foods, there are many other products derived from biotechnology: vaccines, antibiotics, industrial chemicals.

Similarly, microorganisms have been used in environmental conservation: the decomposition of organic matter in water treatment plants.

Certain bacteria store molecules very similar to plastics (bioplastics) as reserve substances. While the cost of collection exceeds that of traditional plastics, bioplastics have the advantage of being biodegradable, thus avoiding the problem of its accumulation in the environment.

Current Biotechnology

It is based on the achievements of genetic engineering, and its development will cause significant changes in some aspects of our lifestyle.

Agricultural and Livestock Applications

The modification of plants and animals in order to obtain an improvement in human food production develops in two directions: cloning and the production of transgenic organisms.