Gene detection instrument technology has become a new favorite in many fields

New breakthroughs in genetic testing are conducive to molecular detection of long-sequence DNA A slight variation in DNA sequence can have a profound effect on the body. Modern genomics studies have shown that as long as a mutation takes over the decision to successfully cure a disease or to spread the disease to all heights in the body.

The researchers used a new method to detect specific DNA fragments to find single mutation sites to help diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis. These minor changes in DNA sequences are the root cause of antibiotic resistance in diseases or certain infectious diseases. The latest research results have been published in the journal Nature Chemistry.

"Compared to traditional detection methods, our method has indeed improved. It does not require any complicated reactions or the addition of some active enzymes, the only use is DNA. This means that the method is sensitive to temperature changes and environmental variables. It is very low-level and is very suitable for diagnostic applications with low resource allocation,” said Georg Seelig, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and engineering at the University of Washington.

With the development of genomics research, it is well known that even a single base pair change (mutation, insertion, or deletion) can have major biological consequences. Mutations in gene loci can also be used to explain the occurrence of diseases or the causes of antibiotic resistance in certain diseases.

Gene diagnosis helps tumor therapy There are currently more than 6,600 single-gene genetic diseases that are known. The more common ones are red-green blindness, hemophilia, and albinism. Guanghan Hospital can now detect more than 20 single-gene diseases. And blocking.

In 2006, Tan Yongjun, who returned to Changsha from the United States, was recruited as the chief scientist of the cell engineering project of the “985” project of Hunan University. One important task of his research team is cancer gene therapy.

In his eyes, the greatest significance of gene research lies in clinical gene diagnosis. "It seems to be the same type of tumor, but from the genetic level, each patient has a different etiology and response to drugs."

Genetic diagnosis can help doctors to tailor treatment plans for patients, even if the same drug, each patient's time and amount of drugs are not the same, so that cancer treatment can be more targeted. “The development of genetics has always been a human evangelism. When cancer, cardiovascular and other major diseases are overcome, human beings can control life in a certain sense.”

Gene sequencing technology is widely used. "The future direction of biopharmaceutical commercial development must be able to change the era and change the direction of human development." An industry insider who has long tracked the pharmaceutical industry said that from the current situation, stem cell culture and gene sequencing are The commercialization of frontier areas is slightly higher. Institutional sources familiar with the market believe that genetic engineering is a promising industry in the frontier areas of biomedicine, and that gene sequencing can derive many things of commercial value.

There are three generative gene sequencing companies that have formed a branding effect and have proposed three business models: technological services, medical services, and services for everyone. At present, they have already reached the first step, and the second step is accelerating. Among them, gene sequencing and bioinformatics analysis are made as a low-cost service on scientific and technological services for general researchers, doctors, or agricultural experts. In addition, targeted and complete solutions are provided for their research purposes and needs. The second business model is "medical services," that is, health services such as prenatal testing and screening for cervical cancer. It is currently in a rising stage. Insiders said: "Compared with technology services, health services are now not commercialized, although In this way, medical services have begun to bring about revenue and profits slowly.” And the third business model is “everyone’s service,” which is to drastically reduce the cost of gene sequencing and analysis. After the biological big data are abundant, the public can Gene information is used in routine care. As far as the current development is concerned, although the cost of a person's whole genome sequencing has dropped to several thousand dollars, the analysis cost is about 100,000 yuan.

Some experts indicated that gene sequencing is widely used. In the medical and health field, it can be used for single gene genetic testing, non-invasive prenatal genetic testing, thalassaemia detection, high-throughput screening for cervical cancer, etc., and is expected to provide personalized treatment for tumors. Solutions to achieve future individualized genetic health management. Previous studies have shown that gene sequencing technology will bring a new era of personalized medicine, and can provide new treatments for cancer and other incurable diseases. At present, the UK National Medical Services System stated that it is preparing to promote a gene sequencing project that will prioritize gene sequencing for patients with cancer, rare diseases and infectious diseases to better provide targeted treatment solutions. At the same time, the use of gene sequencing technology to develop personalized medicine will also become the direction of the system's efforts.

According to industry insiders, the application of gene sequencing technology in the field of clinical diagnosis is reshaping the disease treatment model throughout the world. Biologists believe that with the development of science and technology, the price of gene sequencing will continue to drop. At that time, new knowledge and drugs will accelerate.