Study eCentre

Gene therapy is an advanced medical approach designed to treat or potentially  cure genetic disorders  by modifying or replacing faulty genes within a patient's cells. Genetic disorders arise due to mutations or defects in DNA, leading to the production of abnormal, insufficient or missing proteins necessary for normal bodily functions. Unlike conventional treatments that manage symptoms, gene therapy targets the  root cause  of genetic diseases, making it a highly promising and potentially curative strategy. It is particularly effective for monogenic disorders (caused by mutations in a single gene), but ongoing research is exploring its application in more complex, polygenic conditions. The foundation of gene therapy was laid by  William French Anderson, Michael Blaese and Kenneth Culver,  who conducted the first successful gene therapy trial in  1990  to treat  severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)  caused by  ADA deficiency. ...

Gene therapy is an advanced medical approach designed to treat or potentially cure genetic disorders by modifying or replacing faulty genes within a patient's cells. Genetic disorders arise due to mutations or defects in DNA, leading to the production of abnormal, insufficient or missing proteins necessary for normal bodily functions. Unlike conventional treatments that manage symptoms, gene therapy targets the root cause of genetic diseases, making it a highly promising and potentially curative strategy. It is particularly effective for monogenic disorders (caused by mutations in a single gene), but ongoing research is exploring its application in more complex, polygenic conditions. The foundation of gene therapy was laid by William French Anderson, Michael Blaese and Kenneth Culver, who conducted the first successful gene therapy trial in 1990 to treat severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) caused by ADA deficiency. Another key contributor, Richard Mulligan, significantly...

Transgenic animals are animals whose genetic material has been intentionally altered by introducing genes from another species. These genes, known as transgenes, are inserted into the animal's genome, causing it to express new traits or characteristics that were not originally present. The foreign genes can come from different species or even be synthetic. The goal is to create animals that possess certain beneficial traits, which can serve a variety of purposes in research, medicine and agriculture. Transgenic animals are also a critical tool in understanding how genes influence development, disease processes and behavior. One of the main purposes of producing transgenic animals is to replicate human diseases in animal models, which allows researchers to study those diseases and test possible treatments in ways that would be impossible or unethical in humans. In the past few decades, transgenic animals have revolutionized the fields of genetics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical...

Genomic Library A genomic library is a collection of DNA fragments that represent the entire genome of an organism. It includes both coding (exons) and non-coding sequences (introns, promoters and regulatory regions). These DNA fragments are inserted into cloning vectors and stored in host cells, typically bacteria or yeast. A genomic library provides a complete genetic blueprint of an organism, making it valuable for gene mapping, whole-genome sequencing, identifying regulatory elements and comparative genomics. Since it contains all genetic information, it is particularly useful for studying non-coding DNA, evolutionary relationships and locating genes associated with genetic disorders. cDNA Library A cDNA library is a collection of complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences that represent only the genes actively expressed in a particular tissue or cell at a specific time. It is constructed by isolating mRNA, converting it into cDNA using reverse transcriptase and cloning it into vectors...

Cloning vectors are small, self-replicating DNA molecules that are used to carry foreign DNA fragments into host cells for replication and genetic modification. These vectors serve as vehicles for transferring genes from one organism to another in genetic engineering and biotechnology. A cloning vector must have key features such as an origin of replication (ORI) for self-replication, selectable marker genes (such as antibiotic resistance) for identifying transformed cells, and multiple cloning sites (MCS) with restriction enzyme recognition sequences to facilitate DNA insertion. They vary in size, ranging from 1 kilobases (small plasmids) to over 2000 kilobases (artificial chromosomes), depending on their function and capacity. Cloning vectors are used in gene cloning, recombinant protein production, functional genomics and gene therapy research, making them fundamental tools in biotechnology and genetic engineering. There are five main types of cloning vectors : Plasmid Vectors Ba...