RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
Science
PROTON THERAPY (PROTON BEAM THERAPY)
• A type of particle therapy used mainly in cancer treatment
• Uses a beam of protons to irradiate diseased tissue
• Advantage: Minimal exit dose and high precision targeting
• Protons deposit maximum energy at the Bragg Peak
• Reduces damage to surrounding healthy tissues
• Uses particle accelerators to target tumours
• Cancer cells are highly vulnerable due to high division rates
• Effective for brain tumours, spinal cancers, paediatric cancers
STEM CELLS
• Undifferentiated cells capable of developing into specialised cells
• Can self-renew and differentiate
• Remain inactive until tissue repair is needed
Properties:
• Self-renewal
• Differentiation into specialised cells
Types of Stem Cells:
1. Embryonic Stem Cells
• Pluripotent
• Can develop into any cell type
• Derived from early embryos
2. Adult Stem Cells (Somatic)
• Multipotent
• Found in bone marrow, skin, intestine
• Used in bone marrow transplant for leukemia
3. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs)
• Adult cells reprogrammed to pluripotent state
• Avoids ethical issues
• Reduced immune rejection
Uses:
• Regenerative medicine
• Treatment of burns, blood disorders
• Drug testing
• Organ regeneration
STEM CELL THERAPY
• Replacement of damaged cells or tissues
• Used in thalassemia, leukemia
• Clinical trials for Parkinson’s disease
• Potential for organ transplantation
DNA PROFILING
DNA
• Deoxyribonucleic Acid
• Genetic material of organisms
• Double helix structure
• Base pairs: A-T and C-G
• 99.9% identical among humans
DNA PROFILING
• Also called DNA fingerprinting
• Identifies individuals using DNA patterns
• Samples from blood, hair, saliva, bones
Applications:
• Criminal identification
• Paternity testing
• Disaster victim identification
• Missing persons
Limitations:
• Privacy concerns
• Data misuse
• Possibility of mismatch
• Requires strict protocols
NEED FOR DNA LAW
• Labs unregulated
• Lack of uniform standards
• Privacy and ethical concerns
DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE AND APPLICATION) REGULATION BILL, 2018
• Regulates DNA usage for civil and criminal matters
• Consent required for offences < 7 years
• National and State DNA Data Banks
• DNA Regulatory Board under DBT
• Confidentiality and penalties included
Issues:
• Consent unclear in civil cases
• Data retention concerns
• Sharing of DNA profiles mandatory
WAY FORWARD
• Adopt global best practices
• Time-bound data retention
• Strong privacy safeguards
• Implement Law Commission recommendations
• Strict confidentiality as per Malimath Committee
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Subject: Science
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