What is Stem Cell Research?

 
Stem Cell Research:-
Stem cell research is a relatively new technology that takes primitive
human cells and develops them into most any of the 220 varieties of
cells in the human body, including blood cells and brain cells. Some
scientists and researchers have great hope for stem cell research and
its ability to uncover treatments and possibly even cures for some of
the worst diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and
neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Along
with these hopeful possibilities, stem cell research engenders fears of
human cloning and serious concerns over the ethics of conducting
scientific research on, which includes the destruction of, human
embryos.

Human stem cells primarily come from embryos or adult tissue.

Embryonic stem cells can be created solely for the purpose
of stem cell research or they can be the leftover embryos from other
processes, most likely from in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertility
treatments usually result in the creation of multiple embryos. Since
only the most viable embryos are selected for implantation, some
embryos are leftover. The leftover embryos can be discarded, donated
to others seeking fertility assistance, preserved, or donated
to research. Most commonly, leftover embryos are discarded.

What is the status of human genome

project?
Human Genome Project:-
The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an international scientific
research project with a primary goal of determining the sequence of chemical
base pairs which make up DNA and to identify and map the approximately
20,000–25,000 genes of the human genome from both a physical and
functional standpoint.
The project began in 1990 and was initially headed by Ari Patrinos, head of
the Office of Biological and Environmental Research in the U.S. Department
of Energy's Office of Science.  A working draft of the genome was announced
in 2000 and a complete one in 2003, with further, more detailed analysis still
being published

.
The Human Genome Project originally aimed to map
the nucleotides contained in a human haploid reference genome (more than
three billion). Several groups have announced efforts to extend this
to diploid human genomes,  The project did not study the entire DNA found
in human cells; some heterochromatic areas (about 8% of the total genome)
remain un-sequenced.

- Benefits:
The work on interpretation of genome data is still in its initial stages. It is
anticipated that detailed knowledge of the human genome will provide new
avenues for advances in medicine and biotechnology. Clear practical results of
the project emerged even before the work was finished. For example, a
number of companies, such as Myriad Genetics started offering easy ways to
administer genetic tests that can show predisposition to a variety of illnesses,
including breast cancer, disorders of hemostasis, cystic fibrosis, liver diseases
and many others. Also, the etiologies for cancers, Alzheimer's disease and
other areas of clinical interest are considered likely to benefit from genome
information and possibly may lead in the long term to significant advances in
their management.
Advantages of Human Genome Project:

1. Knowledge of the effects of variation of DNA among individuals can

revolutionize the ways to diagnose, treat and even prevent a number of
diseases that affects the human beings.
2. It provides clues to the understanding of human biology

Human Genome Project Research Goals:-

Project goals were to

 identify all the approximately 20,000-25,000 genes in human DNA,

 determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up
human DNA,
 store this information in databases,
 improve tools for data analysis,
 transfer related technologies to the private sector, and
 address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the
project.

Though the HGP is finished, analyses of the data will continue for many years.
Follow this ongoing research on our Milestones page. An important feature of the
HGP project was the federal government's long-standing dedication to
the transfer of technology to the private sector. By licensing technologies to
private companies and awarding grants for innovative research, the project
catalyzed the multibillion-dollar U.S. biotechnology industry and fostered the
development of new medical applications.
How Many Genes are in the Human
Genome?

The human genome has 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes.

How Many base pairs are there in

Human Genome?

The human genome has just over 3 billion DNA base pairs encoding

750 MB of information.

Give 10 examples of commercially

available biotech products?
Fish sauce
Fish sauce is is a staple ingredient in Thai andVietnamese cuisine, as well as
inother Southeast Asian countries a condiment that is derived from fish that
have been allowed to ferment. It is an essential ingredient in many curries and
sauces.

Neosporin
Neosporin (from Neo, (Greek) new + Sporos, (Greek) seed) is the
product name of an antibioticointment produced by Pfizer (later sold
to Johnson & Johnson) used in the prevention of infectionand speeding the
healing of wounds. The original ointment contains three different
antibiotics:bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, in a petroleum jelly base.
Other brand names for this mixture include Mycitracin and Topisporin.
Streptoduocin
Streptoduocin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic.
It is a mixture of streptomycin and dihydrostreptomycin

Rice wine
Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage made from rice. Unlike wine, which is made
by fermentation of naturally sweet grapes and other fruit, rice "wine" results
from the fermentation of rice starch converted to Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source
(commonly cereal grains) in water and then fermenting with yeast.