Molecular Diagnosis of Genetic Diseases

It’s easy to get bogged down by all the bad news that we hear on TV or see on our Facebook feeds. That’s not to diminish the current troubles that ail our world, but that negativity can sometimes cover some of the amazing strides that we’re making in curing disease and illness around the world. Medical researchers continue to push forward, looking for new ways to diagnose and cure diseases that used to be thought of as incurable. The exciting part is that we’re finding success in many areas. Take molecular diagnostics, for example.

Hereditary Diseases

Molecular diagnostics are increasingly being used to test for a number of hereditary diseases. These diseases are caused by a mutation in a gene which changes its instructions, resulting in the improper functioning of the protein it makes or even the complete absence of that protein. There are different types of genetic disorders, including single-gene disorders like sickle-cell, and chromosomal disorders like Downs syndrome.

What Are Molecular Diagnostics?

Molecular diagnostics are giving us a chance to diagnosis these diseases at the molecular level. It isn’t just for diagnosing a disease, but also for learning whether a person is genetically predisposed to have the disease or even what treatments might work best in fighting it.

It works by detecting and analyzing nucleic acids, DNA or RNA from the patient. That provides them with information into the presence or carriership of a disorder, as well as how responsive it might be to certain drug therapies. Armed with that knowledge, doctors and patients can make the best choices for treatment and hopefully help those who suffer from hereditary diseases live longer and fuller lives.

What’s Next?

As you can imagine, this powerful tool for diagnosis and treatment has developed into an industry all its own with researchers working to advance our current abilities to new heights, even as ethical and philosophical questions have emerged. Just because someone can be tested for a genetic disorder, will they want to learn their chances of developing that disorder? Is it better to move through life with or without that knowledge?

Molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases is undoubtedly a great achievement and it’s going to continue to save lives and improve treatment as research continues, technology improves, and we learn more about hereditary diseases and the mutations that cause them. Already, scientists have successfully edited the DNA of embryos with defective genes. It’s a fascinating area of research that may be able to eradicate some hereditary diseases sooner than you think.

At Lifecycle Biotechnologies, we always stay up-to-date on the different areas of scientific research that our products and services help facilitate. We don’t create the newest treatments or pharmaceuticals, but without our work, none of that would be possible. Whether it’s clinical trials for a promising new drug or molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases, we work to ensure that researchers have everything they need to bring us a brighter future.

Contact us today to learn more about how we help diagnostic companies concentrate on what matters most to them.