The most progress being made in the quest to decode the human genome is in finding genes linked to diseases. Scientists in the past few years have been able to scan DNA faster and with more precision that ever before. This has opened up a wave of information regarding cancer, diabetes, arthritis amongst others.
Six years ago, science completed one of the largest projects in human history â the identification of every building block within human DNA. Research during the following phases of the project have opened up new avenues by which scientists can discover information. Increased technological developments have also advanced the rate and exactness by which engineers can read the genetic coding. Much of the research projects for human DNA decoding today are isolated to the discovery of genetic disorders and diseases.
During 2008, research groups discovered genetic variants tied to prostate cancer. They also have found genetic coding for heart attacks, gallstones, multiple sclerosis and restless leg syndrome. Since 2005, 40 common diseases and traits have shown to have nearly 100 different DNA variants.
Scientists point to the fact that few rapid succession breakthroughs like this have occurred in the history of science or medicine. Unfortunately, most of the information gathered doesn’t allow scientists to prevent the diseases and developing treatments will take years.
However, the information does open up new doorways for the scientific community. One disease, macular degeneration, an age-related illness that is one of the leading causes of blindness has been linked to a gene that is linked to to proteins in the blood. This narrows the research field of what scientists need to look at to develop treatments.
In all, human DNA decoding progress is in its infancy, leaving years of work ahead for the scientific community. But the opportunities that have been developed already, have opened up new areas of research never thought possible.
