All cells contain ribosomes, cellular organelles that are integral to the production of proteins in the body. In this article we look in more detail at the functions ribosomes perform and their impact on human health. What are ribosomes? Ribosomes are essentially molecular machines that convert amino acids into proteins in a process called… Continue Reading
The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming is undoubtedly one of the biggest medical breakthroughs in history. It has saved an estimated 200 million lives to date. Nevertheless, the development of penicillin came with a health warning from Fleming himself. He believed that exposing microbes to non-lethal doses of antibiotics could promote drug resistance. But… Continue Reading
“Wonder food” fads often extol the virtues of amino acids, but do they really matter in terms of human health? In this article we take a look at the differences between essential and nonessential amino acids and why they are so important to our health. What are amino acids? Amino acids are essentially protein… Continue Reading
What is CRISPR technology? How has it changed the medical world? How could CRISPR technology help us find a cure for cancer? We explore all this and more. What is CRISPR? CRISPR (pronounced “crisper”) refers to a special segment of DNA characterized by repeated sequences of nucleotides, interspersed with spacers. CRISPR is an acronym… Continue Reading
Scientists have understood for some time that there is a link between certain genetic permutations and an individual’s susceptibility to cancer. Logically, it therefore follows that one of the keys to curing cancer may lie in tackling the disease at a genetic level. In this article we explore the world of cancer genomics, its success… Continue Reading
Since the completion of the Human Genome Project at the start of the 21st century, scientists are understanding more and more about the link between genes and disease. In this article we explore the exome, its function in the human body, and how the relatively new procedure of exome sequencing could pave the way for… Continue Reading
What is personalized medicine? How has personalized medicine changed over the years? When will medical professionals integrate personalized medicine into mainstream care? In this article, we explore the world of personalized medicine and its life-saving potential. Personalized medicine is not a new concept. In fact, the principle dates back to Ancient Greece. The works… Continue Reading
The United States possesses the safest and most advanced drug development system in the world. In the following, we explore the standards that pharmaceutical companies have to meet in order to gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the release of new drugs, ranging from over-the-counter aspirin to the seasonal flu… Continue Reading
The field of cancer genomics continues to expand as scientists learn more and more about the intrinsic link between genetics and disease. In this article, we investigate DNA sequencing, from its beginnings to its potential in treating and preventing cancer. What is DNA sequencing? Our entire DNA is coded in an alphabet that consists… Continue Reading
Since the Human Genome Project, the field of genetics has expanded rapidly, promoting greater scientific understanding of the link between genes and disease. Let’s take a look at some of the most important discoveries in the field of genetics throughout history. Charles Darwin publishes On the Origin of the Species (1859) Darwin established the… Continue Reading