Genes and Proteins to Cure Disease, SWOT Analysis Example

These days we are seeing more and more things that often seem unreal to us. There is genetic technology, our own genes, which not only prevent us from developing certain diseases, but can also help cure us from these diseases. Our genes tell us and doctors a lot about who we are and what types of diseases we are susceptible to; however, it is the proteins in our bodies that make the largest difference. The article entitled “Blood Work” (2013) by Bill Saporito is an interesting article that explains how these proteins and genes work in order to give us all an idea of the diseases we could develop as well as how we can cure these diseases.

The article by Saporito is one that sheds light on the importance of a person’s genes and the proteins that make us who we are. Saporito (2013) states “genes by themselves don’t directly make us who we are. Instead, they produce proteins, which are dispatched into the body to execute the genetic will” (n.p.). By studying a person’s genes and the proteins that the genes make, scientists are able to develop medicines that not only prevent the diseases that certain people are most prone to, but also medicines that help cure the diseases at early onset. Many companies have spent billions of dollars in order to fund research that will help scientists decode the protein data. One of the largest problems is that decoding proteins can be very difficult, time-consuming, and tedious. According to Saporito (2013) states the following in reference to the complexity of the proteins:

What makes proteins such a huge data challenge is that they exist in a nearly infinite variety of combinations? Consider that those 19,599 genes in the human body can, in turn, produce some 200,000 types of RNA. Each RNA strand then encodes up to 200,000 proteins. That’s a geometric expansion that gives you 40 billion proteins and helps explain why you need that big in Big Data (n.p.).

By getting scientists to do this type of work, many people can avoid diseases and can be cured by specific diseases easily as long as their doctors understand their geneology.

Genes and proteins are a huge part of biology. In biology, it is expected to learn of proteins, genes, cells, genetics in general, and physiology. All of this has to do with people, their make-up, and all can relate to disease and how specific ones can be prevented or cured. The textbook gives specific information that teaches us about genes, genetics, disease and physiology. All of this information from the textbook helped me understand the article a little more because I knew specific information about genes and how important they are to our bodies and to who we are as people. However, the article caught me off guard when it stated that proteins were the main components that make up who we are, not genes. By learning what I can from the textbook, I was able to understand the concepts of the article.

This article caught my attention because it is something that could help me in the long run. Knowing my specific genes as well as the proteins in my body allows me to understand the types of diseases I am most prone to and the ways in which I can keep myself healthy. The specific information in the article could certainly affect me directly. This information lets me know that my genes are a big proponent to who I am, but that proteins are what actually make up who I am. This is an interesting concept due to the fact that I was always taught that genes are the make-up of a person. This, clearly, is not the case. Having this information allows me to question my doctors and gives me the knowledge to get more information about the types of genes and proteins I have running through me and can give me an idea of what diseases I need to look out for.

In my opinion, this research should be funded by the private sector as most of it is right now. Many companies take this research seriously and have no problem paying the billions of dollars it takes to help scientists learn more when it involves medicine, health and helping people live longer, healthier lives. It is very important research as it helps scientists and doctors understand the human body even more than they already do. It gives them an idea of the medicines they need to continue making, how much of these medicines they should make, what causes specific diseases and how to cure them. Any research that can cure a disease or can help a person live a healthier life is research worth putting money into.

In conclusion, “Blood Work” (2013) not only reiterated what I knew about genes, but also provided me with more information about the importance of proteins. As long as companies continue to fund this research, many scientists will be able to do more work to cure and prevent diseases. They will be able to inform more patients of the diseases they are most prone to and give them information that will be beneficial to them. Biology is an important subject, but genetics and the importance of a person’s genes are of one of the most interesting aspects of the subject itself.

References

Saporito, B. (2013, May 20). Blood work. Time, Inc., 181(19).