Recent Advancement and Research in Biological Science

In this article we will discuss about the recent advancement in biological science.

1. Anatomy:

There is a number of recent advancement taking place to study the anatomy of brain; few of them are listed below:

(i) Magnetic Resonance Tractograph (MRT):

MRT is a non-invasive imaging tool used for studying the human anatomy. The MRT methods and techniques have the potential to yield new illuminating information on brain activity and connectivity. Thus emerging technology offers a new window into human brain anatomy.

(ii) Functional Neuroimaging:

It is a technology used to measure the aspects of brain function after with a view to understood the relationship between activity in certain brain area and specific mental functions.

(iii) Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI):

It is used to evaluate the white matter anatomy (layer found beneath the outer layer of brain). Based on the pattern of color change, we would somewhat predict whether white matter tracts were displaced. Evaluation of white matter anatomy is usually not possible with any other imaging method.

(iv) Cancer:

In many types of cancer, the original tumor itself is usually not deadly. It spread of tiny sub-population of cells from primary tumor to other parts of the body, process known as “metastasis”.

Dr. Condeclis and his team identified 2 molecules (P₁₉₀ RhGEF and P₁₉₀ RhOGAP) that regulates the activity of RhOC an enzyme that plays crucial role during tumor metastasis and is been identified as a bio mark for invasive breast cancer.

(v) Metal Organic Frame Works (MOF’s):

They are the new types of materials with nano scale pores developed by Bioscience engineers from KU Leuven and Belgium. They produced the materials in the form of a very thin film, so that they can easily be used for high tech applications such as “Microchips”.

2. Embrology:

Surrogacy:

It is where another woman carries and gives birth to a baby for the couple who want to have a child.

It is of two types:

(A) Gestational Surrogacy (Full)

(B) Traditional Surrogacy (Partial)

(A) Gestational Surrogacy:

Involves the implantation of an embryo created using either:

(i) The eggs & sperms of the intended parents.

(ii) A donated egg fertilized with sperm from the intended father.

(iii) A embryo created using donor egg & sperm.

(B) Traditional Surrogacy:

Involves sperm from the intended father and an egg from the surrogate. Here the fertilization is usually done by artificial insemination and Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI).

(i) IVF:

In Vitro Fertilization involves the fertilization of an egg outside the body, performed by using the egg and sperm of intended parents or using either donated sperm or donated egg or both.

(ii) ICSI:

It is a technique where the embryologist selects a single sperm to be injected directly into an egg, instead of fertilization taking place in a dish where many sperms are placed near an egg.

(iii) IUI:

It is a laboratory procedure to separate fast moving sperm from more sluggish and non-moving sperms. This can be performed with partner’s sperms or donor sperms.

(iv) GIFT:

Gamate Intra-Fallopian Transfer. It is the preparation and monitory of the growth of egg.

Instead of the egg being fertilized ‘invitro’ in the laboratory. The healthiest eggs & sperms are placed together into the woman’s fallopian tubes and fertilization takes place in the body as it would, if conception had occurred naturally.

3. Biotechnology:

(a) From a spit test for cancer to as shot that helps your body re- grow nerves along your spinal cord, these new advances in the world of medicine blur line between biology and technology to help restore, improve and extend our lives.

(b) Cancer spit test – detects oral cancer from single drop of saliva.

(c) Prosthetic Feedback:

A device that stretches and amputee’s skin near the prosthesis in ways that provide feedback about the limbs position and movement.

(d) Smart Contact Lens:

This is a wireless device helps the doctor better understand the cause of disease.

(e) Speech Restorer:

For people who have lost the ability to talk a new “phonetic speech engine” which help to produce speech.

(f) Absorbable Heart Stent:

After six months of installation the stent begins to dissolve, and after two years it’s completely gone, leaving behind a healthy artery.

(g) Muscle Stimulator:

In the time of broken bones to heal, nearby muscles often octroply from lack of use. Myospore a battery operated device that uses electrical stimulators small enough helps to exercise muscles and keep them strong during recovery.

(h) Nerve Regenerator:

It is a nanogel help in the growth of hex axon up and down the spinal cord.

(i) Stabilizing Insoles:

It helps to diagnose balance problems in elderly patients before fall occurs.

(j) Smart Pill:

It is used for recording the exact time of drug is ingested.

(k) Autonomous Wheelchair:

This wheelchair that can take people where they ask to go.

(l) Portable Dialysis:

The machine is full automated, battery-operated, water proof and at less than 5 pounds, portable.

(m) Walking Stimulator:

Patients not only walk faster and farther, but experience less pain while doing so.

(n) Rocket Powered Arm:

Adding strength to prosthetic limbs has typically required bulky battery packs.

(o) Milestone in life science to combine genomics, drug discovery, and other approaches to fight human disease or aging.

(p) Human Genome:

The value of automation, micro mays, micro fluids and other technological advances that drive life science.

(q) RAN, can be used to fight diseases.

Behavior and Computer Research Advancement:

(a) Biological process and system behavior can be modeled on a computer.

(b) Computer Biosimulation is in its infancy for life science. Computer biosimulation play a great role in understanding qualitative and quantitative differences in biological processes between for instance mice and man and helps scientists to make better decision.

4. Genetic Engineering:

In Genetic Engineering the Gene-Editing technique called CRISPR- Cas9. CRISPR is the ionic culmination of a variety of technology break thoroughly allowing us to read and write genomes on any living things.

Gene-drive is a method of gene editing that allows a particular gene to spread through an entire population in a given area.

Research is going on application of Gene-drive to eliminate malaria & lyme diseases, improvement of crops to improve health (like golden rice) Engineering Pigs as organ donors for millions of patients in need of transplants.

Stem Cells:

Scientists are already using stem cells in the laboratory to screen new drugs and to develop model systems to study normal growth and identify the causes of birth defects. Research on stem cells continues to advance knowledge about how an organism develops from a single cell and how healthy cells replace damaged cells in adult organisms. Stem cell research is one of the most fascinating areas of contemporary biology.

5. Biology (Feb, 2015):

A new method that used human pluripotent stem cells, to create new cells capable of initiating human hair growth is successful in the lab.

(a) Iranian chemist 3^rd Jan, 2015, created biodiesel fuel from soya oil to decrease pollution caused by fossil fuel.

(b) Feb 2015- Researchers used biodegradable nano-particles to kill brain cancer cells in animals and lengthen their survival.

(c) Feb 2015- Scientists have genetically reprogrammed plants to be drought tolerant in response to already existing agrochemical.

(d) March 2015- A pioneering therapy using bone marrow stem cells to treat lung cancer patient is announced in UK.

(e) March 30, 2015- Eating pesticide ladden food is linked to remarkably low sperm count (49% lower) says Harvard scientists in a landmark new studying. Connecting pesticides residues in fruits and vegetables to reproductive health.

(f) April 15, 2015- American scientist claim to have found a potential cause of Alzeimer’s disease in the behavior of immune cells, which may be possible to target with drug treatment.

(g) April 16 2015- A major advance in artificial photosynthesis is achieved with system able to capture CO, using solar energy and then use it to produce valuable chemical products.

(h) 23 July 2015- An Ebola vaccine developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada is found to be 100% successful in an initial trial.

(i) 28 Jan 2016- A new study reveals that Octopuses frequently communicate with each other in challenging displays that includes posturing and changing colour.

(j) Williance Campbell and Santoshi Omura received Nobel Prize in 2015 concerning a novel therapy against infection caused by round worm parasite.

(k) You You Tu won Nobel prize in 2015 for his discovery concerning a novel therapy against malaria.

6. Usage of Solar Energy:

(i) Photo Voltaic System:

It is a Solar PV Power System designed to supply usable sola power by means of photo voltaic. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity A solar invertor changes the electric current from DC to AC.

(ii) Rural Electrification:

Indian currently has around 1.2 million solar home lighting systems and 3.2 million solar lanterns. Also India has been ranked number one market in Asia for solar off-grid production nearly 3,000 villages of Orissa were lighted with solar power by 2014.

(iii) Agricultural Support:

Solar PV water pumping systems are used for irrigation and drinking water. Solar drives are used to harvests before storage.

(iv) Solar Water Heaters:

Bangalore has the largest deployment of roof top solar water heater in India. These heaters generate an energy equivalent of 200MW. Pune has also recently made installation of solar water heaters in new building mandatory.

7. Automation:

(i) Automation:

It is the use of various control systems for operating equipment’s such as machinery, processes in factories, switching on telephone networks, steering and stabilization of ships and other application with mineral or reduced human intervention.

(ii) Automatical Retail:

The food retail industry has started to apply automation to the ordering process. Some cafes and restaurants are utilizing mobile and tablet ‘apps’ to make the ordering process more efficient by customers ordering and paying on their device and food delivery to customers tables using a conveyor belt system.

(iii) Automated & Video Surveillance:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) started the research and development on automatically Visual Surveillance and Monitoring (VSAM) Program. The purpose of it is to record properties, trajectories of objects in a given area generate warnings or notify designated in case of particular events.

8. Greatest Recent Nutrition Discoveries:

(i) Folic acid prevents birth defects.

(ii) Direct relationship between diet high in trans fat content and LDL (bad) cholesterol level and therefore, an increased risk of heart disease.

(iii) Nutritional Regulation of Gene Transcription:

How the availability of nutrients, like fat, glucose, cholesterol, protein impacts the activity and expression of genes is slowly unfolding. For example saturated and trans-unsaturated fatty acid lower LDC cholesterol via gene transcription.

(iv) Progress in measuring energy/calorie intake. Doubly labeled water technique is now used for accurately estimating energy, calories expenditure and intake.

(v) Fat tissue as an endocrine gland:

Lept is the most important hormone, which regulates appetite and body fat levels, is secreted from your fat cells.

(vi) High Pressure Food Preservation (Pascalization):

It refers to the use of food preservation techniques, that makes use of high pressure pressed inside a vessel exerting 70,000 pounds per square inch (480mpa) or more food can be processed so that it retains its fresh appearance, flavor, texture and nutrients, while inhibiting the growth of harmful M.O’s & preventing spoilage.