Accidents and tragedies occur everyday in the world. Some of these have a very broad area of that it affects, while others affects a small few. Both scenarios are equally as impactful and tragic. These tragedies may include natural disasters and war which affect many people worldwide while others may include car accidents which only affect a select few. The consequences of these accidents are devastating and unexpected. They may even be life changing for some. For example, a common consequence of these unintended mishaps could be losing the function of a limb. This is undoubtedly life changing and severe that can affect the individual as well as their family and friends. Recently, however, scientists have created a new method by which they are able to convert or “reprogram” cells to function as other cell types for regenerating damaged limbs and organs.
In the past, existing methods, regarding this subject, have been risky and inefficient and have only been tested on laboratory animals. These methods include the process of reprogramming the cells using injected mixtures of DNA, RNA, and Proteins. Scientists used viruses as the delivery vehicle in order to transport the DNA, RNA and Proteins into the cell. This was risky and ineffective due to the virus potentially infecting unintended cells, disrupting the immune system, and even turn cells cancerous. In the past, Bulk Electroporation, poking holes in individual cells to expose it to genetic material and protein, has been used as an alternative to viruses as transporters. This may seem like a great fix to our problem. However, the downfall to this is that due to the uncontrolled amount of electroporation, it may cause stress and kill the cells rather than benefit. As we can see, something had to change in order to make this a viable method to curing damaged cells.
Tissue Nanotransfection, a newly discovered method, involves a chip containing an array of tiny channels that apply electrical fields to individual cells. These electrical fields are able to target the correct cells and decreases the risk of damaging unintended cells. With this method, a controlled, small area of the cell is affected without damaging surrounding cells. This is unlike the previous method. With this method, the cells are not damaged or killed. Essentially, a tiny hole is created in the cell and because of the chip, we are able to control the amount of DNA injected into each cell.
The Genetic material injected into these cells rapidly converts skin cells into endothelial cells which are the main component in blood vessels. This method is able to help patients who have had limbs or organs that have been damaged by loss of blood flow due to a severed artery. With this method, new blood cells form, blood flow increases, and the limbs and organs are healed completely. So far, this has only been tested on animals, but the team of scientists who developed this method hope to start human trial in a year.
In my own opinion, I see this as a huge breakthrough in regenerative methods. It has the potential to save and bless many lives. It is interesting to me to read about this topic because it is directly related to what we have been learning in class. A great understanding of DNA and genetic processes opens the door to a vast number of opportunities of curing and blessing others in many different ways; as we see in this example. I myself have a high respect for those who are working diligently to continually discover new ways to make lives better. They share their talents to help those around them. This article and discovery is a great example to helping people who have been disabled not by their own choice. The understanding, hard work and research in genetics gives these affected individuals hope for a better future.
Makin, Simon. “Chip Reprograms Cells to Regenerate Damaged Tissue.” Scientific American, www.scientificamerican.com/article/chip-reprograms-cells-to-regenerate-damaged-tissue/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.
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