[54] Translational Molecular Biology and Clinical Applications Flashcards
What does Translational Molecular Biology aim to achieve?
It aims to convert basic research findings in molecular biology into clinical applications to improve patient care.
Give an example of a Clinical Application from Translational Molecular Biology
Personalized medicine using genomic data to tailor treatments for individual patients.
What is Personalized Medicine?
It is an approach to patient care that allows doctors to select treatments likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their disease.
What is a Biomarker in the context of Translational Molecular Biology?
It is a measurable substance in an organism whose presence is indicative of some phenomenon such as disease, infection, or environmental exposure.
How are Biomarkers used in Clinical Applications?
They can be used for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or to monitor the efficacy of treatment.
What role does Genomics play in Translational Molecular Biology?
Genomics provides insights into disease mechanisms at the molecular level, facilitating the development of new diagnostic tests and targeted therapies.
What is a Targeted Therapy in the context of Translational Molecular Biology?
It is a type of treatment that uses drugs to target specific genes or proteins involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells.
Give an example of a targeted therapy developed through Translational Molecular Biology
The use of trastuzumab (Herceptin) for treating HER2-positive breast cancer.
What is Trastuzumab (Herceptin)?
A monoclonal antibody used to treat breast cancer that is HER2-positive.
What is HER2 in the context of Breast Cancer?
It is a protein that promotes the growth of cancer cells. In some cases of breast cancer, the HER2 gene is overexpressed, leading to excessive HER2 protein, and such cancers are referred to as HER2-positive.
What is the goal of Pharmacogenomics in Translational Molecular Biology?
To understand how a person’s genetic makeup affects their response to drugs in order to develop safe and effective medications tailored to their genetic makeup.
How does Translational Molecular Biology contribute to disease diagnosis?
By identifying disease-specific genetic alterations or expression patterns, it enables the development of diagnostic tests at a molecular level.
What is Precision Medicine?
It is an approach to patient care that allows doctors to select treatments that are most likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their disease.
How does Precision Medicine differ from traditional medicine?
Traditional medicine uses a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, while precision medicine tailors treatment to individual genetic differences.
What is Genetic Testing in the context of Translational Molecular Biology?
It involves examining a person’s DNA in order to identify genetic differences or mutations that might indicate a susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions.
