by Umar Farouk Kabir | Apr 12, 2022 | Tech & Innovation
Genomics can be defined as a field of biotechnology involved with using genetics and molecular biology techniques for the genetic mapping and DNA sequencing of groups of genes or entire genomes of chosen species, storing the results in databases, and putting the data to use.
The biological sciences have been altered by genomics. The capacity to establish an organism’s whole genetic composition has revolutionized the way research is done and the questions that can be asked of it, from epidemiology and medicine to evolution and forensics.
Genomic investigations reveal a patient’s genetic composition, including genetic differences and mutations. Instead of treating patients with a one-size-fits-all strategy, all of this data may be utilized to create a treatment plan tailored to their unique genetic makeup.
So you know how genomics is defined, the next question is “how does genomics work?” For that, you will need to understand some basic things about genomics starting from knowing what a genome is, and the types of genomics there are. In this article, I will explain what a genome is, how genomics works, and its types.
What is a Genome?
Your genome is the operating handbook for your body; comprising all of the instructions that guided you from a single cell to the person you are now. It directs your growth, assists your organs in their functions, and self-repairs when injured. It’s also unique to you. The more you understand your genome and how it works, the more you’ll be able to comprehend your own health and make educated decisions about your health.
Simply put, the term “genome” refers to your entire DNA. Every living creature, from flowers to cats, has its unique genome. Each genome includes the instructions for constructing and maintaining a living creature.
Next up, we look at the types of genomics, then we see how does genomics works.
Types of Genomics
1. Structural Genomics
The goal of this type of genomics is to figure out the structure of every protein encoded by the genome. The study of the three-dimensional structure of every protein encoded by genes is known as structural genomics. It entails the genetic and physical mapping of the whole genome, as well as its sequencing.
2. Functional Genomics
Functional genomics is a type of genomics that studies the roles and interactions of genes. The large amounts of data generated by genomic and transcriptome research are used in functional genomics.
3. Comparative Genomics
Comparative genomics is a type of genomics that compares the genetic characteristics of various animals. The DNA sequence, genes, gene order, regulatory sequences, and other genomic structural markers are examples of genomic characteristics.
4. Mutation Genomics
In this type of genomics, the genome is studied in terms of mutations in a person’s DNA or genome.
The Difference between Genetics and Genomics
So, how does genomics work, and what is the difference between genetics and genomics?
The terms have a similar sound and are frequently used interchangeably. However, there are some significant differences between genetics and genomics.
Genetics is the study of heredity, or how living creatures’ features are passed down from generation to generation via DNA, the material that makes up genes, the basic unit of heredity. Many of the principles of heredity were discovered by Augustinian friar and scientist Gregor Mendel’s research of pea plants in the mid 1800s.
Genetics is the study of a small number of genes, or sections of genes, that perform a specific function. In biomedical research, scientists aim to figure out how genes influence body development, illness, and therapeutic response.
Genomics, on the other hand, is the study of an organism’s whole genome, or set of genes. Genomic researchers examine huge volumes of DNA-sequence data using high-performance computer and math approaches known as bioinformatics to uncover variants that impact health, sickness, or treatment response. In humans, this entails combing through around 3 billion pieces of DNA and 23,000 genes.
Genomics is a far younger science than genetics, having just emerged in the last few decades as a result of technological advancements in DNA sequencing and computational biology.
The Application of Genomics
In as much as genomics is a new field, it is already being applied in a lot of fields in biology. Here, we will look at some of the prominent roles genomics play in the field of biology.
1. Pharmacogenomics/Toxicogenomics
Pharmacogenomics, also known as toxicogenomics, is the study of pharmacological efficacy and safety using information from a person’s genome sequence. Before including humans in investigations, genomic reactions to medications can be examined using experimental animals (such as laboratory rats or mice) or living cells in the lab. Changes in gene expression might reveal information about the medication’s transcription profile in the presence of the drug, which could be utilized as an early warning sign of possible toxicity.
2. Genomics and Agriculture
Genomics has the potential to minimize the number of trials and failures in scientific research, potentially improving the quality and quantity of agricultural yields in agriculture. Linking features to genes or gene signatures aids crop breeding in the development of hybrids with the best characteristics. Scientists utilize genetic data to find desired features, which they subsequently transfer to another organism. Scientists are learning how genomics may increase agriculture produce quality and quantity.
3. Mitochondrial Genomics
Mitochondria are self-contained intracellular organelles with their own DNA. Mitochondrial DNA mutates quickly and is frequently utilized to investigate evolutionary links. Another trait that makes researching the mitochondrial genome intriguing is that mitochondrial DNA is handed down from the mother during conception in most multicellular creatures. As a result, mitochondrial genomics is frequently utilized to track their ancestors.
Conclusion
The availability of whole DNA sequences for entire species enabled genomics, which was made feasible by both Fred Sanger’s pioneering work and more current next-generation sequencing technologies.
Now that you have some solid grasp of what genomics is and how it works, you can actually begin to imagine the number of possibilities scientists are drooling over. The world is changing, on a cellular level too!
Kindly let us know what your thoughts are on this new and exciting field, are you as excited as we are? Comment down below
FAQs
What are the issues about genomics?
Concerns about secrecy, stigmatization, and abuse of genetic information are at the top of the list, especially the possibility of creating a hereditary underclass that would be refused medical insurance as a result of genetic testing and screening.
How does genomics work?
For DNA-based forensic analysis, genomics is building more reliable methodologies. The study of individual and community microorganisms is progressing thanks to genomics. Genomics allows you to obtain information about your genome from the comfort of your own home. Genomics aids in the understanding of evolution and the preservation of biological ecosystems.
Is Genomics Important?
The study of genes, known as genomics, is making it possible to anticipate, diagnose, and treat diseases with greater precision and personalization than ever before. The human genome is made up of billions of base pairs of DNA that are individually organized to give us our basic anatomy and individual features like height and hair color.
Must Read: The Future of Medicine; Telehealth
by Umar Farouk Kabir | Mar 22, 2022 | Tech & Innovation
The internet is certainly a thing of wonder, it has shaped our lives into what it is today by changing the way we do so many things. You can keep in touch with a loved one despite being hundreds of miles apart, you can shop for groceries and so many other things from the comfort of your home, you can learn about practically anything you want without having to be in a classroom.
Nowadays you don’t necessarily have to go to a hospital to have your health checked, all you need is a smartphone and internet connection, and viola; this is what telehealth is. If you are still a little confused, you should not worry, by the end of this article, you will be fully acquainted with telehealth and what it is all about.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth refers to the use of digital information and communication technology, such as computers and mobile devices, to access and manage health care services remotely. These could be technologies that you use at home or that your doctor employs to improve or supplement healthcare services.
Consider how telehealth could assist you if you suffer from an illness. Some or all of the following options are available to you:
- Upload meal logs, prescriptions, dosage, and blood sugar readings to a nurse who answers electronically via a mobile phone or other devices.
- Watch a video about carb counting and then get an app for your phone.
- Use an app to calculate how much insulin you need based on your diet and exercise level.
- See your test results, make appointments, seek prescription refills, and email your doctor via an online patient portal.
- Online ordering is available for testing supplies and medications.
- Rather than making an appointment with a specialist, get a mobile retinal photo screening in your doctor’s office.
What Are The Goals of Telehealth?
- Provide easy access to health services to people living in rural or isolated regions.
- Make services more accessible to persons who have restricted mobility, time, or transit alternatives.
- Access to medical specialists should be made available.
- Improve communication and care coordination between members of a healthcare team and patients.
- Provide assistance with health-care self-management.
Telehealth is all around us, as we can see. Telehealth is pervasive in today’s tech-based world, from your family doctor’s upcoming appointment text reminder to your chiropractor’s post-visit survey. And it isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. According to MarketsandMarkets, the worldwide telehealth market was valued at $2.78 billion in 2016, and it is expected to reach $9.35 billion by 2021, increasing at a compound annual rate of 12%.
Now is the moment to join the telehealth bandwagon if you haven’t already. But what is available in the telehealth sector, and which type of telehealth is ideal for your patient population?
The Four Types of Telehealth
1. Mobile Health (mHealth)
The use of smart devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) and health-based software apps designed for these devices to promote continuing healthcare is known as mobile health. Many health-related applications are now available that can track everything from a diabetic’s blood sugar level to a person’s daily water intake. These applications encourage healthy lifestyle practices and can interact with a patient’s personal health information if they are built to do so.
2. Asynchronous Video
Asynchronous video is the electronic transmission of a patient’s documented health history by a healthcare provider outside of real-time. This sort of telehealth is commonly employed in remote locations when clinicians need to consult with a professional in another place. It also helps bring healthcare to areas where it is lacking, particularly in terms of specialists.
3. Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring is the collection of a patient’s health data from a patient or resident in one location and sending it electronically to a healthcare professional (provider, nurse, etc.) for monitoring and review. It is commonly used for seniors or in senior living settings. RPM is particularly useful in senior care facilities to prevent falls and keep an eye on residents’ vital signs.
4. Live Video-Conferencing
Live video conferencing, the most well-known kind of telehealth, is exactly what it sounds like: a live, two-way video-based conference between a patient and their healthcare provider. Everyone from physicians in local hospitals to clinicians who own their own private practice uses this type of telemedicine. Live video-conferencing not only saves time and stress for both the patient and the practitioner, but it also helps to bring healthcare to rural areas where there aren’t nearly as many possibilities as in cities.
The Difference between Telehealth and Telemedicine
For some that already know about telehealth, it is quite easy to mistake telehealth with telemedicine.
Telemedicine is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “healing from a distance.” This allows you to get treatment without having to make an appointment with your doctor or visit their office for medical services.
Telehealth on the other hand is the use of electronic data and telecommunications technology to support and promote long-distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health education, public health, and health administration. Telehealth isn’t a product or a service. It’s a means of bettering patient care and physician education. Telehealth encompasses non-clinical events such as appointment scheduling, continuing medical education, and physician training, in addition to telemedicine.
The Benefits of Telehealth
- Everyone’s exposure to COVID-19 is reduced when physical contact is limited.
- You can access health care anywhere you are – at home, at work, or even in your car – with virtual visits.
- Virtual visits eliminate the need for travel, time off from work, and child care.
- Virtual health care tools can help you get an appointment sooner.
- Increased access to specialists who are based in locations other than your hometown
Conclusion
There are various sorts of telemedicine available in the ever-growing telehealth market that can help your patients improve their lifestyle behaviors and improve their overall health. Similarly, telehealth gives you a complete picture of your patient’s daily vitals, allowing you to intervene and/or change treatment to enhance their health.
Click here if you’d like to learn more about telehealth and how to incorporate it into your practice.
Let us know what you think about this amazing piece of tech innovation down in the comment section, and don’t forget to visit Northpad Nigeria for more informative write-ups!
FAQs
What types of care can I get using telehealth?
Lab test or x-ray results, therapy and online counseling, recurring conditions like migraines or urinary tract infections, skin conditions, prescription management, urgent care issues like colds, coughs, and stomach aches, post-surgical follow-up.
What does telehealth mean?
Telehealth allows your doctor to treat you without having to come into the office. Telehealth is primarily done online using a computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet connectivity.
What is the difference between telehealth and telemedicine?
Although these two terms are frequently used interchangeably (including on this website), there is a technical distinction. Telemedicine is the provision of remote clinical patient care, whereas telehealth encompasses a far larger variety of services such as education, patient monitoring, and so on while telehealth refers to the use of digital information and communication technology, such as computers and mobile devices, to access and manage health care services remotely. These could be technologies that you use at home or that your doctor employs to improve or supplement healthcare services.
What are some of the best telehealth apps for smartphones?
Some of the best-rated telehealth smartphone apps in 2022 are Teladoc, Sydney Care, Doximity, MDLive, TalkSpace, Doctor on-demand, and Healow.
How can I evaluate telehealth vendors?
Consider the following 4 critical variables while assessing telehealth vendors:
1. Security
2. Usability
3. Customer Service
4. Clinical Validation
