UPSC CSE Why Newsletter

Share this post

#148: Cell-free DNA | New development in SnT

blog.csewhy.com

Discover more from UPSC CSE Why Newsletter

Join in to develop an IAS mindset for cracking UPSC CSE exam!
Over 13,000 subscribers
Continue reading
Sign in

#148: Cell-free DNA | New development in SnT

GS3 SnT Notes

UPSC CSE WHY
Aug 1, 2023
9
Share this post

#148: Cell-free DNA | New development in SnT

blog.csewhy.com
Share

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA)

What?

- Fragments of DNA released from containers which are present in the body fluids outside the cell
- Helps in understanding human diseases
- Can have multiple ways to have them generated and released from a cell
- including death of the cell or degraded nucleic acid
- Normal development or related to cancers/diseases

Applications of cfDNA

1. Foetus Screening

- Screen foetuses for any form of abnormalities related to chromosomes
- Needs just few mm blood of mother after 9-10 weeks of pregnancy
- Helps recognize life long illness at an early stage

2. Cancer recognition

- Early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancers
- New test: Genome-wide Mutational Incidence for Non-Invasive detection of cancer (GEMINI) devised in US to test for cancers on cfDNA

3. Transplants

- Helps in recognizing why body is rejecting transplanted organ
- cfDNA will be able to send signal earlier than other markers in case something wrt transplanted organs is going to go wrong

4. Other use cases

- Biomarker for neurological disorders (eg: Alzheimer's, neuronal tumor, stroke)

Effectively, cfDNA research offers the way forward to an effective disease-screening which will lead to a healthier world

Hi, at @CSEWhy I invite you to support me! You can do that in three simple ways:

  1. Become a blog contributor and have your write ups featured on my blog. Write me an email if you’d want to be a contributor at whycse@gmail.com

  2. Share the link to this post on your WhatsApp story

  3. -OR-  Contribute a small amount (Pay What You Want) by clicking here (I send a valuable gift to everyone who makes a contribution)

To find links to my Twitter, Telegram, YouTube and Podcast Visit my Website

9
Share this post

#148: Cell-free DNA | New development in SnT

blog.csewhy.com
Share
Comments
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 UPSC CSE WHY
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing