Clinical Trials Advances in Drug Development Scientists are currently making advances in how we understand, and can potentially treat disease. Three of the biggest advances scientists have made are in genomics, gene therapy, and monoclonal antibodies.
Genomics is a very hot field in both academic research and in the biotechnology industry.
Simply put, genomics is the science of determining the sequence and function of the genes in the body. Each human cell has its genetic information contained in a long chain-like molecule DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. Each chromosome contains thousands of units called genes, each of which contains information that tells the cell to synthesize a protein. Thousands of genes thus produce thousands of proteins. These proteins can be enzymes, which help in metabolic reactions the body needs to function, or they can be structural proteins, which determine physical traits such as eye color or muscular build.