The Human Genome Project

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Introduction:

Since the human genome has been found, the genetics of animals have undergone continuous study in order to find the mechanism for replication. By studying the genes of organisms that can replicate, for example mice and salamanders, the process of replication is understood, together with the specific genes that enables this ability. This brings about the question whether or not humans can be altered genetically in order to enable the viability for human limb regeneration, due to the research completed on animals.

Researchers completed various tests on animals and made breakthroughs regarding the necessity of stem cells in regeneration and how to induce human adult stem cells to become stem cells. Furthermore, researchers have found that by altering the DNA in vertebrae via genetic engineering; small scale regeneration is possible. Another contributing factor to small scale regeneration is advancing technologies which produce gene specific and regenerative medicine. This regenerative medicine aids in the regeneration of small limbs such as the tip of a finger. The aim of the research is to determine whether or not research on animals is increasing the possibility of human limb regeneration in the near future.

How DNA is linked to regeneration:

Regeneration is a process whereby the lost or destroyed organs or limbs are able to regrow itself (The American Heritage Medical Dictionary, 2010). Regeneration occurs daily due to a cellular activity, namely Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis (Asharifzadeh, 2014). DNA (figure 1) is a molecule that contains all the genetic and hereditary information of an organism. The double helix structure, consisting of phosphate, sugar and a nitrogenous base, is found withi...

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... in debate, many of the ethical concerns are being eliminated by the benefits that could be reaped from the regenerative medicine. War victims, amputees, accident victims, children born with disabilities and patients requiring organ transplants would be able to benefit from the medicine.

It is my opinion that due to all the contributing factors of current genetic research and breakthroughs in the field of genetics involved in regeneration within animals, such as gene p21 and gene p53, together with the advancements in technology pertaining to genetic engineering in terms of the ability to grow gene specific organs outside of the body and create gene specific medication, as well as the availability of organisms to study, human limb regeneration is a future possibility, albeit there are great amounts of research required to ensure the effectiveness of the technology

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