Modern biotechnology is the use of tools and techniques based on molecular biology and genetic engineering to develop products and services in various fields, particularly medicine and health.<br /><br />Technologies used:<br /><br />Recombinant DNA technology<br />Gene therapy<br />Gene editing (such as CRISPR-Cas9)<br />Gene vaccines (such as mRNA vaccines)<br /><br />Gene expression and its relationship to drugs and treatments<br />Gene expression is the process by which information contained in genes (DNA) is converted into proteins that perform specific functions in the cell. When this expression is defective (excess, deficiency, or defect in the produced protein), various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or genetic diseases can result.<br /><br />Biotechnology exploits this concept in several ways:<br />Examples of biotechnology use in therapeutics<br />1. Production of protein drugs using gene expression<br />A human gene can be inserted into a bacterial or mammalian cell to produce a therapeutic protein.<br /><br />Example:<br />Production of human insulin to treat diabetes. Traditional methods based on extracting insulin from animals have been replaced by modern methods using genetically modified bacteria.<br /><br />2. Gene Therapy<br />Used to correct defective genes or introduce new genes.<br /><br />It is used to treat genetic diseases such as:<br />Sickle Cell Anemia<br />Cystic Fibrosis<br />Muscular Dystrophy<br /><br />3. Monoclonal Antibodies<br />Produced using genetically modified cells.<br /><br />Used to treat:<br />Cancer (such as Trastuzumab for breast cancer)<br />Autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis)<br /><br />4. Genetic Vaccines<br />Such as mRNA vaccines (such as the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines).<br />It relies on inserting genetic code (mRNA) that teaches the body how to produce a protein from a specific virus, stimulating the immune system without causing infection.<br /><br />5. Gene editing technologies (such as CRISPR)<br />are used to edit or modify specific genes in human cells.<br /><br />Al-Mustaqbal University is the first university in Iraq.<br />