Chips, Clones, and Living Beyond 100: How Far Will the Biosciences Take Us? (FT Press Science)

Description

The key scientific discoveries of the 21st century will emerge from the biosciences. These discoveries will impact our lives in ways we can only now begin to imagine. In this book, two of the field's leading experts help us imagine those impacts. Paul and Joyce A. Schoemaker tour the remarkable field of biosciences as it stands today, and preview the directions and innovations that are most likely to emerge in the coming years. They offer a clear, non-technical overview of crucial current developments that are likely to have enormous impact, and address issues ranging from increased human longevity to global warming, bio-warfare to personalized medicine. Along the way, they illuminate each of the exciting technologies and hot-button issues associated with contemporary biotechnology - including stem cells, cloning, probiotics, DNA microarrays, proteomics, gene therapy, and a whole lot more. The Schoemakers identify emerging economic, political, and technical drivers and obstacles that are likely to powerfully impact the way the biosciences progress. Then, drawing on Paul Schoemaker's unsurpassed experience helping global organizations prepare for the future, the authors sketch multiple long-term scenarios for the biosciences - and reveal how they will impact your health, family, career, society, even the Earth itself. Cover Contents Foreword Preface Chapter 1 Living well beyond 100 Great progress made, much more to come Medical challenges and promises Living well versus living longer Social challenges and promises Can we afford old age? Government and business The journey ahead Chapter 2 A short history of biomedicine Improving hygiene The power of immunology Monoclonal antibodies The discovery of antibiotics The DNA revolution Recombinant DNA and cloning Biotechnology Unraveling the code Conclusion Chapter 3 Snapshot of the biosciences DNA-based technologies Genomics Genetic testing DNA chips Pharmacogenetics Cloning Gene therapy RNA-based technologies Antisense technology RNA interference (RNAi) Protein-based technologies Vaccines Monoclonal Antibodies Proteomics Cell-based and other technologies Stem cells Antimicrobials Conclusion Chapter 4 Bio-driven convergence Converging technologies Telemedicine Remote diagnostics Biological drug factories Biochips Tissue engineering Imaging Multidirectional synergies Shifting industry boundaries Healthcare and IT Medical information handling Medical data storage Computers and drug discovery Remote monitoring and the wired home Reshaping bioinformatics Bioinformatics and gene banks Personalized medicine Systems biology and holistic medicine Biosensors Nano devices Commercialization challenges Technological challenges: biocompatibility Regulatory challenges: clinical safety and efficacy Political challenges: privacy and ownership Social challenges: consumer advocacy The road ahead Chapter 5 The business of biomedicine The pharmaceutical industry Diminishing drug pipelines The biotechnology sector Medical device industry Cardiovascular device segment Orthopedic device segment Neurological device segment Medical diagnostics industry Laboratory testing Point-of-care (POC) patient monitoring and diagnosis Prevention and disease management Conclusions Chapter 6 Healthcare under stress Stress in developed nations Healthcare funding Major diseases of the developed world Cardiovascular diseases Cancer Stress in developing nations Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Malaria Which technologies will succeed? Illustrative cases AIDS and malaria Cardiovascular diseases Cancer Chapter 7 Wildcards for the future Trends versus uncertainties Wildcards Society and politics Public support of the biosciences? A major pandemic? Biotech rogue states? Science and technology Raging success or major meltdown? Role of complementary industries? Intellectual property regimes? Qualified staff for healthcare and research? Business and economics Economic growth and global power shifts? Venture capital and other funding sources? Climate change and resource scarcity? A scenario framework The first overarching uncertainty: technological success The second overarching uncertainty: societal acceptance Multiple scenarios are possible The role of stakeholders Chapter 8 Scenarios up to 2025 Bio gridlock scenario The view from 2025 How we got here The world we live in Analogous cases: Nuclear power, GMOs Golden age scenario The view from 2025 How we got here The world we live in Analogous case: information technology Chapter 9 What it all means You and your family At work Business and commerce Society at large Appendix A: DNA, RNA, and protein Molecules of inheritance The structure of DNA Cracking the code Making proteins Regulating gene expression Appendix B: Cloning genes Restriction enzymes Cloning procedure Appendix C: Complexity of the genome Non-Coding RNAs SNP variations Glossary of Biomedical Terms A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T V X Acknowledgments About the Authors Index A B C D E F G H I J–K L M N O P Q–R S T U V W–Z