Special Topic 2 – Virus & Biotechnology
Biotechnology vs Cancer (Page 3)

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 Understanding Cancer

Cancer is caused by uncontrolled cell division resulting from genetic mutations. These mutations affect genes responsible for cell growth and repair.

• Oncogenes – Promote abnormal cell growth
• Tumor suppressor genes – Normally control cell division
• DNA damage – Leads to mutation accumulation

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 Role of Biotechnology in Cancer Treatment

• Gene Therapy: Correcting defective genes.
• Immunotherapy: Using immune system to fight cancer.
• Targeted Therapy: Drugs targeting specific cancer cells.
• mRNA Technology: Personalized cancer vaccines.
• CRISPR-Cas9: Gene editing for mutation correction.

These approaches represent precision medicine, where treatment is tailored to an individual's genetic profile.

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 Advances in Diagnosis

• Genomic sequencing
• Liquid biopsy techniques
• AI-assisted tumor detection

Early detection significantly increases survival rates.

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Major Challenges

• High treatment cost
• Complex genetic diversity of tumors
• Ethical concerns in gene editing
• Limited accessibility in developing countries

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📚 UPSC Relevance

• Science & Technology – Developments and Applications
• Public Health Infrastructure
• Ethics in Biotechnology
• Innovation and Research Ecosystem

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 Scientific Insight:

Cancer challenges the cell — Biotechnology challenges cancer.

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Special Topic Series by Shaktimatha Learning
Advanced Science for Competitive Excellence