Our build-up and activities are regulated from the action of 30,000 genes. They are also known as DNA and reside in each of our cells in the body. Some of them work continuously to maintain the normal physiology and provide energy to it, while others switch on and off according to the need and time. These genes or DNA are made from four bases namely A, G, T, and C and exact sequential arrangement of nearly 200 bases make one gene. Genes are responsible to make proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids etc which are constituents of our body. Incorrect placement of even one base in the DNA sequence may lead to mishap in the production of protein, carbohydrate lipid or DNA itself. This is the ultimate resolution of the cause of disease and therefore stands firm to fine tune them as target for drugs. The DNA sequence of humans is about 3 billion bases and every individual has a few bases different at certain places in the sequence which distinguishes them as different from others.

Personal genomics is the approach of studying whole DNA or genes of an individual and prescribe medicine according the change in the DNA sequence. With the advent of cheap and fast sequencers and triumph revolution of technology such as 454, 23andME, deCODEme, and Navigenics, it is now possible to sequence a large quantity of genes within a day with 100 % correctness and it is possible now to prescribe and administer exact drugs to every individual, according to the change in the DNA sequence he/she carries in their cells. Efforts are being carried out to make it reach to the mass and make it aware to the whole society.

Benefits:

Early Diagnosis of a Disease.

By comparing the DNA sequence with available DNA in database it is quite possible to predict the disease the person is going to suffer. The likelihood of an individual developing breast cancer is affected by which alleles they have of particular genes. Screening can reveal breast cancer in the early stages, allowing it to be successfully treated. 50% of breast cancers occur in the 12% of the population who are at greatest risk.

Exact DNA –drug combination and disease combating:

It is hoped that genetic information will allow physicians to tailor therapy to a given patient, in order to increase drug efficacy and minimize side effects. There are only a few examples in which this information is currently useful in clinical practice, but it is anticipated that tailored therapy will emerge rapidly as researchers validate the clinical utility of different pharmacogenomic markers. Drug Banks are available to provide the whole lists of drugs in sequential order to be prescribed to the known diseases. These are repository of drugs databases from where the medicines are chosen according to the disease that has been deciphered from the analysis of DNA sequence. The physician then prescribes the drugs to the Quake

The $1000 genome:

The cost of sequencing an individual sequence currently is US$ 10,000 which is quite high to reach to the mass. By 2014, its cost will be US$ 1000 and by 2020 it will rock the bottom making every individual happy to fight the disease of their own. Still with symptoms and characters of a patient it possible to narrow down the sequencing cost of DNA and enjoy the benefits of DNA information and drug databases!

Looking at the enormous sure shot benefits of personal medicine strategy, it is here advised to all the citizens to look forward and walk with the current developments that are taking place in the field of disease diagnosis and treatments. Besides knowing the arrangement of their own DNA sequences, and in what degree they are different from their near and far neighbors, it is far beneficial to predict the disease they are going to carry beforehand and sort out the problem. The cost of medicating an individual with their personalized genome is going to hit the bottom soon. It will be quite interesting to the common mass by 2014 to fantasize the molecular therapy of the disease with all the causal information decoded as sequence in the own hands of the patient. It is going to be a miracle in medical therapy and boon to the good health of the society and the coming generation too.

Importance Of Information And Communication Technology In Neglected Rural Areas

Today we live in a TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) age
where people are educated with the aid of advanced technology and
design. India too has moved into the TED world where information is being shared
for speedy, strategic and global development of the people. The means
of information like TV channels, radio and newspaper still remain the
choice for most of the Indians but Internet has now revolutionized the
way of being connected and fulfilling our other desires. It is now
catching and replacing the traditional means of information
like a pandemic virus engulfing all those who come in contact with it
once. Internet has made its domain in the cell phones that we use.
Believe it or not, the fact is that India is currently the largest
buyer of cell phones in the world leaving behind countries like US and
China. So should we consider that we have most easily available sources
of information available with us? Not at all.

India is a country with around 1.3 billion people and is going to take over China by 2034. It is the largest democracy
and is the land of diversity. At the same time, India is also a land of
paradox i.e. what we say about India, the opposite is also true.
Despite the reach of the cell phones and TV channels to the utmost
remote villages in India, the gap between the rich and the poor remains
the same. You can see the pity of India when you visit some villages,
slums, remote areas with no access to electricity, railway stations —
having backyard of temples with beggars, rickshaw pullers sleeping in
their vehicles overnight etc. All this contradicts the talks of India
being the next big super power.

The need of the hour is to make important information available to
the young rural populace so that they could help transform their lives
and their livelihood. Here are some tips for those willing to transform
his/her land of birth, neglected due to the lack of proper knowledge,
information and choice of work.

1. The educated people of the village who have obtained higher
degrees and migrated for better jobs must get back to their homelands
and disseminate the essential information in order to develop the
villages.

2. Organizations should be formed by the visitors with the help of
local people to share and solve the problems of the areas. One such
example of an extremely successful organization is The Barefoot College that has transformed a village Tilonia into a self-sustaining development model.

3. Means of communication which are true, affordable and healthy for
the downtrodden people should be introduced in order to make education
available to them in the most understandable way. Rural press in one such example.

4. Farmers must be taught how to take up farming as an entrepreneurial venture.
It should be made more interesting and marketing and production
strategies must be introduced by way of simple and local communication,
easy to comprehend.

5. Employment news and Government new plans schemes plus subsidies
that our government provides for specific initiatives should be
explained to them in their local language for effective utilization of
these opportunities by the villagers.

A lot more information needs to be communicated to the neglected
people about the current events, problems faced and the near future of
India and the world. Let us begin taking action ourselves and bring on
the change. Are you ready?

Life is a miracle. Nobody knows why there is genesis and ends of
life and for what purpose we are here. Human has dominated this world
to such an extent no other species would have dominated this planet in
the past, eating away all the available resources to a dead end
extinct. The human population has geared its dominance with a rapid
pace breaking the ecosystem and biotic laws meant for survival of life
on earth. Everyone wakes up in the morning and starts to prepare and go
for the two ends meet. All the people have become self-centered caring
for themselves only and not a little bit for the other people around
them. Is it the meaning of life and our existence on earth? Are we here
to survive only even when we have luxurious amenities to read, write,
do and express? Not at all.

For our materialistic longings, we work very hard day to day to
fulfill the desires. There are several examples of bountiful rich
people who bring wealth and desirable amenities by toiling very hard.
This happiness is frivolous and lives for a very short period. The long
term happiness embraces us when we do something for others who remember
us in their life time. We come across so many people with problems
everyday when we are in the course of our work and we can come to their
help in some way or the other.

There are people who side by side work for the welfare of the
society along with building their own career. A real example is a 13
year old girl of IX standard named Shiloh
from Tamil Nadu who is involved with Indian Development Foundation. IDF
is a leading national NGO committed to Health, Education and
Development. She has shown the signs of a responsible citizen in
leading the mass awareness about Leprosy and Tuberculosis through IDF
and her parents are also involved in educating the children from poor
families though they belong to middle class people. N. Krishnan, a selfless guy dedicated his life to feeding the hungry and poor people of Madurai. Mukti Dutta
is an example of a brave lady who has changed the lives of women in
Kumaun region of North India. She has given employment to women from an
entire region. Confident women, well dressed, boarding buses from home
to weaving centers and then back home in evening is very common sight
these days. You can become one of such helping hands empowering the
lives of other people.

Divinely, I have come across a few holy souls involved in helping
poor people for no recognition at all. In the extreme shivering night
in winter seasons of Lucknow, the homeless people and rickshaw pullers
in the streets half naked at 10⁰C temperature were provided with blankets by unknown messengers coming out of car!

Help is the sign of leaders and is what need of the time for helping
the needy people. Direct helps has advantage that it curtails the
involvement of mediators who irresponsibly indulge in corruption if
food and money is going to reach the needy ones. This is also a great
opportunity for the youth to be accoladed with rewards for their
leadership qualities they execute with their hands. There are many
examples social workers and organizations involved in such activities.

Indirectly we can come to help by giving donations to several
national and international NGOs involved in welfare of society like
UNESCO, UNICEF, CRY, CINI, HelpAge India and Department of rural
development, or even better, volunteering our time for them. This is
also an equivalent help and equally appreciable.

Always remember: Help begets help.