Molecular medicine

Molecular medicine is a broad field, where physical, chemical, biological and medical techniques are used to describe molecular structures and mechanisms, identify fundamental molecular and genetic errors of disease, and to develop molecular interventions to correct them. The molecular medicine perspective emphasizes cellular and molecular phenomena and interventions rather than the previous conceptual and observational focus on patients and their organs.[1]

In November 1949, with the seminal paper, "Sickle Cell Anemia, a Molecular Disease",[2] in Science magazine, Linus Pauling, Harvey Itano and their collaborators laid the groundwork for establishing the field of molecular medicine.[3] In 1956, Roger J. Williams wrote Biochemical Individuality,[4] a prescient book about genetics, prevention and treatment of disease on a molecular basis, and nutrition which is now variously referred to as individualized medicine[5] and orthomolecular medicine.[6] Another paper in Science by Pauling in 1968,[7] introduced and defined this view of molecular medicine that focuses on natural and nutritional substances used for treatment and prevention.

Published research and progress was slow until the 1970s' "biological revolution" that introduced many new techniques and commercial applications.[8]

Molecular medicine is a new scientific discipline in European universities. Combining contemporary medical studies with the field of biochemistry, it offers a bridge between the two subjects. At present only a handful of universities offer the course to undergraduates. With a degree in this discipline the graduate is able to pursue a career in medical sciences, scientific research, laboratory work and postgraduate medical degrees.

Subjects

Core subjects are similar to biochemistry courses and typically include gene expression, research methods, proteins, cancer research, immunology, biotechnology and many more besides. In some universities molecular medicine is combined with another discipline such as chemistry, functioning as an additional study to enrich the undergraduate program.

See also

Citations

  1. ↑ Massoud TF, Gambhir SS. Integrating noninvasive molecular imaging into molecular medicine: an evolving paradigm, Trends in Molecular Medicine, Vol. 13, No. 5, May 2007, pp. 183-191
  2. ↑ L Pauling, H Itano, SJ Singer, I Wells. "Sickle Cell Anemia, a Molecular Disease". Science, 25 November 1949, vol. 110, no. 2865, pp. 543-548.
  3. ↑ BJ Strasser, Perspectives: Molecular Medicine, [ "Sickle Cell Anemia, a Molecular Disease"] Science, 19 November 1999, vol. 286, no.5444, pp. 1488 - 1490.
  4. ↑ RJ Williams (1956) Biochemical Individuality: The Basis for the Genetotrophic Concept (John Wiley & Sons, 1956; University of Texas Press, 1969 to 1979; Keats Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-87983-893-0
  5. ↑ MS Runge, C Patterson, VA McKusick, Principles of Molecular Medicine, 2nd ed, p. 53, Humana Press, 2006 ISBN 1-58829-202-9.
  6. ↑ RJ Williams, DK Kalita (1979) Physician's Handbook on Orthomolecular Medicine, Keats Publishing, ISBN 0-87983-199-5
  7. ↑ Pauling L, "Orthomolecular psychiatry. Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease", Science 19 Apr 1968; 160(825):265-71. (doi:10.1126/science.160.3825.265 PMID 5641253)
  8. ↑ [Molecular medicine—an overview sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/22/2200268.pdf] HKMJ, June 1997, Vol3, No. 2

External links


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