Whole Genome Sequencing

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130212172118.htm

    The disease tuberculosis has been a serious sickness for long time in that it is very lethal. In the 19^th century in particular there was a significant lack of scientific technology and medical development and many people died from TB. In the 21^st century we have substantially improved medicine but tuberculosis still exists. Luckily scientists are coming up with more ways to research TB and explain it. Researchers from Forschungszentrum Borstel, Molecular Mycobacteriology have found new forms of genetic testing of the bacteria that causes the disease. The technique of whole genome sequencing determines more clustering and longitudinal spreading than the classical genoming testing and has proved some clusters of whole genome sequencing to be incorrect. It has revealed the speed of TB growth (doubles at rate of 22 hours) based on its evolution speed (0.4 mutations per year). It is a relatively cheap procedure meaning it could soon become the most popilar method for outbreaks of TB.

    The research of this procedure will lead to more development with research in tuberculosis obviously but can also lead to determining rates of infectious disease outbreaks other than TB. It may not seem vital to know the rate of growth of diseases but it actually is necessary to understand the mechanisms of the disease and scientist’s ability to end it.  Whole genome sequencing doesn’t hold all the answers to tuberculosis and other infectious diseases but it definitely is a piece of the puzzle. Many scientists and researchers dedicate their lives to curing infectious diseases and a process like this will help them get much closer to their goal.

    This article helped me understand one of the key problems with infectious diseases (particularly tuberculosis). The high growth rate makes it nearly impossible to stop the problem before it starts. I know that there are many aspects that go into the research of curing diseases like TB but it is hard to see why it is so impossible. Knowing that scientists are just now getting to understand these diseases at a genomic level is eye-opening. It makes me realize that there is such a big picture when it comes to diseases but scientists have to dissect it gen by gene!