How Revolutionary RNA Improves Modern Medicine
When atypical problems occur, they require unique solutions – in this case, how revolutionary RNA improves modern medicine. While it seems scientists only recently discovered how to use modified RNA to create COVID-19 vaccines, they have dreamt of using it to cure other diseases. Although we’ve made great progress with Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, we’ve still got a long road ahead of us.
How It All Breaks Down
Since the body destroys the strands of RNA not long after they are injected, this method isn’t suitable for diseases like diabetes. Like diabetes, hemophilia also requires a constant supply of proteins for the body. So, when it comes down to it, RNA is perfect for diseases like COVID, because it gives our cells instructions on how to make a protein unique to the virus, copying the protein, and then destroying the genetic material from the vaccine.
Wait, What's RNA Again?
RNA is best known for turning genetic information into proteins. However, it has a much larger role than that. For instance, it also carries genetic instructions for many viruses. As for the acronym, it stands for ribonucleic acid. Ultimately, it’s considered the “central dogma” of molecular biology, which describes the flow of genetic information in an organism2.
So, How Might RNA Help Us In the Future?
Today, RNA is not usable for chronic treatments because they’d have to return repeatedly for new injections. However, at Laronde, they are developing a technology that they call “endless” RNA or “eRNA.” In short, during their laboratory tests, they discovered that mice injected with the endless RNA continued creating the protein, unlike their counterparts that had typical RNA. Ultimately, the eRNA mice continued to produce the protein for at least 20 days after their initial dose.
In Conclusion
In the end, RNA is a lot more complicated than we’ve noted today, and it’s clear how RNA is revolutionary to modern medicine. With Laronde’s findings of endless RNA, treating chronic illnesses may be closer within our grasp than we realize.
Resources & Further Reading
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, May 27). Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html.
Chen, A. (2021, June 1). Next Generation RNA Technology Could Unlock Treatments For Chronic Conditions. Next Generation RNA Technology Could Unlock Treatments For Chronic Conditions | CommonHealth. https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2021/06/01/next-generation-rna-technology-could-therapies-chronic-conditions.
Dhar, M. (2020, October 15). What is RNA? LiveScience. https://www.livescience.com/what-is-RNA.html.