subject: Biobanks And Their Purpose [print this page] Modern medicine "gave birth" to a new concept, the bio-bank concept. Blood, tissue or cell samples are the biological materials that serve as research material for bio-banks. These samples can be preserved for as long as the researchers decide. It is assumed that DNA errors have to do with the installation of certain diseases in the human body. Examinations are performed in order to clear up this assumption. Genetic information gathered from the collected biological material is the basic piece in conceiving successful treatments for patients that are hit by two of the most common mortal diseases: cancer and heart diseases. You can also find out why and how a certain disease has chosen your body as victim.
Cancer and heart diseases are strongly related to the genes and the environment. This can easily be demonstrated through bio-bank procedures. Experiments were done on African-American populations by taking biological material from several populations in order to find where the roots of the diabetes, asthma, hypertension diseases came from. Researches on autism and schizophrenia are also a priority in bio-banks work.
Researches need to be performed using biological samples collected from either regular patients or donors. Bio-bank material is considered only the material that is linked to a donor. The samples must be kept in perfect conditions, no kind of alteration for no reason must occur. Professional methods are used to preserve the samples the best way possible. Bio-banks do not reveal any kind of information on the donor to anyone; their genetic data is secretly kept. The donors data becomes available only when using an assigned unique number to unlock the information. The researchers are the only ones allowed to "play" with this information.
The collected material is very precious due to the existing relation between the biological material samples and personal data and information. This is the path towards establishing a diagnostic and finding appropriate cures.
Bio-banks are a viable solution in fighting these terrible diseases that affect and threaten human beings lives. Medicine can go a step forward with the help of the bio-banks and the individuals interest as well as the public one should be satisfied.
