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3 Biotech Trends That Will Change the World

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think the latest biotechnology developments were ripped […]

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I think the latest biotechnology developments were ripped from the pages of a science fiction novel. Gene editing cures a little girl’s leukemia; an Italian doctor plans to perform the first human head transplant in 2017; and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the first commercial sale of a genetically modified animal for food. We live in an unbelievable time, and biotech is closing the gap between sci-fi and reality a little more every day.

But with such achievements comes a need for discussions of scientific integrity and intellectual purity, which I believe represent the best of the biotech world. Today’s advances will shape medical thinking and practices for years to come, and the general population will enjoy the benefits as new standards take hold. However, these shifts will occur only if scientists and laypeople exchange knowledge about their respective breakthroughs and experiences.

That’s why it’s so important that we educate ourselves about major scientific milestones. Investors, biotech enthusiasts, and even casual observers should learn about the logic used in the industry so we can engage effectively with leaders in this community. Let’s examine three shifts happening in biotech right now and the affects they’ll have on society:

1. Diagnostic Techniques and Methodology

Improvements in doctors’ abilities to diagnose certain diseases will transform patient treatment and quality of life. Researchers are conducting countless studies that will facilitate earlier, less invasive detection. Scientists in Minnesota have studied the effectiveness of using the short, relatively simple synchronous neural interaction test to better diagnose Alzheimer’s disease. Just this year, Italian researchers looked at the connections between pancreatic cancer and diabetes mellitus.

This type of work provides insights into devastating diseases and could radically alter the way doctors approach these conditions. Databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov and the National Institutes of Health website are filled with information on these cutting-edge initiatives, so they’re great resources for anyone interested in what’s happening in the industry.

2. Holistic Reasoning

Scientists are moving gradually away from a reductionist approach toward a more comprehensive view of people’s health. They’re essentially thinking about how an entire biological system works, rather than focusing on how one single molecule reacts within that system. For instance, some doctors advocate a holistic approach to treating diabetes. Rather than emphasize medicine alone, they note that education and exercise also affect diabetes management.

As scientists uncover more connections between people’s lifestyles and their health, there will be a cultural change throughout society. The focus will not be on pharmaceutical treatments alone, but rather on preventive care and overall well-being.

3. Emphasis on Results Rather Than Theory

Doctors and researchers are increasingly willing to take a “seeing is believing” approach to their work. They used to be far more reliant on scientific explanations to justify their results, but the trend has moved in the other direction. Scientists might study the mechanisms so they can derive theories from them in the future, but they’re more trusting of applied-science results than they were in the past.

The biotech studies being conducted right now will lead to projects and practices that save people’s lives. The holistic approaches we are witnessing in the biotech field indicate a more conscious way of practicing science. The combination of biotech advances and increased consciousness will change the way we see the world.


Kevin Xu

Kevin Xu is the CEO of MEBO International, a California- and Beijing-based intellectual property management company specializing in applied health systems. He also leads Skingenix, which specializes in skin organ regeneration and the research and development of botanical drug products. Kevin is co-founder of the Human Heritage Project.

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