Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
patients, there was an increase in SCE numbers in patients with fracture
fi xation devices. There were also increased serum levels of both Ni and Cr,
which was statistically signifi cant. Further research is needed to discern
whether the increase in SCE numbers has an adverse effect on patients.
However, to err on the side of caution, fracture fi xation devices should be
removed after they have fulfi lled their purpose
in vivo
because the increased
number of sister chromatid exchanges and elevated serum levels of various
metals can have adverse effects on patients. Some studies have reported an
increased incidence of different cancers such as osteosarcoma and Ewing's
sarcoma in animal orthopedic studies.
7. 11 Conclusion
The process of mutagenesis has been shown to be the underlying molecular
mechanism by which natural selection acts and how evolution progresses.
The mutational process serves as a basis for the great genetic diversity seen
on the planet. With the establishment of DNA as the genetic material and
the determination of its molecular structure, great strides have been made
in discovering the many ways that nature introduces molecular change into
this molecule. Since the middle of the twentieth century, numerous meth-
ods have been developed to detect mutations at the molecular and chromo-
somal level. These methods have developed at a striking speed, and we now
are approaching a point where entire genomes will be affordably sequenced,
stored and analyzed, leading to a time when information of an individual's
genome becomes a standard activity in the diagnosis, prevention and treat-
ment of disease.
7.12 Sources of further information and advice
General reference texts
Gelehrter , T. D. , Collins , F. S. and Ginsburg , D. ( 1998 ),
Principles of Medical Genetics
,
2nd edition, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 351 West Camden St, Baltimore,
Maryland , 21201.
Lewis , R. ( 2008 ),
Human Genetics-Concepts and Applications
, 8th edition,
McGraw-Hill . New York, NY 10020.
Thieman , W. J. and Palladino , M. A. ( 2004 ),
Introduction to Biotechnology
, 1st edition,
Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 1300 Sansome St. San Francisco, CA, 94111.
Turnpenny , P. and Ellard , S. ( 2007 ),
Emery's Elements of Medical Genetics
, 13th
edition, Churchill Livingstone. 1-3 Baxter Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh EH1.
3AF, UK.
Watson , J. D. , Baker , T. A. , Bell , S. P. , Gann , A. , Levime , M. and Losick , R. ( 2008 ),
Molecular Biology of the Gene
, 6th edition, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 1300
Sansome St. San Francisco, CA, 94111.
