Biotechnology is a rapidly expanding industry. Genetic engineering has enabled the manipulation of genes on a whole new level. We are now able to create entire organisms that you wouldn’t find in nature. Some companies have even been able to manipulate bacteria into creating milk from sugars.
This level of genetic engineering is what has made regenerative medicine possible. Dr. Suhyun An is one of the leaders in this field, and she is using regenerative medicine to do a lot of good for the world. As this technology improves, it will touch the lives of millions or even billions of people.
What Is Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine is a new field in the medical industry that deals with replacing tissues and organs using stem cells and other types of tissues. It requires a lot of clever engineering and understanding of genetics to succeed. When something damaging happens to your body, it usually has various mechanisms to heal.
However, in cases where it doesn’t, regenerative medicine allows doctors to use multiple techniques to repair cells themselves. They can use this new field to cure many diseases that we could not before. They can also use this field to do a lot of medical procedures that we thought were impossible.
What Are Some Methods to Do It
The two main methods of regenerative medicine are stem cell engineering and genetic engineering. Stem cells are cells that can be programmed into being any cell in the body. Think of it as a generic cell that you can change to whatever you want. As Dr. Suhyun An always points out, stem cells are one of the most misunderstood facets of the medical field. However, they are going to be crucial to the next generation of medical innovation.
The next crucial innovation is genetic engineering. This involves manipulating the DNA of a biological organism so it is then able to perform certain functions according to its genetic code. For example, many properties of a biological organism are governed by its genetic code. If you can change that genetic code, you can manipulate the properties that that biological organism has.
Regenerative Medicine and Longevity
One of the biggest innovations with regenerative medicine is in longevity science. Humans are living longer than ever, and regenerative medicine is only going to extend that. Some of the billionaires in this world will probably live till they are more than 150 years old. Regenerative medicine focuses on repairing cell tissue that would usually die, enabling the body to live longer.
It also focuses on ensuring that people have brain function going into their 90s and beyond. This aspect of regenerative medicine is one of the most popular because it is the goal of the majority of people to live longer. However, it is most popular with the people who have the money to undergo these procedures. The majority of them are expensive, so it is only available to a few people.
Example Techniques
Certain industries will benefit immensely from these innovations. For example, organ donors and people who want to look younger will love these developments. These two industries could potentially become $1 trillion markets in the future. The only thing that will determine this is whether they can drive the cost down to a level where most people on the planet can afford it.
Replacing Organs
Many people die every year because they don’t have the organs to continue to live. Organ donor lists are prohibitively expensive, as you need to be able to fly at a moment’s notice. Only people with financial clout can be successful with this, so it is challenging. You also have the factor in the reality that there are few available organs at any time. You also have to be a match for the available organs, so this is where regenerative medicine comes in.
Dr. Suhyun An understands that artificial organs will be a game-changer for the world. The people who die while undergoing dialysis will be able to get their own artificial kidneys to continue living. It will improve the quality of life for thousands or even millions of people.
Making Skin Look Younger
Aging is already a major market, but it will become even bigger with these innovations. Using regenerative medicine to make your skin look younger will be a common procedure in the future. The foundation for this technology is already here, and it is only getting better and better. Once it reaches a stage where most people will be able to get it, you will see regenerative medicine been at the forefront of the anti-aging movement.
Helping with Chronic Pain
Dr. Suhyun An specializes in using regenerative medicine to fight pain. This is something that she has pioneered and continues to research immensely. Chronic pain is something that no one should go through, but there are significant portions of the population that have to deal with it. It makes your quality of life low, and any innovation to help in that arena will be good. The main focus will be on using these innovations to help people with knee problems and other joint issues.
Wrap Up
Regenerative medicine is one of the best things to happen to the world, and it will continue to grow and develop. The main determinant of if this technology takes off is whether it will come down in price. Many people are working in this field to ensure that regenerative medicine can be used for the good of mankind.
