Introduction to Medical Biology

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from a lecture on the introduction to medical biology, including the history, present state, and future directions of the field.

Biotechnology

The technical application of biological material.

Biotechnology Processes

Living material or biological products are used to generate new products for medical, agricultural, pharmaceutical, and environmental applications.

The Ultimate Goal of Biotechnology

To benefit humanity by producing resistant crops, recombinant proteins, and higher milk-producing animals.

Ancient Biotechnology

Early history related to food and shelter, including domestication of animals (8000–4000 BC).

Classical Biotechnology (2000 BC; 1800–1900 AD)

Built on ancient biotechnology; fermentation promotes food production and medicine.

Modern Biotechnology (1977)

Manipulates genetic information in organisms; genetic engineering; various technologies enable us to improve crop yield and food quality in agriculture and to produce a broader array of products in industries.

P4 Medicine

Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, Participatory

Past Health Model (Biomedical)

Treatment of acute illness and injury with an immediate, short-term focus.

Present Health Model (Biopsychosocial)

Management of chronic illness with a medium-term focus.

Future Health Development

Health optimization for all, lifelong and multi-generational.

Variable Health Trajectories - A

Higher or lower health development trajectories are influenced by the relative number and magnitude of risk and protective factors.

Variable Health Trajectories - B

Trajectories are not straight, linear, overly determined, or immutable but can be in a constant state of flux relative to different influences at different points in time.

1st Era of Modern Healthcare (1900s)

Germ Theory and Medical Anatomic/Pathologic Framework

2nd Era of Modern Healthcare (1950s)

Darwinian Evolution, Mendelian Genetics, and Molecular Biology

3rd Era of Modern Healthcare (Today)

Network Biology/Biocomplexity, Genomics, and Epigenetics

Proactive P4 Medicine

Social networking of patients to enhance shared experiences and diffusion of knowledge in consultation with their physicians

Reactive Medicine—Evidence-Based Medicine

Respond after a patient is sick (symptoms-based)