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ACADEMIC LESSON

meals to patients, and removing medical waste Microneedles
and soiled linens; mobile medical robots that clean 19 Scientists have designed a tiny patch containing
and disinfect hospital rooms where dangerous microneedles that can effectively deliver a flu
microbes might be present, using an ultraviolet vaccine into the bloodstream through the skin. The
light that inactivates bacteria and kills pathogens microneedles are made of a material that dissolves
such as Ebola and measles; and robots in research in the skin. Researchers have found that the vaccine
laboratories that are used to handle liquids and is more effective when delivered with microneedles
microplates and to perform a variety of precise, than with an injection.
repetitive functions.
Surgical Glue
Other Developments 20 Surgical glue is sometimes used in operations to

3-D Printing hold incisions together. Scientists have developed
16 Through the process of 3-D printing, scientists a new type of glue using proteins from mussels and
have created various artificial body parts, such other sea animals that holds tissues together even in
as ears, skin cells, and parts of organs. They have wet conditions. In some cases, it may be preferable
also used 3-D printing to create physical models to using sutures or staples.
of a patient’s artery and heart valve to help heart The Future
surgeons decide on effective surgical procedures.
21 Many of the developments discussed previously
Tissue Engineering are already being put into practice, and others
17 A different way of creating replacement tissue and will be appearing soon in one form or another. As
organs is to grow them in a laboratory in a process science and technology continue to advance, and as
that uses a patient’s own stem cells. Through tissue new generations of scientists conceive of innovative
engineering, scientists have created a variety of ways to approach medical challenges, the future of
small internal body parts and successfully placed medicine will continue to be exciting to watch. And
them in patients. we may be watching it for a long time: One area

Artificial Heart Valves of current scientific research is in extending the
18 As an alternative to open-heart surgery, an human lifespan through antiaging drugs.
artificial heart valve has been designed that can be
inserted through an artery and placed in the heart.

DID YOU UNDERSTAND?
1. What is the advantage of a wearable skin patch for 6. How does immunotherapy fight cancer?
monitoring health signals? 7. How can gene editing be used to prevent disease?
2. How do doctors currently test for cancer in tissue? 8. What is a prosthetic limb?
3. How does the smartphone app for detecting skin 9. How is remote surgery done?
cancer work?
10. How is light used to disinfect a room?
4. How are data banks used in diagnosing brain or
heart conditions? 11. How does tissue engineering work?

5. What are nanobots, and what can they be used for? 12. What is the purpose of surgical glue?

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?
1. What is your opinion about genetic engineering in humans? Do you think it is acceptable? For what
purposes?

2. What are the pros and cons of extending human life?
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