Introduction

Society uses scientific research and knowledge in a variety of ways.



A8.1 A strand of DNA
Often society uses scientific research and knowledge for medical purposes, but sometimes it has other uses as well. Did you know that gene mapping can tell doctors if you have a certain disease or not? Or that stem cells are special cells that can generate into almost any kind of specialized cells? Or that membranes similar to cell membranes are used in medical treatments and water treatment plants?

In this lesson, we will look at how microscopes, microscopic research, and cell membrane knowledge are used by society.

  Targets

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to

  • identify areas of cell research at the molecular level
  • describe how knowledge about semipermeable membranes, diffusion, and osmosis is applied in real-world examples

  Watch This

The Journey of Medical Research © YouTube Novartis 


Watch this video for an overview of how medical research happens. This video was produced by a large pharmaceutical company, so it focuses on the creation of a new drug; however, medical research is not always aiming to create a new drug. It can be focused on finding treatment options other than drugs, ways to prolong health, or even a new technology for medical testing or for everyday life.