What are the Applications of Hairpins in Medical Science?
Hairpins have several applications in medical science: 1. Disease Diagnosis: Abnormal hairpin structures can be indicative of certain diseases, including cancers and genetic disorders. 2. Therapeutics: Synthetic hairpins are being explored as therapeutic agents. For example, antisense oligonucleotides can form hairpins that bind to and modulate the activity of target RNAs. 3. Vaccine Development: Hairpin structures are used in the design of RNA vaccines, such as those for COVID-19, where the hairpin ensures RNA stability and efficient protein translation.
