Recent Progress of Life Science Technology in Japan

Recent Progress of Life Science Technology in Japan discusses developments in cancer research technologies in Japan. In June 1983 an intra-cabinet panel of the Japanese Government drafted a 10-year strategy for cancer control, recognizing the importance of this field of research. A scientific research group was organized to comprise two sections—the first concerning the development and evaluation of DNA technologies, and the second on protein-related technologies.
In the promotion of fundamental cancer research, the development and refinement of basic technologies for each component of the ""triangle of bio-sciences""—DNA, protein, and antibody—are essential, particularly in the elucidation of tumor-inducing and tumor-suppressing genes, tumor-specific antigens, and so forth. Part I of the book details the achievements of the first group in developing automated instrumentations for DNA sequencing. The second scientific research group worked on three major (1) gene transfer and expression technologies; (2) technologies for extraction, purification, and structural analysis of cancer-related proteins; and (3) technologies for analysis and synthesis of saccharide chains. Reports from these areas are respectively grouped in Part II, Part III, and Part IV of this monograph.