White House Appeal
Prison Population
Switched Baby
Cable Car Case
Crime Data
Diana Bodyguard

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Designing Drugs Web posted May 10, 1998 By David Arbanas Staff Source: Pharmacogenetics   Augusta-based Pharmacogenetics Development Co. creates new pharmaceutical compounds by using a process patented by Dr. Larry Hendry, an adjunct professor of physiology and endocrinology at the Medical College of Georgia. Here's how it works:   Dr. Hendry discovered "biologically active" chemical compounds (A) fit inside the "rungs" of the DNA double-helix ladder (B) to create a specific interaction (C).   He then mapped the compounds and the DNA's inside compartment (D) to create a "pharmacophore" (E) allowing researchers to know whether certain compounds will "fit" into the DNA and produce the desired effect on the body.   Compounds fitting inside the pharmacophore (F) will be active in a human body. Those that do not (G) will not interact with the gene and will not produce the desired effect.