The National Institutes of Health note that this type of basic research can often form the groundwork for unpredictable future advances in the field.
Understanding the mechanisms around gene and protein interactions opens up new avenues for intervening against harmful mechanisms.
The National Institutes of Health say: “The line between discovery and medical application can be long and hard to trace.
“The fundamental knowledge gained through basic science often leads to unanticipated breakthroughs in how to predict, prevent, diagnose and treat disease.
“The return on investment from basic research over the long term is significant; most of the gains in reducing human suffering from illness and disease and extending life expectancy over the past century could not have happened without basic research.”