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CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT

INTO CANCER.

NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA.

Santiago Carvalho Saldarriaga. III semester medical student.

INTRODUCTION

During the past few years the molecular biology have tried to find the answers for what is still unknown for us, including:

• Cell division: giving us the possibility to understand the complex process that allows the cellular regeneration, and making us able to improve the therapies and approaches to different diseases such as cancer.

• Genetics: making possible the treatment and diagnosis of pathologies that normally doesn't have a well known explanation, giving the opportunity to the people that lives with that kind of problems a new chance to have a better life.

In the past days the Scientifics have found one of the key parts of the cellular division process, mediated by a protein complex called Ska who helps in the correct distribution of the genetic information, generating identical twin cells after the cytokinesis.

CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER

The interaction of this protein complex helps to keep the organs of the body functioning in a correct way , enabling a correct cell regeneration.Scientifics believe that damages in this process could lead to the development of diseases such as cancer, that’s why the complex is so relevant.

CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER

The set of proteins that form the complex work together stabilizing the sequence of events that take place during the cellular division, by helping anchor DNA, interacting with strands of cell material.

CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER

The experiments and lab test that were made in order to discover the protein complex took place at the University of Edinburgh and were based in the analysis of the protein crystals.The scientific team believe that they research could lead the discovery of new drugs for fighting cancer.

CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER

I think that the Ska complex has a very important role during the cellular division; that’s why the knowledge of how it works and how it develops the separation of the genetic information takes a high relevance in the now day world. Understanding it action mechanism will allows us to fight trough all the problems and disease that the damage of the complex can cause, bringing a new hope to the people in this conditions.

OBSERVATIONS

Ska Complex

Where do new genes come from? That was the question that motivated a team of Scientifics at the University of California, Davis to make a research on the topic.They found that new genes could come from ancestral sequences of non-coding DNA, and that this is really happening in a big rate, because similar effects have been discovered in other animals and plants.

NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA

The new theory joins to an old one postulated in which new functions appear when existing genes are duplicated and then diverge in function.Scientist believe that “new genes form when a random mutation in the regulatory machinery causes a piece of non-coding DNA to be transcribed to RNA”.

NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA

The experiment was made in in the testes of several strains of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (comparing them with two closely related species), in which the Scientifics found a big amount of “new genes”.

NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA

Despite the big discovery, they also found that a big amount of that new genes were fixed, what showed that those new genes were under a selection process, so only the ones who represent a benefit to the specie could stay with it.

NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA

I think that the discovery of where new genes come from bring us a great opportunity to get to know us in a better way, because all who we are is reduced to our genetic information. That’s why I consider that this represents a big step in the science that could be applied in a easy way in things such as the genic therapy for those who suffers a genetic disorder that can be fixed with the todays knowledge and technology

OBSERVATIONS

As the scientific team said, this and further researches could make a way for the investigation of new types of drugs that can help and regulate the work of protein complex such as the Ska, allowing to prevent cancer and other diseases for mistakes in the cellular division process.

MEDICAL UTILITY. CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER.

Understanding the factors involved in cell division and how these interact is of vital importance in the treatment and improvement of those suffering from cancer or other diseases because of this, bringing hope as we get to know how really the cells work.

MEDICAL UTILITY. CELL DIVISION DISCOVERY COULD OFFER FRESH INSIGHT INTO CANCER.

The development of new genes from non-coding DNA could bring light on the improvement of gene therapy, making it somewhat safer and more accessible to those who need it and bringing benefits in the treatment of incurable diseases.

MEDICAL UTILITY. NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA.

The understanding of the process of how the genome could change and become stronger could be the key for future therapies developed looking for making us a healthier specie and with the advantage of being adaptable to any situation.

MEDICAL UTILITY. NEW GENES SPRING, SPREAD FROM NON-CODING DNA.

BIBLIOGRAPY

• University of California - Davis. (2014, January 23). New genes spring, spread from non-coding DNA. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 7, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/0 1/140123142029.htm

• University of Edinburgh. (2014, January 14). Cell division discovery could offer fresh insight into cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 7, 2014 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/0 1/140114103013.htm

THANK YOU!