Switching off Down Syndrome Chromosomes

While searching for an interesting blog topic for this week, I came across this article posted in Scientific American about how one gene can switch off another gene that causes down syndrome.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts used XIST gene to inactivate one of the three copies of chromosome 21. The XIST gene is found in both X chromosomes in females. When this gene is activated then the expression of that chromosome is turned off.

Once the gene was placed into the cells obtained from someone who has down syndrome, Lawrence and her colleagues also put in a switch that gave them control over when to turn on the XIST gene. The switch was turned on by introducing antibiotic doxyclcline to the cells.

The researchers would like this study to assist other research in better understanding the genetic pathways involved in this syndrome and to further guide efficient future treatments.

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Cartilage Regeneration

There are so many people who suffer from what I call the bodies “wear and tear” and develop arthritis. You don’t have to be of age to experience this dysfunction but even athletes who I consider fairly young, experience these problems too. For example, a runner who has been running all his life will gradually feel arthritis settling in as the cartilage in his knee starts to wear out. Though now there is hope for those who I believe have such problems because there is a potential treatment that will regenerate knee cartilage cells by mechanical stress. When the cells are put through this mechanical stress, the cells develop receptors that are receptive to the natural growth factors made by the organism which causes regeneration of the cartilage cells and also they are receptive towards the medications. 

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Preventing Eczema

Atopic dermatitis or eczema is a chronic skin condition caused by inflammation. I personally have been dealing with this condition for some years now and it isn't severe as some peoples condition. I just have a small parch on my hand that decided to inflame every once in a while when it's irritated. So I decided to do a blog on this today. This condition is hereditary and is uncomfortable when the skin becomes irritated because you just feel like scratching till you bleed (sorry to paint the horrible picture, but its true!). About fifty-five million Americans are estimated to be effected by this condition and the symptoms continue through out adulthood. Research done by Diana Bautista at UT Berkeley studies how the nervous system reacts with the immune system which is found to be the cause of the itching and inflammation symptoms. She says that the sensory receptors in the skin are the first to respond to the itch, thus by blocking the neurons connected to the receptors then cam also block the itching.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003121300.htm

Enzyme SCD1

In a study done at University of Wisconsin by Chad Paton and his colleagues, on how eating specific kind of fat will assist in losing weight faster. The research began with an enzyme found in obese individuals. This enzyme that was located in the skeletal muscles was then tested for specific functionality by using once again our little furry friends that con in hand in the lab. After altering the sequence of the gene that regulates the enzyme activity, they found an increase in metabolic activity along with an increase in energy and exercise drive.

As was found, the enzyme SCD1 that is produced by the liver, where it will develop this enzyme when fatty foods are eaten. What also was discovered was the production of linoleic acid which particularly comes through eating. This enzyme causes a cascade of events which resulted in producing a protein which signaled certain cells to burn more energy.

Since more energy was being made, the more was being used as well which was seen by the difference in the amount of exercise these mice did. The normal mice ran up to 10 minutes on their spinning wheel, where as these new mice ran 70 minutes.

Since these findings can't be tested on human test subjects, Chad Paton has decided to use his research to help improve dietary supplement.

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