It has been known for awhile now that mutations in the BRCA1 gene cause breast and ovarian cancer in women, but recent studies have shown that the same gene may also effect brain development. This explains why women who are genetically prone to breast cancer also suffer from brain seizures. The team from Salk's Laboratory of Genetics found that eliminating BRCA1 in the neural stem cells of mice had profound effects on the brain making it smaller and the cerebellum to be smooth, rather then filled with ridges. Also many of the neurons died rapidly after being formed resulting in interference in balance and motor function. This happens because the protein in which BRCA1 codes for packages DNA for replication and without this protein the DNA becomes fragile and is more likely to create errors in replication. This information is a tremendous step towards the treatment of cancer. With this new information, doctors can identify breast cancer susceptible patients predisposed to seizures and provide appropriate treatments. The faster cancer can be spotted and treated, the higher the chances of survival.
Hey abe, great post here I saw this article online and wanted to use it, but realized you had used it instead. This is still useful though, because now I can just learn from what you wrote. Any step in the fight towards cancer is a tremendous one, especially towards breast cancer which plagues so many people on our planet. We just have to identify cancer quickly, like you said, and we have a higher chance of having that person survive. This problem is that a lot of times people will put off that strange mole, lump, etc, so sometimes its too late for that person. Hopefully we will take enough steps soon to where cancer issues can be eradicated completely.
ReplyDeleteThis article was great. I think that any advancement in cancer research is worthwhile for everyone. In today's world research on cancer has multiplied and everyday scientists are finding new ways to cure cancer. I just hope they actually do cure it in the end. Identifying patients who might have breast cancer early is a step forward in helping to find the cure and even help patients all over the world cope with breast cancer.
ReplyDeleteWith this new information, doctors can identify people that are susceptible to breast cancer. By knowing that much sooner if a person is susceptible or not can save their lives, and with more research we could continue to save even more lives.
ReplyDeleteHooray for fighting cancer. The amounts of links that can be discovered for certain types of cancers and protein is insane. I can't wait to see what other discoveries and links will be made. It will definitely lead to a solution for cancer.. One day. Hopefully. Thanks for the article.
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