Chromothripsis is a phenomenon observed recently in leukemia patients and in some cancer patients. A fault in cell replication causes a chromosome to shatter itself and rearrange in a different order. Normally, the scrambled cells die after this happens but if they do survive, it could lead to cancer. However, the chromosome got scrambled in a blood stem cell which led the production of normal white blood cells. Doctors who have looked into this said it may be worth looking into if people randomly get cured of their diseases. Scientists may be able to pinpoint genetic mutations that cause serious illnesses like sickle cell anemia, take the blood stem cells out, modify the CXCR4 gene in the blood stem cells, and replace them into the patient.
This is definitely something I've never heard of. One would think that the destruction of a chromosome would be very detrimental but apparently it can save lives. Further research must be done on this but so far, from this article alone, this may be one of the most bizarre ways to cure a genetic mutation. For the sake of people with life threatening genetic mutations, I hope doctors and scientists somehow find a way to manipulate genes enough to effectively get rid of the mutation altogether.
No comments:
Post a Comment