Recent research shows that along with the double- helix DNA there is four-stranded DNA or quadruplex DNA that has until this point been a mystery. Dr. Marina Kuimova and Professor Ramon Vilar from Imperial College London developed a florescent molecule that can show the quadruplex structure within living cells. The team used this technique on bone cancer cells, and then studied the interactions between the cells with microscopes.
Quadruplexes form when a strand of DNA rich with guanine folds onto itself. Recent studies have shown that quadruplexes are common around cancer cells. With this research cancer treatment might be better refined and with a more accurate target.
This article is very interesting because being able to identify the living and study a quadruplex DNA while living has been a mystery to scientists until now. Also, because the florescent molecule enables the researchers to view the cells while living, instead of using older techniques that would kill the cells opens many doors for new research.
No comments:
Post a Comment