The Genetics Behind Bat Wings

    An article in the Washington Post from March 28, 2016, outlines the genetic origins of bat wings, specifically looking into the evolutionary history of these unique mammalian features. Researchers, led by Nadav Ahituv, Nicola Illing, and Katie Pollard, utilized genetic tools to study the embryonic development of bat wings, examining the genes and genetic switches responsible for wing development. These genetic switches, known as enhancers, regulate the timing of gene expression in the body. 

    The team sequenced the genome of Natal long-fingered bats, analyzed bat embryos at specific stages, and successfully identified thousands of wing development genes and genetic switches. This data highlighted major differences in activity between forelimb and hindlimbs during development. Additionally, the study compared bats to other mammals, revealing substantial differences in gene expression, limb elongation, webbing, and symmetry. These findings may allow furthers studies to be aimed at researching human malformations.

    Personally, I find this research to be intriguing due to my affection for bats. The article discusses how the genes were compared to those of other mammals, but I wonder about their comparison to birds. Both bats and birds possess wings that that have evolved convergently, suggesting potential similarities in their genomes. Regarding the application to human malformations, I find it remarkable that such fascinating research could also contribute to aiding people. It's important to remember that we are all mammals, and research like this holds significant value.

DNA Surrounding EGFR Aids Cancer

Teams at the University of California San Diego 

School of Medicine and Case Western Reserve University 

School of Medicine found that extra DNA allows cancer 

cell's to live. They also found that if two tumor types are 

caused by the same gene, the extra DNA could be different. 

These teams used the cancer causing gene EGFR,  which

is part in glioblastoma (brain and other cancers). Mass 

amounts of this gene make circular DNA. The extra DNA 

around the EGFR samples which found "20 to 50 enhancers 

and other regulatory elements (Science Daily)." After testing

the elements by turning them off, they found that almost all 

of them helped the tumor grow in size. After finding this

information, they looked into other cancer types, and 

found similar results.

I believe that research and experiments like this are extremely important. I think cancer is way more common than it should be, and information such as these will be able to aid in the fight against cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191121141354.htm

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2017/8045859/

A Breakthrough in Gene Activation

Recent research performed at New York University has shed a little bit of light on exactly how certain proteins know when to activate genes. Prior to this experiment, we knew that there were proteins responsible for activating and deactivating different genes, but the conditions necessary for the proteins to do so. This experiment has determined a new, previously unknown, set of rules that cells use in activating genes under certain conditions by working with Drosophila. By manipulating the Zelda protein in fruit flies, which is responsible enhancing the ability of the Dorsal protein that codes for embryonic nervous system development in Drosophila, the researchers were able to see under what conditions the enhancement of this protein impaired or improved nervous system development. Mutating the Zelda binding sites resulted in a change in the onset of activation, the activation severity, and the overall rate of activation. This led the scientists to isolating the Zelda protein, and they came away with the observation that the cell made decisions in regards to the expression and activation of the gene responsible for neurological development.

I find this work very fascinating. The mechanism behind the experiment can be a little bit confusing, but the significance of the work cannot be denied. Because the mechanism behind the genes in Drosophila are similar to that of humans, the ability to know how our genes are activated and what factors affect the activation of certain genes will prove to be incredibly useful moving forward, particularly in the treatment of diseases. For example, if a disease results in an undeveloped brain or nervous system, this information could allow doctors to increase activation of a certain gene within the embryo, if future science makes this possible. Even if this does not become possible, gaining a better understanding on how gene expression works in general is an impressive breakthrough and worth knowing moving forward.

Blonde Genes,Do You Want Them?

Even people that are related and look exactly alike possess a very vast range of genetic variations in their DNA, genes that are responsible for how their body will develop, or responds to outer stimuli. Some of these different variants are known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The chemical units that make up DNA are represented by the letters A,T,C, and G. Although most people may carry a C at a specific place in their DNA, some might have a T instead. There have been millions of SNPs discovered in people's DNA. Some of them may be linked to increasing the chances of getting a certain disease. However, others may affect height or a person's appearance.

Previous research has linked a specific SNP with blonde hair in European people. Now Kingsley's group has provided proof that the SNP that induced blonde hair lies within a piece of DNA that is known as an enhancer. Enhancers are pieces of stretched DNA that behave somewhat like light switches, which allows the gene to turn on under certain conditions. They are located far far away from genes, It is like a light switch in England controlling a bulb in California. Although there is quite some distance, they still have the ability to control the gene's activity.

Kingsley's team genetically modified mice to carry the blonde enhancer. As expected, mice carrying that DNA change began to develop light-colored fur coats compared to the mice with another type of that enhancer. This new enhancer has the ability to control the action of a gene that was already known for affecting hair color. This can ultimately lead to less pigment production in the hair follicles, which will lead to lighter hair. This cannot affect eye or skin color.

I believe this is a great opportunity for those people who have an issue with their hair color. If they do not want their kids to have that hair color, this can be a way out for them.