STEM CELLS MAY HOLD PROMISE FOR LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE (ALS) AND CHEAP AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO SNIP DNA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE GENE THERAPY

Laura Cristina Agudelo CardonaMedicine student

III semesterTeacher:

Lina Maria Martinez SanchezMolecular Biology

January 28, 2013 

For millions of years exists cell, the first to be discovered was the prokaryotic and eukaryotic years later, the fundamental unit of human beings.

Thanks to cells fundamental unit of all living things are possible to do each daily functions.

Introduction:

Stem Cells May Hold Promise for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

Stefania Corti, MD, PhD from the University of Milan in Italy, did a study to replace neurons damaged with transplantation stem cell in patients with ALS.

Transplantation stem cell has been a progress in cardiovascular disease and cancer and now can be for ALS.

Stem Cells May Hold Promise for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

ALS is a degenerative disease affecting the cells nervous system decreasing their functionality to cause death.

Muscle paralysis is one of the manifestations of ALS

Stem Cells May Hold Promise for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

The stem cells go to the spinal cord where they mature and multiply

iPSCs: are adult cells such as skin cells that have been genetically reprogrammed

Stem Cells May Hold Promise for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)

The study shows that with the stem cell transplant mice improved their neuromuscular activity, which represents hope for patients with ALS

Stem cells can be a good treatment when seeking cures for diseases, in this case for patients with ALS, which can raise a little or stop disease development, allowing the patient to continue their activities without difficulty very noticeable.

Also remember that stem cells have the power to turn into different cells in concordance with the function of the body that is damaged, representing a solution.

Personal observation:

CHEAP AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO SNIP DNA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE GENE THERAPY

The investigators of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of California, Berkeley, and of the Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine-Sweden, discovered the method of selection and cutting of DNA based on bacteria, it also functions in human cell.

CHEAP AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO SNIP DNA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE GENE THERAPY

This technique has the capacity to modify elements specific of genes of an organism, based on creating copies identical of portions of DNA.

Moreover , may be a possibility of cure for patients with HIV because they become resistant to AIDS.

CHEAP AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO SNIP DNA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE GENE THERAPY

The technique uses a CAS 9 protein, this requiring only an molecule RNA to recognize a site specific in the DNA.

The complex cas9-RNA according study has lower toxicity in the body than other techniques existing.

CHEAP AND EASY TECHNIQUE TO SNIP DNA COULD REVOLUTIONIZE GENE THERAPY

Cas9was discovered in the immune system bacteria

has the function of cutting the DNA

as a mechanism defense to inactivate viruses

Personal observation:

Is of great interest to know that the same body with the help of a single protein that is believed to fulfilling its role in bacteria is capable of creating an identical copy of the genetic material for the purpose of removing a segment of DNA to avoid altering the normal functioning of the human metabolism.

This represents progress and importance in genetic studies.

MEDICAL UTILITY

It is vital importance the development of science to medicine, genetics, biology, because it seeks conditions to improve the quality of life of people.

MEDICAL UTILITY

Stem cells may represent an important advance in medicine, because they act in regenaration of tissues body to find a treatment to alleviate the suffering caused by many diseases without any cure.

MEDICAL UTILITY

Transplantation stem cell and the use of cas9 represent benefits for people with certain diseases because it allows health professionals to have new alternatives to offer their patients.

MEDICAL UTILITY

Sometimes advances have no positive effects on the body this can be due to faulty procedures or in the cell behavior.

Bibliography

•MARTINEZ SÁNCHEZ, Lina María. Biología molecular. 7. ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac. de Medicina, 2012. 7-8 p.

•Stem Cells May Hold Promise for Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). Science Daily, January 9, 2013

•Cheap and Easy Technique to Snip DNA Could Revolutionize Gene Therapy. Science Daily, January 7, 2013

Cells are a little worlds immersed in our…

Thanks.