Posts by admin
RNAi Discovered
oday, scientists are using the rnai mechanism to learn more about what particular genes do and how to alter their function. Determining gene function is a relatively simple matter of inserting double-stranded RNA molecules that have a particular sequence into cells and observing the effects after rnai silences the corresponding gene. Conceivably, this method may one day be used to silence gene mutations that cause human diseases such as Huntington’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and many others. By using either the body’s own mutations or viral invaders, scientists may develop a new type of drug—for example, one that switches off the genes of a cancer cell and leaves healthy cells unaffected. However, because rnai’s potential effects are so powerful, scientists must first determine that they can control the mechanism so that only the target gene is silenced, and not others.
Genetic Testing Center
RNAi: Creating a New Approach to Medicine
The core doctrine of our biology is this: DNA, the twin helix in our cells, makes RNA, which in turn produces proteins. Because it’s the abnormal production of proteins that causes human disease, drugs are typically produced to block their further production. But today, modern biotechnology offers the opportunity to go well beyond blocking the production of proteins to actually silencing them. This exciting discovery, called RNA Interference, or “rnai”, won Andrew Fire and Craig Mello the 2006 Nobel Prize for Medicine. rnai provides new hope for those who suffer from muscular degeneration, Hepatitis C, Huntington’s Disease, HIV, respiratory infections, and various cancers.
Genetic Testing Kits