Posts Tagged "Cells"

Google Tech Talks April 9, 2007 ABSTRACT While investigating the genetic workings of the microscopic worm, C. elegans, Mello and colleague Andrew Fire, phd, of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, discovered rnai, a natural but previously unrecognized process by which a certain form of RNA can be manipulated to silence—or interfere with—the expression of a selected gene. The discovery, published in the journal Nature in 1998, has had two extraordinary impacts on biological science. One is as a research tool: rnai is now the state-of-the-art method by which scientists can knock out the expression of specific genes in cells, to thus define the biological functions of those genes. But just as…

Genetic Testing Kits

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