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WorldWeird: Single gene deletion allows mice to regenerate

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    • CommentAuthorKosmopolit
    • CommentTimeMar 15th 2010 edited
     (7884.1)
    Looks like a single gene is responsbile for mammals' inability ot regenerate limbs like reptiles and amphibians.

    The gene in question (at least in mice) damps down cell division and seems ot be part of the defence mechanism agaisnt cancer.

    So simply geneticly engineering people without the gene probably isn't an option.

    But it may be possible to turn it off or damp down its activity in specific body parts (through RNA interference, for example).
  2.  (7884.2)
    Hmm. Are mammals therefore otherwise more susceptible to cancer than reptiles? Or do lizards die of cancer all the time?
  3.  (7884.3)
    Apparently they DO get cancer a lot, and there's not much you can do for it other than surgery since most can't handle chemo.
    Heh. Learn something new every day.

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