Admin
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Admin | Published : August 26, 2012 11:55 PM IST
A new study has shown that chimps are almost immune to cancer. Although they are a whopping 96% genetically similar, they surprisingly rarely develop cancer. Georgia Tech's Soojin Yi, a biologist, looked at brain samples of the two species. She found that differences in the modification of certain DNA, called methylation, may contribute to such changes. The results also hint that this process of DNA modification plays an important role in some disease-related phenotypes (composite of an organism's observable characteristics or traits) in humans, including cancer and autism.
"Our study indicates that certain human diseases may have evolutionary epigenetic (the effect of environment on genes) origins. Such findings, in the long term, may help develop better therapeutic targets or means for some human diseases," says Yi, according to a Georgia Tech statement. Yi and her team generated maps of modified DNA of the prefrontal cortex (front part of the brain, tied to personality, decision making and moderating social behaviour) of multiple humans and chimps. They found hundreds of genes (among humans) that "include disproportionately high numbers of those related to diseases," said Yi. "They are linked to autism, neural tube (brain and spinal cord) birth-related defects and alcohol and other chemical dependencies," said Yi.
Source: IANS
