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Somewhere along the line of our evolutionary history, we lost our regeneration that was probably existent in a distant ancestor. So, researchers have comprised a list of genes that animals use to regenerate tissue. Surprisingly, these genes tend to have counterparts in humans. What may be key to regeneration is the sequences that regulate the activation of these genes during an injury, not the genes themselves. Tissue regeneration enhancer elements (TREEs) are sequences that turn on genes in injury sites. Researchers have discovered dozens of regeneration genes like neuregulin 1 and fibroblast growth connectors. What has not been dealt with, though, are the regulatory elements that turn these genes on, keep them on, and turn them off. Researchers wanted to see if such sequences exist, so they began to try to pinpoint their location. It had been known that enhancer elements control when genes are turned on in a developing embryo, but it was unknown whether or not these elements help with regeneration. Researchers looked for a gene that was strongly induced during an injury in a zebrafish, and found leptin b. Researchers looked through the 150,000 base pairs of sequence that lie around leptin b and found an enhancer element 7,000 base pairs away. Then, researchers tested whether these TREEs could be put to use in mammals. Researchers attached a TREE to a gene called lacZ, which produces a blue color when it is turned on. These elements from a zebrafish could be used to activate gene expression in the injured paws and hearts of mice. I find this issue of particular importance because with the discovery of more TREEs, we may be able to help regenerate tissue within humans. Doing so would help to save lives potentially and would greatly impact people who have lost limbs or body parts. This poses the question of whether people will be genetically modified in the future so that they may be more efficient human beings and spend less time being injured. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/04/160406140405.htm
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AuthorI'm Angel Archives
April 2016
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