A promising study has confirmed in theory that it is possible to turn off the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome.
QuoteIn a new study published online in the journal Nature, scientists from University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) harnessed the abilities of a naturally occurring gene called XIST that acts as an "off switch" in X chromosomes. In a culture of stem cells, the researchers were able to repurpose the XIST gene so that instead of silencing X chromosomes, it silenced the extra chromosome 21 instead.
Though the research only shows proof-of-principle for turning off the chromosome – meaning the method is a long way from being utilized in humans – the findings have huge implications for the future of Down syndrome research. Researchers hope this study will pave the way for a better understanding of the disorder's pathology and potentially help to create new therapeutic targets for therapies.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/07/17/scientists-find-way-to-silence-extra-chromosome-that-causes-down-syndrome/?intcmp=obnetwork#ixzz2ZKd2ypsh
What happens if an adult with Down Syndrome receives this treatment? Would it be a permanent fix or a 'Flowers for Algernon" scenario where they improve, plateau, then regress over time?
Quote from: eyebiter on July 17, 2013, 06:47:22 PM
What happens if an adult with Down Syndrome receives this treatment? Would it be a permanent fix or a 'Flowers for Algernon" scenario where they improve, plateau, then regress over time?
I don't think so. At this point I think the change is only theoretical, and then as the child is forming.
Yeah, the therapy would have to begin pretty damn early in the embryonic development stage for this to be much use, I would think. Still...great news, of that there can be no doubt.
Edit: Hmm, I've just read the article and it doesn't say how they would target the extra chromosome
in vivo. That's gonna take some doing. Also, I don't think the Fox reporter knows much about biology:
QuoteThe XIST gene makes a unique non-coding RNA, which accumulates in the nucleus of the cell of the chromosome
Lolwut
Maybe he thinks there is a terrorist cell hiding in the chromosome. You can never be too careful, am I right?
Or maybe he feels that the word order is not important. After all, what could happen if you accidentally switched a few words around? Funny words like guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine are all pretty interchangeable. No need to get picky is there?
Quote from: Staggerwing on July 18, 2013, 07:43:30 PM
After all, what could happen if you accidentally switched a few words around? Funny words like guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine are all pretty interchangeable. No need to get picky is there?
Haha! Yeah, they're all practically the same; nobody will notice. :D
The last time I read about a cure for DS there was a lot of people up in arms and rather a lot of DS 'sufferers' saying that one was trying to wipe them out - I didn't quite understand it, particularly with a large majority of the parents saying if they had to do it all again they'd still have their DS baby - unbelievable