Comment More info on gene silencing (Score 1) 116
I recently wrote an essay on gene splicing for my biology class and gene silencing, being rather closely related, ended up taking up about the last third of the paper. Here's a snippit of information that explains in relatively simple terms what silencing is and how it works (interesting if you remember/like any biology. if not, just nod your head and pretend like you understand :)
"Another aspect of gene therapy is gene silencing, also called antisense technology. With this method, geneticists can inactivate a gene that may cause disease or be defective. When DNA replicates, RNA bonds to half of the split double helix, making a mold of sorts. The RNA (messenger RNA or mRNA) is then used to create an identical DNA strand. To silence a gene on a chromosome, scientists, therefore, simply make an RNA strand 15-20 bases in length complementary to the mRNA. The synthesized RNA will attach itself to the mRNA and prevent that portion of the mRNA from creating the gene on the duplicate DNA strand. This method is highly specific. Gene silencing is used to treat several viruses including AIDS, Herpes, Chicken Pox, and Hepatitis."
And in answer to all the people who ask why we would want to "play god", "because we can".
-SaintAlex
Observe, reason, and experiment.
"Another aspect of gene therapy is gene silencing, also called antisense technology. With this method, geneticists can inactivate a gene that may cause disease or be defective. When DNA replicates, RNA bonds to half of the split double helix, making a mold of sorts. The RNA (messenger RNA or mRNA) is then used to create an identical DNA strand. To silence a gene on a chromosome, scientists, therefore, simply make an RNA strand 15-20 bases in length complementary to the mRNA. The synthesized RNA will attach itself to the mRNA and prevent that portion of the mRNA from creating the gene on the duplicate DNA strand. This method is highly specific. Gene silencing is used to treat several viruses including AIDS, Herpes, Chicken Pox, and Hepatitis."
And in answer to all the people who ask why we would want to "play god", "because we can".
-SaintAlex
Observe, reason, and experiment.
