Tag: mutation

Cellular and Molecular Science, Health and Medicine

The Disappearance of the Y Chromosome (And Other Chromosomes)

Wendy Wu ’22 The Y-chromosome is quite unlike its homologue, the X-chromosome. With a relatively lacking number of genes, the Y-chromosome is the only chromosome inessential for life; its major function is to determine the sex of offspring. How did this come to be the case? A part of the reason is that the Y-chromosome does not occur as a pair; it does not have … Continue reading The Disappearance of the Y Chromosome (And Other Chromosomes)

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Cellular and Molecular Science, Genetics, Molecular Biology

The Potential for Targeted Cancer Therapy

Aditi Kaveti ‘23 Human bodies rely on tumor suppressors to regulate cell production. The bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9) RNA molecule is an important tumor suppressor for many types of cancer, including uveal melanoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and pancreatic cancer. BRD9 is extremely important because it represses abnormal cell reproduction and the formation of tumors. A mutation in the gene that produces the BRD9 RNA molecule … Continue reading The Potential for Targeted Cancer Therapy

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General Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychology

Increased Levels of Gray Matter in the Brain May Lead to Psychopathic Qualities

Joyce Chen ’23 Psychopathy is a genetic mutation in the brain that causes individuals to have egotistical tendencies. Such tendencies can lead to unwarranted actions such as crime or even murder, as psychopaths do not keep the wellbeing of others in mind. However, some psychopaths are capable of keeping their dark thoughts hidden very well, thereby having seemingly socially acceptable behavior. Recently, researchers from the … Continue reading Increased Levels of Gray Matter in the Brain May Lead to Psychopathic Qualities

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Cellular and Molecular Science, Evolution, Genetics

Glutamate Receptor GLR-3 Encodes for Evolutionary Cold-Sensing Receptor

Simran Kaur ’20 The capacity to detect cold temperatures is essential for many living organisms because cold temperatures can cause detrimental effects like severe soft-tissue damage and hypothermia. Some organisms have evolved the presence of thermoreceptors, which are specific nerve endings that are sensitive to changes in temperature and exist in the skin, skeletal muscle, and the hypothalamus. Thermoreceptors relay electrical signals to the central … Continue reading Glutamate Receptor GLR-3 Encodes for Evolutionary Cold-Sensing Receptor

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2018-19

Somatic Mutations as Markers for Size and Lifetimes of Blood Stem Cells

By Riya Gandhi ‘22 Despite the importance of hematopoiesis — a process that balances production and destruction of specialized blood cells — in the human body, scientists were unable to quantify the population size and lifetime dynamics that govern the process until now. Researchers from the Wellcome-Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, and the University of Cambridge conducted a recent study under principle … Continue reading Somatic Mutations as Markers for Size and Lifetimes of Blood Stem Cells

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2017-18

The Use of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Tool in Treating Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

Stephanie Budhan ‘20 Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is dominantly inherited genetic disorder that causes the development of Alzheimer’s Disease in individuals younger than 65 years old. AD is caused by a point mutation in three major genes, one of which is amyloid precursor protein (APP). APP is cleaved to generate beta amyloid which makes up the amyloid plaque found in the brains of AD patients. … Continue reading The Use of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Tool in Treating Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

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