Will This Fish Transform Medicine

Photo courtesy of popsci.com

Researchers and geneticists looking for the cause of rare diseases and illnesses are now using the translucent zebra fish in replacement of rodents. The ability to mutate zebra fish DNA is allowing researchers to manipulate human diseases into the fish as a model. 

Families of infants with suspected genetic diseases or illnesses can send a vile of blood to the Human Genome Sequencing Center at the Baylor College of Medicine. There, researchers and scientists can accurately and quickly sequence the infant’s DNA and make copies. If a mutation is found in the infant’s DNA sequence, as suspected, researchers can steadily insert the same DNA mutations into the larval zebra fish. Then, through observance, researchers can watch for any structural defects that mature. Since the fish is transparent, organ development is easy to detect. For example, researchers watched a larva zebra fish grow a heart on the right side of its body, similar to the child with the DNA sequencing for this characteristic. Scientists were able to narrow down this child’s six mutations in her sequencing to the exact one relating to the heart displacement. 

Virginia Hughes, author of the original article, reports the zebra fish have been manipulated with “DNA mutations linked to narcolepsy, muscle disorders, and the large head size associated with autism.” Not only do researchers envision the zebra fish to display DNA mutations, but also as a test for treatment. The fish, unlike rodents, absorb drugs in the water through their skin. From this, scientists can observe which drugs and molecules affect the fish. Those drugs with hopeful effects are then tested in mammals such as rodents. Leonard Zon (of Harvard Medical School) discovered with one particular drug, the animals’ blood stem-cell counts amplified. This was then used for leukemia patients who had depleted blood cells from radiation treatment. The drug was about 83% effective for his twelve “test patients.” As one can see, zebra fish are advancing the medical field. Who would have thought such an unrelated animal to humans could be a source for medical mysteries and treatments.

Blog Post Author: Nicole Boisvert, Section 124-26
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Work Cited

Hughes, Virginia. "Will This Fish Transform Medicine?" Popular Science. N.p., 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

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King Richard III Found!

Photi courtesy of montrealgazette.com

An astonishing discovery has recently occurred in a parking lot located in Leicester, England. Although this parking lot may not of been where Richard III - a past king of England who has been deceased for around 500 years prior to the discovery - would have wanted to be buried, it seems that this is where he was all these years. Genealogists proved that this body was indeed Richard III by comparing his DNA taken from the bones of skeletons found from deceased family members.

            Along with DNA testing, radiocarbon dating further proves that this is Richard III – as if DNA proof isn't enough! The test proves that the bones were present in the 15^th to 16^th century, which matches up with Richard’s timeline. Furthermore, the skeleton fits with the description that Richard III was said to have: lean, slender frame with a severe case of scoliosis.

            Curious of the poor man’s death? The bones show that Richard was most likely killed by two injuries that occurred to his skull, along with ten other wounds found along the skeleton, but the skull injury being the most likely cause of his death. It seems that his hands were tied and he was also humiliated by being stabbed in the buttocks at the time of his murder by some hooligans who jumped him in the middle of a street.

            All of the factors such a skeleton positioning, carbon dating, and most importantly DNA testing proves that this skeleton found buried under a parking lot in England has been harboring a past monarch of the great English nation for over 500 years. Fascinating discovery!

Blog Post Author: Kelsey Martin, Section 124-23

Citation

            McCarthy, Eugene. "King Richard III found!." . Macroevolution.net, 7 Feb 2013. Web. 11 Feb 2013. <http://www.macroevolution.net/richard-iii-found.html>

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A Brave New World of Prenatal DNA Sequencing

Photo courtesy of bioedge.org

The leading DNA sequencing company, Illumina, is making moves to become a larger presence in the world of prenatal testing by recently acquiring the new company Verinata. The current procedures offered to mothers whose fetus's are at high risk for chromosomal abnormalities are very invasive and can cause miscarriages. Instead of withdrawing samples from the placenta and/or amniotic fluid, they wish “to search for these chromosome disorders starting from 10 weeks of gestation on, … [by] sequenc[ing] the bits of DNA floating in a sample of the mother’s blood” (Young, 6).

“Around 12% of the DNA in the mother's blood belongs to her fetus” (Young, 7). This is much less invasive and risky. Also it could be offered to all soon to be mothers instead of just those with high-risk pregnancies. They soon hope to be able to test for not just whole chromosomal errors, such as Down Syndrome or Edwards Syndrome which result from trisomy of chromosomes twenty-one and eighteen, respectively, but to be able to map the fetus's entire genome and find specific gene mutations and disorders. Right now the only thing blocking this from happening is money. “‘As sequencing gets cheaper and cheaper, if you wanted to look at a particular mutation, say, in the cystic fibrosis gene, you may be able to do that in the future,’” says Heath (Young, 16).

This of course brings up ethical issues. If parents are able to find out that their child will have a debilitating disorder some may chose to abort the pregnancy.  Many believe that this is unethical and that people should live out their lives the way their cards were dealt, even if the hand is not that good.  With these new scientific possibilities more ethical questions are being raised as well.

Blog Post Author: Dani Kaprielian, Section 124-25.

Article Citation:
Young, Susan. “A Brave New World of Prenatal DNA Sequencing.” MIT Technology Review. 30 January 2013. Web. February 2013. <http://www.technologyreview.com/news/510181/a-brave-new-world-of-prenatal-dna-sequencing/>

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