Julián Esteban Osorio R.Medical student UPBID: 000174809Molecular biologyJanuary 30th. 2012

FOLDING

Know the basics of life is very important to the medical staff because it allows take new paths in the treatment, possibly increasing their effectiveness and reducing costs and patient discomfort.

“Pulverized chromosomes

linked to cancer?”

January 19th 2012

Some chromosomes have been found isolated from the nucleus in the cancer cells. These chromosomes were coated with an own micronucleus.

The researchers suspect that the micronucleus could affect their inside chromosomes, giving rise to carcinogenic mutations.

Probably due to a failure in the control points of mitosis, Ocasionally in the replication of the DNA, the chromosomes are not organized in the correct order. This condition causes that the daughter cells has an extra or a shorter chromosome.

The alterated chromosomes are those who remain outside the nucleus forming the micronucleus.

The replication process is marred by two reasons: first because one part of the chromosome is doubled while the other doesn´t, and the second because there is no sync in the division with the other chromosomes contained in the nucleus.

STUDENT CONCEPT In the actuality have

been many studies on cancer, however there is still much to explore in this field. Studies like this give way to many others that may eventually be useful to improve the LIFE QUALITY OF PATIENTS.

“First major gene mutation

associated with

hereditary prostate cancer”

January 11th 2012

An inherited genetic mutation increases the risk of young men from prostate cancer.

Men who inherit the mutation have a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing prostate cancer (first degree of consanguinity).

With the latest technology the researchers tracked nearly 200 genes in the 17q 21-22 region of a human chromosome.

The results showed that the mutation occurs in the HBOX13 gene wich plays an important role in the development of the prostate in the fetus.

The mutation is much more common in people with family antecedents than men diagnosed with prostate cancer over 55 years without family antecedents.

STUDENT CONCEPT According to the Panamerican Health

Organization (PAHO) there are about 6,457 new cases of prostate cancer each year in Colombia and it is the second cause of death for cancer in men since 2002. So the investigation of the gene mutation could have important findings that helps many patients.

MEDICAL UTILITIES

Genome studies brings a greater knowledge about the body's functions , a deep exploration of those events brings a better comprehension of the pathologies.

Researchers could develop new less aggressive alternatives of treatment based on the molecular modification of the genome in a future.

A track of family antecedents of prostate cancer would help an early diagnoses in the younger members.

Develop of new treatments could be more cost-effective.

The knowledge about genetic diseases grants to the medic a useful tool to give a more accurate diagnosis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY MARTÍNEZ, Lina; Biología molecular, Vol

6. ed. UPB, 2011. Pgs 42 - 48.  CRASTA, Karen; 'Pulverized'

Chromosomes linked to cancer?, Science Daily. January 19th. 2012. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120119163255.htm

 M, Charles; First major gene mutation associated with hereditary prostate cáncer risk, Science Daily. January 11th. 2012. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120111223742.htm