Quadruple Helix' DNA in Human Cells Discovered and A Relative from the Tianyuan Cave: 40.000 Living Years Ago Humans Likely Related to Present-Day Many Asians and Native Americans

'Qua drup l e He l i x ' DNA i n Huma n Ce l l s D i sc o v ere d a n d A Re l a t i v e fr om the

T i a nyua n Cave : 40 .000 L i v i n g Years Ag o Huma n s L ike ly Re l a te d t o Prese n t-Day

Many As i a n s a n d Nat i v e Amer i c a n s

Cristian Calle MenesesMedicine Student

I I I Semester Teacher :

Lina Mar ía Martínez SánchezMolecular Biology

ABSTRACTToday, molecular biology has taken a lot of

strength in the field of research especially in

the field of DNA , being this a constant theme

in all scientific communities.

DNA has been used for the solution and

understanding of many diseases, as this is

the carr ier of genetic information therefore

speak of its structure and its relation to the

other components is vital and an excellent

mechanism to find new alternatives that

reveal a benefit for people.

Scientific development has shown that DNA

can be a source of information for

morphological comparisons that can show

similar ities between human beings of the

past and today. Thus proving that DNA is the

starting point for the deep understanding of

the human being.

'Quadrup le He l i x ' DNA in Human

Ce l l s D i sco ve red

A group of researchers from the

University of Cambridge's

Department of Chemistry showed

that the four-stranded "Quadruple

Helix" are also found in the human

genome, especially in the regions of

DNA r ich in guanine, was a study

that lasted more than 10 years in

which they worked with computer

models where cancer cells were

identified using fluorescent

biomarkers.



They also identified that the concentrations

of the four chains Quadruple have a

relationship with DNA replication. By

targeting quadruplexes with synthetic

molecules that trap and contain these DNA

structures they could prevent replication and

at the same time blocking cell division,

becoming this as a possible solution to the

cancer that is most likely already in rapidly

dividing cells such as those of this disease.


Ce l l s D i sco vered

Cancers are usually dr iven by genes called oncogenes that have mutated to increase DNA replication -- causing cell proliferation to spiral out of control, and leading to tumour growth.

The increased DNA replication rate in oncogenes leads to an intensity in the quadruplex structures.

This means that potentially damaging cellular activity can be targeted with synthetic molecules or other forms of treatments.


Ce l l s D i sco ve redPhysical studies over the last couple of decades had shown that quadruplex DNA can form in vitro -- in the 'test tube', but the structure was considered to be a cur iosity rather than a feature found in nature. The researchers now know for the first time that they actually form in the DNA of human cells.



Personal opinionIt's really amazing how the DNA is still the basis for many explanations of human functioning, becoming a therapeutic method for a disease as complex as cancer. A lthough the "Quadruple Helix" still is not really the solution to this disease, is a major step at scientific and medical.

A Relative from the Tianyuan Cave: 40.000 Living Years Ago Humans Likely Related to Present-Day Many Asians and Native Americans

An international team of researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany extracted nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the leg of a corpse from 40,000 years that was found in Tianyuan Cave in Beijing, China in 2003, where they found a home common with present-day Asians and Native Americans.

Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of the leg of a corpse

A Relative from the Tianyuan Cave: 40.000 Living Years

Ago Humans Likely Related to Present-Day Many Asians and

Native Americans

For Their study using the new techniques researchers were that can identify ancient genetic mater ial from an archaeological find even when large quantities of DNA from soil bacter ia are present.



Native Americans

Then they reconstructed a genetic profile of the leg´s owner and saw that had similar characteristics to the genetic profile of the Neanderthals, checking that by DNA is an important method for comparing morphological aspects.

Character istics given by DNA



Native Americans

. "More analyses of additional early modern humans across Eurasia will further refine our understanding of when and how modern humans spread across Europe and Asia," says Svante Pääbo.Parts of the work were carr ied out in a new laboratory jointly run by the Max Planck Society and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.



Native Americans

Personal opinionIt is very interesting to see how the DNA can be recovered after long per iods of time to make morphological comparisons between living bodies and corpse. A lso the scientific breakthrough regarding techniques to eliminate external agents allowing the study of DNA.

Med ica l ut i l i ty

It is important for medicine because there is not found a cure for cancer and this discovery (Quadruple Helix) could be a great solution.

?


It is very interesting the Quadruple Helix by new insights into the structure and function of DNA.


For medicine is quite useful to find DNA after long per iods of time in the corpse that are studied in many universities.


Being able to compare the genetic profile of people of different ages could give many details of the functioning of the body with respect to past habits

BIBLIOGRAPHY

· Martínez S, Lina María. Biología Molecular . 5 ed. Medellín: UPB. Fac Medicina.

· Quadruple Helix' DNA in Human Cells Discovered. Science Daily, January 20, 2013.

· A Relative from the Tianyuan Cave: 40.000 Living Years Ago Humans Likely Related to Present-Day Many Asians and Native Americans, January 20, 2013.

THANKS

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Quadruple Helix' DNA in Human Cells Discovered and A Relative from the Tianyuan Cave: 40.000 Living Years Ago Humans Likely Related to Present-Day Many Asians and Native Americans