SCIENTISTS STUDY GENES THAT REPAIR DNA

["JOHN JACOBUS" <JENDAY1@email.msn.com>]

I saw this in passing and thought it would be interesting.  
-- John

John Jacobus, MS, CHP
Medical Health Physicist
3050 Traymore Lane
Bowie, MD 20715-2024
jenday1@email.msn.com (H)



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ArcaMax" <ezines@arcamax.com>
To: <jenday1@email.msn.com>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 12:37 PM
Subject: ArcaMax Science News for February 12, 2001


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   SCIENTISTS STUDY GENES THAT REPAIR DNA 
   Researchers working on the Human Genome Project discovered 130 genes
dedicated to repairing human DNA, and expect that many more will be
found in future. "New clinical applications relating to human DNA
repair genes are certain to emerge," says a report from scientists at
the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in England. The human genetic code,
or genome, is under constant attack not only from cancer-causing
compounds and ultraviolet light but even, to a much lesser degree, from
substances like water or oxygen. Among the more surprising discoveries
for scientists was the discovery of four distinct repair mechanisms for
one specific type of damage. "The existence of multiple proteins with
similar activities is a recurring theme in human DNA repair," the
report says. Discovering how DNA repair genes are overactive in tumors
could lead to tailored techniques that inhibit genes, allowing
physicians to kill the otherwise-resistant cancer cells with drugs or
radiation. The researchers add that research into DNA repair genes
could help counteract aging. The team's report appears in the journal
Science.


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