If one lacks an important protein, and this is manifest as a disease, Elizabeth Fenjves and her colleagues at the State University of New York, in Stony Brook, suggest a cure -- inserting the gene-coding for the missing protein into a culture of the patient's skin cells and grafting the treated skin back onto the patient's skin (Science, Vol 266, No 5183).
The scientists report that an experiment on mice has been successful: they took a gene that codes for apolipoprotein (apo-E), modified it so that the corresponding protein is distinguishable from its natural version, and inserted it into human skin cell culture. After the cultured cells were grafted onto mice skin, significant amounts of the modified version of apo-E were observed in the bloodstream of the mice.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.