tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post4734707858965967822..comments2024-03-24T05:50:07.033-07:00Comments on Biologizing: A New Theory on Down SyndromePeter Houlihanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-71473352192409163492010-03-30T15:29:28.434-07:002010-03-30T15:29:28.434-07:00This is vert interesting, it seems that at times s...This is vert interesting, it seems that at times scientists can be correct on the location of a particular syndrome's origination point, and yet still be off when it comes to whether it is over production, or whether it under production. I do not like the talk about genetic testing to find out if your child should is afflicted. I feel we are to quick as a culture to test everything. Just becuase a baby has down syndrome does not mean the child is any less valuable.Ray Cliche Jrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-24031473343439425432010-03-27T17:35:10.422-07:002010-03-27T17:35:10.422-07:00It is interesting how scientists assumed for a lon...It is interesting how scientists assumed for a long time that because an extra chromosome is present in affected individuals, there must be more proteins being synthesized. This study shows that there is actually a decrease in protein expression in affected individuals because miroRNAs inhibit protein formation. I think the most promising aspect of this study is how the low-level proteins in affected mice were increased due to the injection of a microRNA silencer. This, in my opinion, could lead to a cure. Whether this research leads to a cure or not, I think this article demonstrates how important it is for the scientific community to assume nothing and constantly search for new answers. <br /><br />Posted by Matt GrazewskiPeter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-74488323200960668502010-03-26T16:37:46.321-07:002010-03-26T16:37:46.321-07:00I don't know that some families are geneticall...I don't know that some families are genetically dispositioned to have a child with down syndrome. This condition occurs when there is a nondisjunction in either the mother or father's 21st chromosome resulting in this trisomic condition. They have found that risk is drastically increased when the mother is over 40 years old. Also it seems like scientists were correct when they said that the problem is overproduction due to the third copy of chromosome 21. The overly produced microRNA's mentioned decrease the levels of other transcription factors in the body...so I feel like the problem is still overproduction of those microRNAs and if we could prevent and increase in them other proteins would be normally produced. It seems to me that treating downs syndrome is an extremely complicated thing as we don't currently have techniques to delete a chromosome present in every cell of the affected individual. However maybe drugs can be produced to help lower the levels of these microRNAs or to help increase the production or activity of the meCP2 transcription factorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-8692501331760562182010-03-25T13:34:30.656-07:002010-03-25T13:34:30.656-07:00When you say there is no treatment available now a...When you say there is no treatment available now and that this new approach offers several new avenues for which therapeutic treatment may be achieved for individuals with down syndrome, are you saying that although there is no treatment now there could be treatment in the future because of this new approach? If so, I am curious at why there can't be treatment if Down Syndrome is caused by overproduction of protein but can possible be treated when there is an underproduction of protein.<br /><br />Posted by Kayla PerryKaylanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008122866340502585.post-14053989458841602172010-03-25T09:03:54.758-07:002010-03-25T09:03:54.758-07:00A lot of research is needed around this area. I th...A lot of research is needed around this area. I think some people are at higher risk for having babies with down syndrome versus others. I know there are some people who go for genetic counseling before having children. Since at least scientists can identify the individuals at higher risk, I wonder if they can come up with something for prevention.<br /><br />Posted by Anna Moreno.Peter Houlihanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961900865379520219noreply@blogger.com