Professional Courses
Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design to help professionals and graduates upskill for real-world careers.
Categories
Interactive Games
Fun, engaging games to boost memory, math fluency, typing speed, and English skillsβperfect for learners of all ages.
Typing
Memory
Math
English Adventures
Knowledge
Enroll to start learning
Youβve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take mock test.
Interactive Audio Lesson
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Introduction to Cancer Therapy and Epigenetics
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Today, we'll discuss how epigenetic engineering can be applied in cancer therapy. First, can anyone tell me what epigenetics means?
Isn't it about changes in gene expression that don't involve changing the DNA sequence?
Exactly! Epigenetics involves heritable changes in gene expression without alteration of the DNA itself. Now, when it comes to cancer, many tumor suppressor genes can become silenced through epigenetic modifications. Why is this significant?
If those genes are silenced, it could lead to uncontrolled cell growth, right?
That's correct! Understanding this allows us to think about how we could reverse these silencing effects. Using epigenetic tools, we can reactivate these genes.
Mechanisms of Epigenetic Engineering
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
Now, letβs talk about the mechanisms involved. Who can explain DNA methylation and its effect on gene expression?
DNA methylation typically represses gene expression, right?
Absolutely! By demethylating these regions, we can potentially turn those genes back on. What about histone modifications?
Histone acetylation can loosen the chromatin structure to promote transcription.
Correct! These mechanisms are crucial for how we aim to reactivate silenced tumor suppressor genes in cancer therapy.
Applications of Epigenetic Engineering in Cancer Therapies
Unlock Audio Lesson
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Lesson
We have tools like CRISPR-dCas9 that allow us to target these modifications. Can anyone think of how this might be applied directly in cancer?
We could use it to reactivate tumor suppressor genes that are turned off!
Exactly! By fusing dCas9 with specific epigenetic modifiers, we can either demethylate or add acetyl groups at strategic sites. This reverses the silencing of those critical genes.
Are there examples of this in research?
Yes, research is ongoing, and some studies show promising results in restoring expression in various types of cancer. The specificity of these methods is one of their key advantages.
Introduction & Overview
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
Quick Overview
Standard
This section explores the strategic application of epigenetic engineering in cancer therapy, particularly through the reactivation of tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced. It highlights the potential for epigenetic modifications to serve as therapeutic options in cancer treatment.
Audio Book
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Reactivating Tumor Suppressor Genes
Unlock Audio Book
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
Cancer Therapy Reactivating silenced tumor suppressor genes
Detailed Explanation
Cancer therapy using epigenetic engineering often involves reactivating tumor suppressor genes. Tumor suppressor genes are crucial because they help prevent uncontrolled cell growth, which is a characteristic of cancer. In many cancers, these genes can become silenced due to epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation. By using techniques to revert these changes, we can restore the function of these genes and potentially stop the growth of cancer cells.
Examples & Analogies
Think of tumor suppressor genes like the brakes in a car. If the brakes are not working (just like genes being silenced), the car (or the cell) will accelerate out of control. By repairing the brakes (reactivating the genes), we can control the vehicle again and avoid accidents, just like stopping cancer growth.
Definitions & Key Concepts
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
-
Tumor Suppressor Genes: Critical for preventing cancerous growth.
-
Epigenetic Modifications: Changes that affect gene expression without altering DNA.
-
Reversibility: Many epigenetic changes can be reverted, aiding in therapy.
Examples & Real-Life Applications
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Examples
-
Reactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in certain cancers.
-
Utilizing CRISPR to target methylation patterns in cancer-specific genes.
Memory Aids
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
π΅ Rhymes Time
-
When methyl's on the DNA, genes just won't play; loose those histones, let them say, 'I'm back again today!'
π Fascinating Stories
-
In the realm of cells, there were once great guardians called tumor suppressor genes, silenced by a wicked methylation spell. Brave scientists wielded CRISPR swords, targeting the silencing with precision, reactivating these guardians to restore order and balance.
π§ Other Memory Gems
-
Remember A-M-G: Acetylation-Methylation-Gene (context of positive effects of acetylation and repression by methylation).
π― Super Acronyms
PARE
- 'Promote Activation
- Reverse Epigenetics' - a reminder of the goal of cancer epigenetic therapy.
Flash Cards
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Glossary of Terms
Review the Definitions for terms.
-
Term: Tumor Suppressor Genes
Definition:
Genes that regulate cell growth and division, preventing uncontrolled proliferation.
-
Term: Epigenetics
Definition:
Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve changes to the underlying DNA sequence.
-
Term: DNA Methylation
Definition:
The addition of a methyl group to DNA, typically leading to the repression of gene expression.
-
Term: Histone Modification
Definition:
Chemical changes to histone proteins that affect chromatin structure and gene expression.
-
Term: CRISPRdCas9
Definition:
A technology that allows for targeted gene regulation without modifying the DNA sequence.