DNA AND THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

            DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid to be exact is one of the first clues of how a human will turn out. The sperm and the egg from the donor parents are the first step in creating life. After that the amazing force of nature works its magic to form an embryo built from the genetic blueprint of its own, unique DNA material. I chose to write about this subject because it fascinates me. As expectant parents, we like every other couple in the world, wondered who our baby would resemble when it was born. Would it be born with one parent’s scholastic aptitude or the others artistic nature? More to the point, would I or my children be cursed with cancerous cells that have plagued several close family members? We lost a fourth family member to cancer just two months ago.

            DNA and cancer are subjects that have years of research ahead of them. As science and technology improve, so will research on DNA. It worries me that I may have picked up the mutant cancer gene. I thought it would be a good opportunity to tie my paper in with research that interested me. I wanted to find out what the odds are of me or my children inheriting the same kind of cancer that runs in my family. According to the Cancer Institute section on the webpage of Stanford Medicine, not all cancers are inherited. “Only a small percentage of cancers involve inherited mutations” (“Genetics”). Most are “(a)quired…at the cellular level after birth, as a result of environmental exposures…lifestyle behaviors…or chance alone” (“Genetics”). These facts are not enough to quell my fear that I might one day suffer the same fate as my aunts, but they were interesting facts that I didn’t previously know.

            Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have found that “cells suffer from insufficient building blocks to support normal DNA replication” (“Researchers”). They have worked in laboratories “to show that through external supply of those DNA building blocks it is possible to reactivate normal DNA synthesis” (“Researchers”). They are able to reverse the damage to the cancer cells. Other research done by scientists at Cambridge University show equally promising breakthroughs that could target DNA that has mutated due to cancer. Their latest discovery of “quadruple helix DNA” (Didymus), supports their hypothesis that their research could lead to cancer drugs that target only those damaged cells. It would leave the healthy cells alone, which is something my aunt could have benefited from. These scientists are working towards the development of “new cancer treatments based on the fact that (one) of the four organic bases that form the genetic code, guanine is present in higher-than-normal levels in a quadruple helix DNA” (Didymus).



Taken from the website http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/341836
From Cambridge University research
Figure 2: Visualization of DNA G-quadruplex structures in
nuclei of human cancer cells.

            Discovering that cancer is partly genetic, and that there are scientists out there who are devoted to finding a cure for cancer, working on the building blocks or guanine rich quadruple helix in DNA, gives me hope. Current work being done in laboratories around the world could lead to a breakthrough in curing cancer, or at least in pinpointing the DNA responsible for cancer. Drugs that could target the cancer cells themselves without harming healthy cells are a definite bonus. Watching my Aunt suffer more from the aftereffects of her cancer treatment was a harsh life lesson. Her cancer gave her no physical pain, but her treatment left her damaged beyond all reason. One day maybe DNA research can eliminate cancer altogether. In the meantime, working on the mutant DNA cancerous cells to attack and kill them in a way that doesn’t create more damage to a human, and save their life, is a noble science.

Works cited

Didymus, John Thomas. “Scientists discover DNA with quadruple helix in cancer cells.” Digital Journal. Jan 21, 2013. Web, 18 Feb, 2013.

“Researchers demonstrate why DNA breaks down in cancer cells.” Medical Xpress. May 3, 2011. Web, 18 Feb, 2013.

“Genetics and Cancer.” Stanford Medicine – Cancer Institute. n.d. Web, 18 Feb, 2013.

Part 2. Thinking about the course

1.    The one assignment I did in this course that I was most proud of was the “What molecule is that and the DNA Lab”. I found matching the molecules to the drawings and figuring out the monomers and polymers to be extremely difficult. It took me ages to work and rework my answers, with lots of research and head scratching in-between.

2.    I now understand the correlation between the atoms, chemical units and how they work. The first few weeks of class I was pretty lost as it’s been a long time since I was at school, and I don’t think we ever did class work like this before. It’s my first time for this kind of subject.

3.    I took the added action of getting my eighth grade son to help me go back to basics to understand the initial part of the course work. I feel like I dived into this class without the benefit of learning the basics in early education. He explained it very simply which is exactly what I needed. I also approached a family friend who’s a high school science teacher to get me back to the beginning, and help me learn what I didn’t learn before.

4.    I felt most connected to the class learning about DNA. I found it really interesting and it helped me focus on the more difficult details. I also enjoyed learning about the nucleus and its many organelles and different working parts.

5.    What you could offer me to help in my understanding is continuing to attach your video clips explaining what I just read in a new chapter. Sometimes I don’t understand it fully or at least parts of it, until I have watched your video. I take the notes you have posted and write on them while watching your video post. Sometimes I have to wait for your video to be posted before I can work on assignments as the videos help more than the notes.