Scientists are unraveling the mystery of what triggers Huntington’s disease, a devastating hereditary disorder that strikes in the prime of life. New research shows that a genetic mutation long linked to the fatal condition is harmless for decades before slowly turning into a toxic form that kills the cells.
Netanyahu says 'last-minute crisis' with Hamas holding up approval of Gaza truce and hostage dealFrom LA wildfires to hurricanes, immigrants help rebuild after disasters. Trump may deport manyThe Afternoon Wire'Mr. Baseball' Bob Uecker, Brewers announcer, dies at 90From ‘The Brutalist' to 'Wicked,' where to watch this year’s top awards moviesJeff Bezos’ New Glenn rocket reaches orbit on first test flightMusk helped kill a congressional spending bill.
“The conundrum in our field has been: Why do you have a genetic disorder that manifests later in life if the gene is present at conception?” said Dr. Mark Mehler, who directs the Institute for Brain Disorders and Neural Regeneration at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was not involved in the research. He called the research a “landmark” study and said “it addresses a lot of the issues that have plagued the field for a long time.
They focused on the Huntington’s mutation, which involves a stretch of DNA in a particular gene where a three-letter sequence – CAG – is repeated at least 40 times. In people without the disease this sequence is repeated just 15 to 35 times. They discovered that DNA tracts with 40 or more such “repeats” expand over time until they are hundreds of CAGs long. Once CAGs reach a threshold of about 150, certain types of neurons sicken and die.
“The longer the repeats, the earlier in life the onset will happen,” said neuroscience researcher Sabina Berretta, one of the study’s senior authors.
Huntington Neurological Disorders Massachusetts General News Science Mark Mehler Organ Donation World News Medical Research Health Steve Mccarroll Sabina Berretta Biology World News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California Squirrels Surprise Scientists with Vole Hunting BehaviorGround squirrels in California have been observed hunting and consuming voles, challenging the previously held belief that their diet consists mainly of grains. Scientists were astonished by this unprecedented behavior, captured on video and in photographs.
Read more »
Scientists Quantified The Speed of Human Thought, And It's a Big SurpriseThe Best in Science News and Amazing Breakthroughs
Read more »
California Voter ID Fight Heats Up Over Huntington Beach Charter AmendmentA Huntington Beach charter amendment requiring voter ID in municipal elections is sparking a legal battle and wider debate over voter identification in California.
Read more »
Woman Fatally Shot in Huntington Park, Man EscapesA woman was fatally shot in Huntington Park on Monday night, December 16th. A male companion, who fled the scene, was also shot but his condition is unknown. The investigation is ongoing.
Read more »
First responders prevent garage fire from spreading in Huntington StationThe cause of the garage fire is still under investigation.
Read more »
Will Huntington Beach voters get their say on a library review board?Jill Replogle covers Orange County.
Read more »