Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs in 1 out of about 1000 births. Along with delaying growth, Down syndrome impairs mental ability. Motor skills and and the learning of motor skills are controlled by the cerebellum which is 40% smaller in humans with Down syndrome. Down syndrome has been considered incurable in past decades, but scientists at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland have discovered a possible cure. Scientists at John Hopkins obtained mice with Down syndrome and injected them with a chemical to promote growth of the cerebellum. The experiment had gone better than the scientists had expected. Soon after injection, the mice displayed improved learning and memory, controlled by the hippocampus. The scientists are yet to determine whether they accidentally repaired the hippocampus or if the hippocampus is linked to the growth of the cerebellum. This chemical will soon move to human trials and marks the possibility for a cure for Down syndrome.
NoS
- Role of Chance- scientists are not sure if they accidentally also restored the hippocampus or if it is related to the cerebellum
-Based on evidence- scientists at John Hopkins University performed clinical trials
-Credibility- John Reeves is a geneticist at John Hopkins University
I read an article from NBC News that discussed a very interesting (although not very scientific) aspect of this issue. However, this does involve the theme of science being subject to debate: This article brought up the issue of if down syndrome were cured completely- would the world "lose something from the absence of that culture?". The author of the article discusses if people might lose all the patience, kindness, and compassion they had learned. She/he fears we might forget "what it means to be human". I think this is an interesting perspective because if in the far future we become able to cure all disease and problems- what will be left? Will we even have any compassion or emotion? Or will we all just become like robots? I realize this comment isn't very "biology-based" but I do think that this is an issue that needs to be addressed. Almost every time I read abut some sort of new "disease-curing discovery", I always seem to read something about the issue of its morality, but nobody ever does or says anything further.
ReplyDeleteThe NBC Article:
(http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/could-it-be-cure-breakthrough-prompts-down-syndrome-soul-searching-f6C10879213)
The scientists at John Hopkins are not the only ones working on a cure for Down Syndrome. Jeanne Lawrence, scientist in pediatrics and developmental biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, studies chromosomal disorders. She uses a method that takes genetic elements out of the X chromosome and transfers it to a new home on chromosome 21. Using Down syndrome cells, her team has shown that this deactivates the unnecessary chromosomes, restoring the cells to normal.
ReplyDeleteGo to the link below to read more about Jeanne Lawrence and her work
http://www.forbes.com/sites/techonomy/2013/11/10/hope-seen-in-chromosome-therapy-for-down-syndrome/
I found this article to be very interesting as I am currently in a class called Music Insights at the high school and there are some students with Down Syndrome in the class.Down Syndrome occurs when there is an extra or partial copy of chromosome 21. If this experiment successfully translated to humans and cured the problem of the small cerebellum, is that all that is needed to cure Down Syndrome? Or are there additional parts of the brain/nervous system that have to be repaired for the disability to be 100% gone? There are certain physical characteristics specific to people with Down Syndrome, would those remain? To me, it's fascinating that science is investigating this topic. Since Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder and 1 out of every 691 babies in the U.S. is born with this disability, I feel that it's an important topic to research. Having a cure available would help improve the quality of life for many, which is what science is all about.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very intriguing. In the experiment they injected drugs into mice with down syndrome and it made their cerebellums grow, but were they any side effects? Perhaps the sudden change in brain structure could have long-term consequences. I think that more tests should be conducted on mice before moving on to humans. The researches should maybe even up to a year before concluding whether or not the drugs are safe to use on humans. However, it does sound like a possible cure for down syndrome.
ReplyDeleteI thought this issue was very fascinating because thinking of medical advances that could cure a disease like Down Syndrome is remarkable. I also find Julia's article very interesting because it shows a very different view point of curing such a disease. When doing more research I found that a study showed that 27 percent of parents would not treat their children because they were afraid the cure may change their personality. About 41 percent said they would because they have a hard time caring for their child. Of about 101 parents about one-third of them were indifferent as well. I find it interesting that there are a lot of different views on the cure for this disease.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.patriciaebauer.com/2009/11/19/parents-divided-on-hypothetical-cure-for-down-syndrome-25632/
I found this research to be very fascinating since about 1 in 750 people in the US have down syndrome and a cure would be beneficial to so many people. I read another article that talked about the same study and research. Although, this article happened to mention that the compound injected into the mice was only affective on the mouse's day of birth. This makes me wonder what causes the compound to only work in a limited time period.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2412118/A-cure-Downs-syndrome-Scientists-discover-compound-reverses-learning-difficulties-caused-condition.html
The article was very interesting that something that was never incurable can now be cured. University of Massachusetts also did their own experiment and cure with down syndrome. Here: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/could-it-be-cure-breakthrough-prompts-down-syndrome-soul-searching-f6C10879213
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how science and technology is advancing that we can inject something to cure down syndrome. I believe right now it is only hypothetical as the injection only boosted learning and memory there is no link with curing that and curing down syndrome, like you said they can't tell if it's growth or the cells being repaired.
This article is amazing. To think that maybe one day something that affects so many people could be helped of even cured. I wonder if there would be a down side to this in anyway. There could be people who wouldn't want it at all. I also wonder what would happen if you were to give this to a person who doesn't have down syndrome.
ReplyDelete