Researchers at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have found new information about the complexity of nerve cells in the brain. This provides the ability to help therapists find new ways to help patients. OMRF scientist Kenneth Miller, Ph.D's lab has used a method called "forward genetics." They test random mutant worms for "defects in neuropeptide storage and unexpectedly identified mutant worms lacking CaM Kinase II." The CaM Kinase II helps to control when and where neuropeptides are released from neurons. Miller has stated "we tagged the neuropeptides with a fluorescent protein so we could see where they went. In the worms that were missing the gene that makes CaM Kinase II, the neuropeptides were virtually missing altogether in the parts of the neurons where we expected them."
This new information will help physicians and drug developers create and prescribe drugs that will be better targeted towards patientes and their needs. This will help to understand people's brains and problems better.
NOS Themes:
- Role of motivation and curiosity: Scientists want to better understand people's brains and how to cure illnesses.
- Science is based on evidence: Studies have shown what they can do to create new drugs.
This article was very interesting on how it explains how mutation effect living organisms. The tagging that was used in this experiment reminded me of the tagging experiment on bacteriophages that we talked about in class. Like that experiment, this one has a lot of scientific significance, and could lead to more discoveries regarding mutations and how we might cure them.
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