Key Gene Function Against Cell Death Discovered

Recently there has been a discovery in the world of genetics and stem cells, a team of researchers found that two genes , TSC/Tuberin and PRAS40, are very important in the development of stem cells. When they are switched off, the stem cells die. The researchers published a paper in which they say that both these proteins are to be involved in the regeneration and differentiation processes in cells. The reason stem cells are so important is that they have the ability to turn into other cell types which makes them vital to rebuilding tissue. The two proteins TSC (tuberin) and PRAS40 are crucial for this development, deciding whether the stem cell develops correctly or undergoes apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death.

I think that this discovery is very important, not necessarily for the information that it brings but because it shows us the slow progress and knowledge we are gaining in the area of stem cell research. This could cure many sicknesses. This is only step one, next we have to learn how to fix these two proteins and make sure they function correctly.