Blog
Post
Kathryn
Oram
11/28/2016
Ion
Cancer
Research is an ongoing study for microbiology, a cure hasn’t been found yet but
scientific developments are paving the way to find a cure for different types
of cancer. In medical now, Patients that are diagnosed with server cancer is
usually put through the treatment of radiation. Most people know that already
but, new developments in the late summer of 2016 are now showing how radiation
treatment damages the DNA inside the cells and may even be causing cancer
tumors.
Radiation
treatment is when large amounts of radiation, such as gamma rays, X-rays, and
radioactive particles, are exposited to the body to help stop the replication
of cancer cells. Although the radiation showers are breaking up the genome
causing overwhelming damage to the DNA. Researchers from Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators
have now been able to spot two characteristic patterns in DNA that has been
destroyed by ionising radiation. Everytime that a DNA molecule is damaged it
leaves a molecular fingerprint, on the cancer cell. Deletion and balanced
inversion are the two of molecular fingerprints that have been recently
discovered. The mutational signature deletion is when small numbers of DNA
sequences are cut out. The other Multinational signature is referred to as a balanced
inversion, is when the DNA molecule is cut, flipped around, and rejoined to the
same DNA sequence. Discovering these two molecular fingerprints patterns is not
making it able for doctors to see if and which tumors can be caused by the
radiation treatment.
The article I read makes me happy to know that there are
scientific strides are being made in the fight against cancer. I learned a lot
of new information in this article about current science and medical field
studies. From reading this article I also now understand why individual may
choose not to do radiation treatment since it is still a section of science
that is still being tested and studied. htp://www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/09/12/study_reveals_how_ionising_radiation_damages_dna_and_causes_cancer.html">Study
reveals how ionising radiation damages DNA and causes cancer
It really is interesting to see all the side-affects of radiation. It makes you think if it's in the end better or worse for the patient. And that may just depend on the patient and how their body reacts to the radiation treatment. J. RYAN
ReplyDeleteThat is quite sad that the treatment used to help fight cancer actually causes tumors or negative DNA effects. Are they doing anything in order to counter this mutation to DNA due to the radiation? Is it possible they can continue this treatment, without having the risk of these side effects?
ReplyDeleteTL
TL,
ReplyDeleteI did a little bit of research on this too because i had the same question you did. What i found was that DNA i capable of repairing minor damage but not excessive. The more radiation a person gets the less likely their DNA is able to repair itself correctly.
Ruth Guerra
This is very intriguing. The medical practices done today are quite a feat, yet there can be dire consequences from what is meant to save human lives. I have seen this in my own life, as my grandmother has had cancer twice in her life. The first time was natural, a defect of her body, yet the second time was likely caused by the treatment of radiation. It is very sad and even ironic that the thing that saved her life once, put her life in danger the next time.
ReplyDeleteM.E.
What are the alternatives to radiation? Is it one of the best options for people so they usually choose radiation and what are the long term affects of other cancer treatments?
ReplyDeleteKI
I like that this article shows the importance of radiation for an individual who has cancer as well as the effects that it can cause to someone who has it. i can see why some people may choose not to do radiation based on the fact that it can change the DNA in an individuals body and cause tumors! Why would someone want to participate in a process that has a high chance of making them even more sick!
ReplyDelete-MM