Gene can cure paralysis in fiends

Sardines, a prehistoric species that specializes in sucking blood, possesses a group of genes that may open up the prospect of healing human spinal cord injuries.

and people own several genes. These genes allow healing of spinal cord lesions in stone grouper, so if we find a way to activate similar genes in humans, we can restore spinal cord injuries and even treat paralysis, according to Science Alert.

The rocky snakehead has a snake-like appearance, appearing 200 million years ago, before both the dinosaurs and the world's oldest vertebrate. A special feature of this species is that they have razor-sharp teeth in a circle. Rocky grouper adheres to other species thanks to the suction-shaped mouth filled with teeth and creates a small hole through the scales of prey with a sharp tongue.

Sardines.(Photo: Wikipedia).

Scientists at the Marine Biology Laboratory (MBL), Feinstein Medical Research Institute, Zucker Medical School of Hofstra University, University of Kentucky and Medical University of Icahn cooperate to identify common gene groups between humans and grouper Stone in the study published yesterday in Eurek Alert magazine.

"For years, scientists know that rocky grouper is able to recover immediately after spinal cord injury, but we do not know the accompanying molecular formula and support this special ability," Ona Bloom , associate professor at Feinstein Institute and Zucker School, said. "In this study, we find out that all genes change during recovery. When information is available, we can use to check whether certain methods are needed for recovery. ".

To accurately identify genetic changes that allow rocky grouper to recover, the team began by slitting on their spinal cord. They then took samples from their brains and spinal cord several hours after the injury and continued for the next three months.

Specimens help researchers identify genes and signaling pathways (proteins and other chemicals produced by cells to control function) that are activated in the injured animal. They found an essential path to the recovery process. If the Wnt signal path is blocked, the animal cannot recover.

The team was also surprised to find that changes not only occur in the spinal cord of injured animals, but also in the brain."This result is also about the view that the brain changes a lot after injury," said Jennifer Morgan, director of Eugene Bell's Center for Reproductive Biology and Tissue Engineering.

The researchers will try to turn on, turn off genes and signal paths to determine the correct sequence to heal the damage. After testing the results, they can conduct tests on other animals.