2008 National DNA Day Online Chatroom Transcript
This is just one question from an archive of the National DNA Day Moderated Chat held in April 2008. The NHGRI Director and many genomics experts from across NHGRI took questions from students, teachers and the general public on topics ranging from basic genomic research, to the genetic basis of disease, to ethical questions about genetic privacy.
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What is the relationship between telomerase and cancer?
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Donna Krasnewich, M.D., Ph.D.:
Investigating diseases resulting from abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates.
Telomeres is the DNA at the very tips of chromosomes. Telomerase is an enzyme that breaks down telomeres. The study of telomeres has been very exciting in the past few years because it appears that telomerase is very active in cancer cells, more than normal cells. Scientists are thinking that if they can find a drug that changes the activity of telomerase, it might be useful in treating cancer. As with all treatments, one also has to think of the side effects. Remember that telomeres also appear to change with aging. How drugs that affect telomerase will affect the processes of aging, need to be thought about as well. |
| Carvin School Inc. Puerto Rico (12th grade student) |
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