This document discusses the central dogma of genetics, how DNA is replicated and transcribed into RNA which is then translated into protein. It also discusses how mutations in genes can cause cancer and be inherited. Scientists found that inherited susceptibility to bowel cancer was common among patients with a family history of the disease. Retroviruses can incorporate their RNA genome into host cell DNA using reverse transcriptase. Endogenous retroviruses make up around 5% of human DNA and may play a role in brain cell development and function. Understanding genetic mutations could help develop new cancer therapies like gene editing. Retroviruses may also be used in the future for gene therapy and cancer prevention.

1. MANUELA
ESCOBAR VELEZ
MEDICENE
STUDENT

4. INTRODUCTION

6.  The knowledge of the central dogma of genetic information
has allowed to know how genes work.
 DNA is replicated on it model, RNA is synthesis from DNA
transcription, and proteins are synthesis from RNA
transduction.

7.  When you have a damaged gene, and this is replicated, DNA
polymerase will synthesis an RNA with a mutation, therefore
the protein can not be synthesis correctly.
 A mutated protein can induce cancer and how the
information is in the genes can be passed from generation to
generation.

8.  Scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, sequenced genes
in more than 600 patients with a family history of bowel cancer.
 Said their findings suggested patients with bowel cancer and a family
history should routinely be tested for a range of known cancer genes.
 Found that inherited susceptibility to bowel cancer was common among
patients with a family history of the disease.
 Professor Richard Houlston: "Knowing which cancer gene has caused
bowel cancer isn't just important for researchers -- it's crucial for the
treatment, counselling and surveillance of patients and their relatives.

11.  Retroviruses use the enzyme reverse transcriptase to transcribe their
RNA genoma the DNA of the cell.
 Only some endogenous retroviruses are replication competent and
produce enfectious.
 Sufficient evidence has accumulated indicating that retroviruses play an
important role in physiological processes.

12.  Researchers have long been aware that endogenous retroviruses
constitute around five percent of our DNA.
 The findings indicate that, over the course of evolution, the viruses took
an increasingly firm hold on the steering wheel in our cellular machinery.
 The reason the viruses are activated specifically in the brain is probably
due to the fact that tumours cannot form in nerve cells, unlike in other
tissues.

13.  Johan Jakobsson: "We believe that the role of retroviruses can contribute
to explaining why brain cells in particular are so dynamic and
multifaceted in their function. It may also be the case that the viruses'
more or less complex functions in various species can help us to
understand why we are so different”.

16.  When we know what is the mistake, science can develop new therapies
like change the mutation gene for new one.
 Other importan thing, is the prevention of cancer. If we know that the
cancer can be passed from generation to generation, it is easier make the
diagnostic and early treatment.

17.  If some retroviruses induce cancer in humans,
in the futere the retroviruses can be used for
repair the genes and prevent cancer.

18.  Use retroviruses in gene therapy.

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UPB. Fac. de Medicina, 2012. 77 p.
 SHORS. Virus estudio molecular con orientacion clinica. Panamericana,
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 KURTH, Reinhard. BENNERT, Norbert. Retroviruses Molecular Biology,
Genomics and pathogenesis. Caister Academic Press. 2010. 35 p.