Chinmo, The Youth Gene
Scientists have been fascinated by the remarkable ability of insects to undergo a complete metamorphosis. They are trying to discover what genetic mechanisms govern this transformation.
A recent study by the Institute for Evolutionary Biology, CSIC-UPF, and IRB Barcelona sheds light on the role of three genes, Chinmo Br-C E93, in orchestrating stages of insect growth. This research, published in eLife provides new insights into the evolution of metamorphosis. It also sheds light on the role that these genes play in growth, cancer regulation, and development.
Longevity. Chinmo may sound like a character from Pokemon, but it’s actually a much more interesting technology. Scientists believe that this gene, along with Br-C, E93 and other genes, has been conserved through the evolution and development of insects. They think they could play an important role in the evolution and metamorphosis of insects by acting as hands on the biological clock. Understanding and harnessing the biology involved could one day enable us to transform cultured skin cells to replace organs or stop tumors at their early stages. You can go away, Dr Seth Brundle.
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