scholarly journals Redefining reproduction

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-37
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Surrogate Mothers ◽  
Skin Cells ◽  
The Future ◽  
Fertility Problems ◽  
Promising Development ◽  
Mouse Egg ◽  
Mouse Eggs ◽  
Biology Research

Last year was a significant year for reproductive biology research, with the creation of fertile mouse eggs from skin cells in a Japanese lab. Notably, the mouse eggs produced by Professor Katsuhiko Hayashi and his team from Kyushu University went on to form healthy offspring when fertilized and implanted in surrogate mothers - a promising development for the future of in vitro fertilisation technology for people with fertility problems. In another advance, Dr Anthony Perry (University of Bath) and colleagues produced fertile mice offspring by fertilizing abnormal ‘parthenogenote‘ embryos, containing only the mother's genes, created by artificially triggering mouse egg cells to begin dividing on their own. Helen Albert speaks to both researchers about their work and its implications for the future.

scholarly journals Folates, folic acid and preconception care – a review

JRSM Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 205427042098087
Author(s):  
Simon H House ◽  
John AA Nichols ◽  
Sarah Rae
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Recurrent Miscarriage ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Folic Acid Fortification ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Fertility Problems

Summary The link between folate deficiency and congenital spina bifida defects was first suggested in the 1960s. Although the prevention of these defects by preconception folic acid supplementation was confirmed in a large multi-centre controlled trial in 1991, its subsequent implementation as health education advice has made very little difference. North America’s policy of folic acid fortification of flour and bread has had a beneficial impact. No European country has implemented fortification due to concern over possible adverse effects on older subjects, but a recent review shows these to be largely hypothetical and far outweighed by beneficial effects. Recent research by Menezo et al. has, however, shown that folic acid is ineffective for some women with severe fertility problems including recurrent miscarriage and failed in vitro fertilisation. There is a genetically determined bottleneck (677TT) in their folate metabolism that can be successfully overridden by going straight to the next step in the metabolic pathway and taking 5-methylytetrahydrofolate, as a preconception supplement. Menezo suggests that all women with fertility problems should be tested for 677TT. If fortification of flour and bread is to be implemented in the UK, there should be monitoring for possible adverse effects including the incidence of colorectal cancers and cognitive decline. In conclusion, whilst there are concerns that fortification could have a detrimental effect on these conditions, there is sound evidence that it would have much greater beneficial effects.

Some Structural Features of Metaphase Chromosomes of Mice and Men

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 190-191
Author(s):  
Godfrey C. Hoskins ◽  
Betty B. Hoskins
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Electron Micrographs ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Metaphase Chromosomes ◽  
The Future ◽  
Of Mice And Men ◽  
Mouse Cells ◽  
Human And Mouse

Metaphase chromosomes from human and mouse cells in vitro are isolated by micrurgy, fixed, and placed on grids for electron microscopy. Interpretations of electron micrographs by current methods indicate the following structural features.Chromosomal spindle fibrils about 200Å thick form fascicles about 600Å thick, wrapped by dense spiraling fibrils (DSF) less than 100Å thick as they near the kinomere. Such a fascicle joins the future daughter kinomere of each metaphase chromatid with those of adjacent non-homologous chromatids to either side. Thus, four fascicles (SF, 1-4) attach to each metaphase kinomere (K). It is thought that fascicles extend from the kinomere poleward, fray out to let chromosomal fibrils act as traction fibrils against polar fibrils, then regroup to join the adjacent kinomere.

SiRNA technology, the gene therapy of the future?

2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (4) ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsuzsanna Rácz ◽  
Péter Hamar
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Short Interfering Rna ◽  
The Future ◽  
Interfering Rna

A genetikában új korszak kezdődött 17 éve, amikor a petúniában felfedezték a koszuppressziót. Később a koszuppressziót azonosították a növényekben és alacsonyabb rendű eukariótákban megfigyelt RNS-interferenciával (RNSi). Bár a növényekben ez ősi vírusellenes gazdaszervezeti védekezőmechanizmus, emlősökben az RNSi élettani szerepe még nincs teljesen tisztázva. Az RNSi-t rövid kettős szálú interferáló RNS-ek (short interfering RNA, siRNS) irányítják. A jelen cikkben összefoglaljuk az RNSi történetét és mechanizmusát, az siRNS-ek szerkezete és hatékonysága közötti összefüggéseket, a célsejtbe való bejuttatás virális és nem virális módjait. Az siRNS-ek klinikai alkalmazásának legfontosabb akadálya az in vivo alkalmazás. Bár a hidrodinamikus kezelés állatokban hatékony, embereknél nem alkalmazható. Lehetőséget jelent viszont a szervspecifikus katéterezés. A szintetizált siRNS-ek ismert mellékhatásait szintén tárgyaljuk. Bár a génterápia ezen új területén számos problémával kell szembenézni, a sikeres in vitro és in vivo kísérletek reményt jelentenek emberi betegségek siRNS-sel történő kezelésére.

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