Tardigrades are tiny animals that can survive a lot of radiation. They can take doses that would kill most other living things. Scientists are studying how tardigrades can help protect healthy cells during cancer treatment.
A team led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of Iowa found that a special type of messenger RNA can help protect cells from radiation. This RNA tells cells to make a protein called Dsup, which helps keep DNA safe.
Cancer treatment can hurt healthy cells, not just the tumor. This can cause mouth sores and other painful problems. Dr. James Byrne from the University of Iowa said that treatment can make it hard for people to eat.
The researchers injected Dsup mRNA into mice and then exposed them to radiation. The mice that received the mRNA had fewer DNA breaks than those that did not receive it. This study shows promise for protecting healthy cells during cancer treatment.
In the future, Dsup RNA could help protect cells from damage caused by radiation from space or nuclear sources.
This research was published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Vocabulary List:
- Tardigrades /ˈtɑrdɪˌɡreɪdz/ (noun): Tiny animals known for their ability to survive extreme conditions including high radiation.
- Radiation /ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/ (noun): Energy emitted in the form of waves or particles.
- Messenger /ˈmɛs.ɪn.dʒər/ (noun): A molecule that carries a message in this context referring to RNA that conveys genetic information.
- Protect /prəˈtɛkt/ (verb): To keep safe from harm or injury.
- DNA /diːˈɛn.eɪ/ (noun): Deoxyribonucleic acid the molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms.
- Tumor /ˈtuː.mər/ (noun): An abnormal growth of tissue which can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
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