This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8007023.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cancer brake 'could halt disease' | Cancer brake 'could halt disease' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Genetic "brakes" which could slow down or stop diseases like MS and cancer have been found by scientists. | Genetic "brakes" which could slow down or stop diseases like MS and cancer have been found by scientists. |
| University of Edinburgh researchers said their findings could lead to new treatments for such illnesses. | University of Edinburgh researchers said their findings could lead to new treatments for such illnesses. |
| It was previously thought that a select group of "master" genes was responsible for controlling the growth of cells which can cause the conditions. | It was previously thought that a select group of "master" genes was responsible for controlling the growth of cells which can cause the conditions. |
| But the team found hundreds of genes interacting and they will now try to find weak spots to halt tumour growth. | But the team found hundreds of genes interacting and they will now try to find weak spots to halt tumour growth. |
| Healthy cells | Healthy cells |
| Scientists said they believed variations in this network explained why people could develop diseases in different ways. | Scientists said they believed variations in this network explained why people could develop diseases in different ways. |
| The team hopes that by identifying weak spots in the gene structure they will be able to stop the growth of tumours, enabling the growth of healthy cells. | The team hopes that by identifying weak spots in the gene structure they will be able to stop the growth of tumours, enabling the growth of healthy cells. |
| Professor David Hume, of the university's Roslin Institute, who led the research, said: "This study has effectively shown us where the brakes are which could slow down or stop diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis. | |
| "We believe this could lead to treatments and cures for many diseases of the immune system." | "We believe this could lead to treatments and cures for many diseases of the immune system." |
| The findings are published in the Nature Genetics journal. | The findings are published in the Nature Genetics journal. |