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Studying Asthma Development with Genetic Mechanisms
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Asthma is a respiratory disease causing chronic
inflammation of the lungs and sensitivity to
environmental allergens.
Currently, 300 million people worldwide are afflicted •
with asthma which results in 250 000 deaths per year.
Asthma rates have been increasing at an alarming rate
every generation.
It is crucial to better understand what causes this
disease.
Lung tissue is made of
cells that contains DNA.
This molecule is like a
blueprint that contains
information for how
cells develop.
Consequently, it can
also dictate whether or
not an individual gets
asthma but more
research is needed in
that area.
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Kate Berger
DNA is made of four building
blocks, A, T, G, and C, which are
contained within a long strand.
It is the specific sequence of
these that controls cell
development – this is known as
‘genetics’.
Abnormal changes in the
sequence are called mutations.
DNA also has markers attached
to it called methyl groups:
These can regulate how much
gene products are being made.
A recent study showed that some people with asthma
have a high frequency of a mutation called rs5906761.
This causes a C to be replaced with a T, but they do not
what effect this has on how cells develop.
With my research, I will introduce this mutation to mice
and see whether or not it can cause them to develop
asthma.
I also want to know if the mutation can change the
amount of methyl groups present. This may shed light on
the process by which asthma occurs.