Many human cancers result when a normal gene mutates and leads to uncontrolled growth (a tumor). Genesthat cause cancer when they mutate are called oncogenes. Chemotherapy is effective against many tumorsbecause it targets rapidly dividing cells and kills them.Unfortunately, chemotherapy has many side effects,such as hair loss or nausea, because it also kills many ofour normal cells that are rapidly dividing, such as thosein the hair follicles or stomach lining.Many scientists and large pharmaceutical companiesare excited about the prospects of exploiting theRNAi pathway to selectively inhibit oncogenes in lifethreatening tumors. Explain in very general terms howgene-silencing therapy might work to treat cancer andwhy this type of therapy would have fewer side effectsthan chemotherapy
Many human cancers result when a normal gene mutates and leads to uncontrolled growth (a tumor). Genes
that cause cancer when they mutate are called oncogenes. Chemotherapy is effective against many tumors
because it targets rapidly dividing cells and kills them.
Unfortunately, chemotherapy has many side effects,
such as hair loss or nausea, because it also kills many of
our normal cells that are rapidly dividing, such as those
in the hair follicles or stomach lining.
Many scientists and large pharmaceutical companies
are excited about the prospects of exploiting the
RNAi pathway to selectively inhibit oncogenes in lifethreatening tumors. Explain in very general terms how
gene-silencing therapy might work to treat cancer and
why this type of therapy would have fewer side effects
than chemotherapy
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