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| Cancer cells undergoing division (Image: BBC) |
American scientists have recently discovered a method to reverse the process of cell division, an achievement that was previously thought to be impossible. This invention holds significant implications for cancer, a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell division.
Cell division occurs millions of times each day in the human body. Each time a cell divides, it must be healthy; therefore, any DNA damage is repaired first. Consequently, the 46 pairs of chromosomes in the cell must divide to balance with its “daughter” cells. However, both of these processes are disrupted in cancer cells.
Researchers at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in the United States successfully controlled a protein known as cyclin, which plays a critical role in regulating cell division, in the laboratory.
They used a chemical to immobilize this protein and remove it from the cell. This means they reversed the cell division process by sending the chromosomal version back to the center of the parent cell, effectively halting the cell division process.
Professor Jonathon Pines, a cancer expert, stated: “Although it cannot yet be directly applied to cancer treatment, this research is very interesting and significant.”
KHANG LINH
