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Treatment for Down's Syndrome? |
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Chemistry and Industry (3 Nov 03) reported "The discovery of a gene involved in memory and learning disabilities in Down's Syndrome means the condition, which is one of the most common genetic abnormalities, may soon be treatable." William Mobley, director of a new centre for Down Syndrome research at Stanford University, California, said "The bottom line is that we have found one gene that is very important." The gene causes the neuron damage thought to cause mental retardation and its discovery means that such retardation could be reversed. "This is very exciting news, says researcher Stylianos Antonarakis, a Down's researcher at the University of Geneva, Switzerland." Chemistry and Industry continues, "We have always thought that there are probably only a few genes involved in mental retardation, so it is feasible that a single gene may be responsible. And it seems perfectly possible to downregulate that gene using RNAi or other methods." William Mobley says "With the perfect drug at the perfect dose, we can reduce protein production by the extra copy of the gene." The gene will be described by William Mobley in a peer-reviewed journal.
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