AP12938

Science Summary Mystery of thalidonides

When Thalidomide was first introduced, it was prescribed to women who had morning sickness. Most women suffer from morning sickness in the first eight weeks of gestation, at the time that the organs are developing the most (Boyd,65). It was later found that 10,000 infants were born with Phocomelia Syndrome, a rare disease of the limps. During this time studies were preformed to explain the effect Thalidomide had on development during the first trimester of pregnancy, but current researchers were able to take a more in-depth look into the disease. So with care planning, Dr. Noam Shomron, Professor Arkady Torchinsky and doctoral student Eyal Mor, of Tel Aviv University, experimented with animals using the teratogen most like Thalidomide. Professor Torchinsky was then able to analyzed the gene and RNA molecules allowing them to find the genetic regulator that caused the malformation in the disease. From this experiment they found that epigenetic regulation helped develop the disease, allowing a different perspective in the genetic involvement. During my search for pictures of these effects I found that even before Thalidomide was marketed it showed danger signs and took twelve years to pull the drug of the market.‍ I believe with further research‍ of epigentic regulation to genetic regulation newer versions of the text could be updated.

References:

Boyd, Denise Roberts, and Helen L. Bee. //Lifespan Development//. Sixth ed Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2012. Print

American Friends of Tel Aviv University. "Unlocking mystery of thalidomide's malformation of limbs." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 1 May 2014. 





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