Scientists Say Genes Can Cause Nerve Center MalfunctionsChinese scientists have found out that the activities of animal's nerve center are controlled by certain genes.A group of scientists from the No.4 Military Medical College in this capital of northwest province of Shaanxi announced that they have recorded nerve center malfunctions of a mouse after they eliminated some genes from its genome. The mouse soon died of brain hydropsy and hydrocele accompanied with the death of a large number of nerve cells and a massive transformation of never center, showing that the eliminated genes had participated in the growth of the animal's nerve center. This is the first time that human beings identified genes relating to the growth and functions of nerve center, according to Professor Han Hua, who led the research group. The malfunctions of nerve center can result in dementia among the aged people and other serious nerve diseases. The scientists believed that the breakthrough would help find out ways to cure the diseases. The scientists also discovered in a separate experiment that the elimination of certain genes can cause arthritis and lymph diseases. |
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