This is the blog for GW students taking Human Evolutionary Genetics. This site is for posting interesting tidbits on: the patterns and processes of human genetic variation;human origins and migration; molecular adaptations to environment, lifestyle and disease; ancient and forensic DNA analyses; and genealogical reconstructions.

GWHEG figure

GWHEG figure

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Role of HOX genes in colon cancer development

As colon cancer is one of the leading cause of cancer death in US many research are going on to find treatments for this threatening disease. Recent discoveries indicate the role played by two specific Hox genes HOXA4 and HOXA9 in colon cancer development. As we know, Hox genes are involved in the regulation of stem cells, Dr. Boman and other researchers found that the over expression of these 2 specific HOX genes resulted in stem cell overpopulation, hence, colon cancer development. They proposed that decreasing the expression of these 2 Hox genes could be used as a treatment to prevent the replication of colorectal cancer stem cells.

Link: https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180131/Scientists-discover-role-of-two-specific-HOX-genes-in-colon-cancer-development.aspx

Axelle

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