Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Does gene-expression consist of only transcription and translation?

Are oncogenes the only gene that causes cancer?

Is the website closed on weekends?

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
NO NEW EMAILS.

WHAT DOES THE GENE CLASP2 DO FOR CANCER?

Sincerely,
STILL WAITING FOR THAT EMAIL...

No, websites aren't closed on weekends (if your talking about the CGAP website) it just takes awhile for the gene info to get to you.

Also, heather when do u want me to start the gene research?

Dear Life Technology,

We are currently waiting for an email from the people at http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/. in order to continue our research.

While we are waiting, we were wondering if oncogenes are the only genes that can cause cancer. Additionally, where else can we find information about the CLASP2 gene besides the website given to us?

Additinally, would you happen you know how long it will take for them to reply to our email? We emailed them 3 days ago on Friday.

Thank you for your assistance.


Emily

Dear Life technologies scientist,

We are doing the lab Cancer Genome Anatomy Project, the link is attached bellow, and we were going to ask you a few questions. First, if we find the genes that get over-expressed causing cancer, can we possibly use viruses (gene therapy) to replace or repair that over expressed gene? Also are all over-expressed genes that cause cancer oncogenes, because those are the genes that control tissue growth? And also just because a gene gets over-expressed does that automatically cause cancer? Thank you so much, replying in a timely manner would be optimal as our project is due this up coming Friday, but if not we completely understand.

Dear Life technologies scientist,

We are doing the lab Cancer Genome Anatomy Project, the link is attached bellow, and we were going to ask you a few questions. First, if we find the genes that get over-expressed causing cancer, can we possibly use viruses (gene therapy) to replace or repair that over expressed gene? Also are all over-expressed genes that cause cancer oncogenes, because those are the genes that control tissue growth? And also just because a gene gets over-expressed does that automatically cause cancer? Thank you so much, replying in a timely manner would be optimal as our project is due this up coming Friday, but if not we completely understand.
nikkikeislerLTIN

Dear Life technologies scientist,

We are doing the lab Cancer Genome Anatomy Project, the link is attached bellow, and we were going to ask you a few questions. First, if we find the genes that get over-expressed causing cancer, can we possibly use viruses (gene therapy) to replace or repair that over expressed gene? Also are all over-expressed genes that cause cancer oncogenes, because those are the genes that control tissue growth? And also just because a gene gets over-expressed does that automatically cause cancer? Thank you so much, replying in a timely manner would be optimal as our project is due this up coming Friday, but if not we completely understand.
nikkikeislerLTIN

emkiLTIN wrote:Does gene-expression consist of only transcription and translation?

Are oncogenes the only gene that causes cancer?

Hello emkiLTIN,

Gene expression typically refers to transcription of the gene, followed by translation of the mRNA into a gene product (usually a protein).

Oncogenes are not necessarily the only genes that can cause cancer, but we call a gene an oncogene when its overexpression tends to cause cancer.
Here are a few resources to help you learn about oncogenes. You should also do your own research to get a better understanding of oncogenes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncogene
http://www.news-medical.net/health/What ... genes.aspx
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercaus ... enes/index

emkiLTIN wrote:WHAT DOES THE GENE CLASP2 DO FOR CANCER?

CLASP2 stands for cytoplasmic linker associated protein 2. This protein is involved in organizing the microtubules during mitosis, or cell division. Since cancer usually involves cells growing and reproducing out of control, the overexpression of a gene whose product is involved in cell division will likely help maintain cell division, even when the cells should stop dividing.

I hope this helps.

Heather

nikkikeislerLTIN wrote:We are doing the lab Cancer Genome Anatomy Project, the link is attached bellow, and we were going to ask you a few questions. First, if we find the genes that get over-expressed causing cancer, can we possibly use viruses (gene therapy) to replace or repair that over expressed gene? Also are all over-expressed genes that cause cancer oncogenes, because those are the genes that control tissue growth? And also just because a gene gets over-expressed does that automatically cause cancer? Thank you so much, replying in a timely manner would be optimal as our project is due this up coming Friday, but if not we completely understand.
nikkikeislerLTIN

Hi nikkikeislerLTIN,

For those jumping into this long thread, here is the link to the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p011.shtml

Scientists are still researching ways to down-regulate over-expression of cancer-causing genes. I think your question about using viruses (gene therapy) is a good one to research by looking through the scientific literature. Try PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) to look for resources about this topic.

The term oncogene is typically used to describe over-expressed genes that cause cancer, so the short answer to your question is yes. Not all oncogenes control tissue growth, but over-expression of those genes is very likely to cause cancer.

Not all genes cause cancer when they are over-expressed. Some genes, such as those coding for proteins that regulate the cell cycle or initiate apoptosis (cell death), might help prevent cancer. Genes like this are called tumor suppressor genes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_suppressor_gene). Sometimes cancer results from the mutation or under-expression of tumor suppressor genes.

I hope that helps. Please post again if you have more questions.

Heather

Hello Emily,
There is a ton of data around cancer research on the internet. I would suggest going a search for the gene you are interested in and see what comes up. You can also find out more information about oncogenes if you search wikipedia. I don't know when the NIH will get back to you so it might be good to have a back up plan in case they don't respond to you in time.

Hope this helps get you started!

Hi!

I hope this helps, let me know what else you need

Tonya

First, if we find the genes that get over-expressed causing cancer, can we possibly use viruses (gene therapy) to replace or repair that over expressed gene? Yes, in theory, that's what we try to do in the cells culture now. Gene therapy using viruses was not approved by the FDA and actually suffered a setback a few years ago when a clinical trial patient died.

Also are all over-expressed genes that cause cancer oncogenes, because those are the genes that control tissue growth? No, sometimes genes are overexpressed, but it does not give the cells a growth advantage, so cancer does not develop. Sometimes that overexpression is lethal to the cell.

And also just because a gene gets over-expressed does that automatically cause cancer? No - see above.

Thank you so much, replying in a timely manner would be optimal as our project is due this up coming Friday, but if not we completely understand. Good luck!!!

Hello,
Gene therapy is typically used when a gene is NOT able to produce the protein needed by the body. This could be because it contains a mutation and therefore, the protein generated is non-functional or perhaps not produced at all. A virus can deliver a good copy of the gene to the cell so that the protein can be produce by the body. In the case of an over expressed gene, this means that proteins are being made that are not supposed to be. Gene therapy would be tricky in this instance as you are not wanting to produce even more of the protein. However, if the cause for the gene being over expressed is because a protein that typically supresses the gene is not being produce, then you could introduce the gene for that protein by way of gene therapy. Hope that makes sense.

In regards to oncogenes....I would suggest looking on wikipedia to get a better understand that term. Not all over expressed genes will produce cancer. However, if the gene is responsible for cell growth, then yes, it may cause cancer. Unfortunately there is not a clear on/off switch for cancer which is why it is so difficult to treat.

Good luck with your project!
Katie