Search results for " enhancement."
showing 3 items of 513 documents
Genomic structure and promoter analysis of pathogen-inducedrepatgenes fromSpodoptera exigua
2009
The repat gene family encodes midgut proteins overexpressed in response to pathogen infection in the lepidopteran Spodoptera exigua. Up-regulation of repat genes has been observed after challenging the larvae with both Bacillus thuringiensis toxins and after infection with the baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. In our study, PCR amplification of the genomic region and genome walking were used to obtain the genomic structure and the sequence of the 5'-upstream region of repat1 and repat2, two of the most phylogenetically distant members of the repat family. A similar gene structure between repat1 and repat2 has been found, with conserved exon-intron positions a…
PTC124-mediated translational readthrough of a nonsense mutation causing Usher syndrome type 1C.
2011
We investigated the therapeutic potential of the premature termination codon (PTC) readthrough-inducing drug PTC124 in treating the retinal phenotype of Usher syndrome, caused by a nonsense mutation in the USH1C gene. Applications in cell culture, organotypic retina cultures, and mice in vivo revealed significant readthrough and the recovery of protein function. In comparison with other readthrough drugs, namely the clinically approved readthrough-inducing aminoglycoside gentamicin, PTC124 exhibits significant better retinal biocompatibility. Its high readthrough efficiency in combination with excellent biocompatibility makes PTC124 a promising therapeutic agent for PTCs in USH1C, as well a…
Continuidad de las innovaciones tecnológicas: el reto de las intervenciones biomédicas de mejora humana
2013
One of the most recent debates among ethicists concerning the course of technological innovation is the human enhancement debate, which has been generated by the possibility of pushing human limits further by using the power of science. Many philosophers have warned us about the dangers of modifying human nature in a technical way. However, others argue that there are no morally salient differences between enhancing technical interventions and other kinds of technologies that human beings have taken to be usual for them. This paper shall critically analyze this argument. The main aim of this critical analysis is twofold, first, to show that people who make this argument are biased in severa…