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jonatron5 jonatron5
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Posts: 15
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10 years ago
Ok soni think its fairly obvious to see my thought procsess here. If there are viruses that can detect cancer cells or if there is something unique about a cancer cells ECM then couldn't it be possible to develop a virus that would bond to it and at the very least inject division suppresive genes or at best make it apoptose?
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wrote...
#1
Staff Member
Educator
10 years ago
Viruses cannot detect cancer cells. You can - in theory - bio-engineer a virus to bind to cancer cells, but that doesn't happen naturally. What your saying is presently being investigated. Problem is, not all cancer cells produce a common outer "cancer protein" to be expressed. Therefore, the viruses don't know where to do.
Mastering in Nutritional Biology
Tralalalala Slight Smile
jonatron5 Author
wrote...
#2
10 years ago
What about nano bots then? They could be controlled and target cancer by the operator?
wrote...
#3
Staff Member
10 years ago
Is there even such thing?
- Master of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science
jonatron5 Author
wrote...
#4
10 years ago
I don't see why not there is no reason we can't have microscopic comouter circuits. They can only be made so small I know. But in terms of physics its not unresonable to print circuits on atoms
wrote...
#5
Staff Member
10 years ago
I think phages (bacterial viruses) would be a better option since they are very easy to grow and manipulate. In terms of nanorobots, that's more science fiction at the moment. Interestingly, however, these so-called nanomachines are largely in the research-and-development phase. This link http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ange.200905200/abstract;jsessionid=776710612F68ABAF4D9E3DD5440BA76F.f03t01 is probably the only published article that talks about this actually being a reality.
- Master of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science
jonatron5 Author
wrote...
#6
10 years ago
Honestly that's what I thought too. Maby gene manipulation of existing viruses. Its a shame micro circuits are kot actually rolling off the assembly line they would be much easier to program for then virus genes
wrote...
#7
Staff Member
Educator
10 years ago
Cool little animation. I can see something like this being possible later on, but building something like this would essentially mean creating a new life form. I still believe the best way to stop cancer from becoming widespread is through screening and prevention.
Mastering in Nutritional Biology
Tralalalala Slight Smile
wrote...
#8
10 years ago
This is actually pretty interesting, I'll have to look into this more!
wrote...
#9
10 years ago
I think we are many many years who from developing nanobots. Cancer cells also become undifferentiated making it harder to track down. Right now, one of the mechanisms we utilize to track them is their rapid division. Radiation for example works because rapidly dividing cells have their DNA outside the nucleus, thus making it more vulnerable to ionizing radiation and cell death. I definitely want to live to see the days of Nanobot though. Think of all the issues we would be able to tackle!
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