Three’s a Crowd: Extra Chromosome Removed From Down Syndrome Cell Line

In Down syndrome, the body's cells contain three copies of chromosome 21. This extra copy results in serious medical problems, including heart defects, intellectual disabilities, premature aging and certain forms of leukemia. Now, researchers have a new tool to use in studying--and possibly addressing--some of these conditions. They developed a technique to remove the extra chromosome from a Down syndrome cell line, resulting in cells with the normal chromosome number. The technique may help scientists study the mechanisms by which the extra chromosome causes problems in different organ systems and it might lead to therapies that introduce cells lacking the extra chromosome. For example, one day individuals with Down syndrome who are receiving treatment for leukemia might receive transplants of their own blood cells--minus the extra chromosome.
Source: NIGMS Biomedical Beat - Category: Research Source Type: news