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Genetic Future Weblog
Ethics! Predictions! Gen-tech news! Commentary!
Smegma bacteria to the rescue!
News on the cancer-fighting front: Mycobacterium smegmatis (yes, you did correctly guess where we got these fellows!) has been genetically modified to produce a protein which results in the destruction of unwanted cells. Researchers used one of these tricks where you fake out your own immune system by getting it to respond to something you’ve injected, though what you’re really after is attacking the tumor nearby the injection spot.
To date it appears this may be the best way to treat bladder cancer… (8 out of 10 animals had no more tumors after being treated with the GM-bacteria.)
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Source: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3867331.stm
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