PART FIVE: QUESTIONS 21-25
Read the following article and circle T (true), F (false), or NG (not given) for
the statements below.
(0) has been done for you as an example.
Scientists have reversed the effects of ageing on the skin of mice by blocking the
action of a specific protein. In two-year old mice, Californian researchers found
that they could rejuvenate skin to look more youthful. Further analysis published
in the journal Genes and Development showed the skin had the same genetic
profile as the skin of newborn mice. The team said the research would most likely
lead to treatments to improve healing in older human patients. They stressed it
was unlikely to be a potential "fountain of youth" but could help older people heal
as quickly from injury as they did when they were younger.
The protein in question NF-kappa-B is thought to play a role in numerous aspects
of ageing. It acts as a regulator, causing a wide range of other genes to be more
or less active. Lead researcher, Dr Howard Chang, from the Stanford School of
Medicine in California, said the findings supported the theory that ageing is the
result of specific genetic changes rather than accumulated wear and tear. And
that it is possible to reverse those genetic changes later in life. Previous studies
have identified several genes which play a part in the ageing process. Dr Chang
and colleagues spotted that the one thing the genes had in common was that
they were regulated by NF-kappa-B, which can either make them more or less
active. By blocking the protein in older mice for two weeks, they found the skin
was thicker and more cells appeared to be dividing, much like the skin of a
younger mouse. And the same genes were active as in the skin of newborn mice.
It is unclear whether the effects are long-lasting and the protein has also been
implicated in cancer and regulation of the immune system. "We found a pretty
striking reversal to that of the young skin," Dr Chang said. But he added any
application in humans was likely to be on a short-term basis because of other
effects of blocking the protein. "You might get a longer lifespan but at the
expense of something else," he said. Nina Goad from the British Association of
Dermatologists said: "Targeting of gene therapy to skin is still very difficult but
this may provide some new avenues of research that will be of value to wound
healing, following skin trauma or disfiguring skin cancer surgery.
(0)
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
Baby mice have less protein in their skins than adult mice.
T
F
This process will be used to make older people look younger.
T
F
Organs get older because time passes, not because of genetics.
T
F
NF-kappa-B protein also plays a role in providing good health.
T
F
If NF-kappa-B is often blocked in human skin, other organs suffer.
T
F
Some deadly diseases could be cured by blocking this protein.
T
F
Now turn over the page for PART SIX.
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
NG
Key:
(0)
NG
(21)
(22)
(23)
(24)
(25)
F
F
T
NG
F