Scientists develop mechanism to “switch on” genes

Scientists have worked out a mechanism to “switch on” genes introduced in a plant or an animal that has the potential for treatment of diseases like cancer, diabetes and Parkinsons as also for genetic crop modification. In the normal procedure, a gene, which has been introduced in plants or animals during gene therapy remains switched on. With the gene switch technology, these genes can be made to express when needed, he said. In the technology, besides the desired gene, an element called “response element” and another called “receptor” are also introduced in the plant or animal. All three as a unit are called a “gene switch”. It has been found that a chemical called “ecdysone agonist”, which is an insecticide, attaches to the receptor of the gene switch (in case of plants) turning on the gene concerned, leading to the production of the compound for which gene is meant for.For use in animal genes, different chemicals would be needed to switch on the genes. "Source":[ http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=subtopics&topic_id=1&subtopic_id=4&doc_id=11962&start=1&control=406&page_start=1&page_nr=151&pg=1]

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