Proto-Oncogenes Their Role in Cancer Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Proto-Oncogenes Their Role in Cancer - Article Example Specific genes of chicken and rodent retroviruses were first noted to transform normal mammalian cells in culture. These cancer-causing genes (oncogenes) proved to be activated homologues of mammalian genes (proto-oncogenes), which were stolen from the host cell during viral evolution. Primary human cancers harbor similarly activated alleles of proto-oncogenes (Haber, 2006) Some of the mechanisms by which proto-oncogenes are activated in human cancers include: point mutations, gene amplification, and chromosomal translocations. These mutations are known as gain-of-function mutations because â€Å"they result in novel or altered functional properties for the encoded protein and are genetically dominant over the second normal allele†(Haber, 2006) Proto-oncogenes can be classified based either on their normal function within cells or upon sequence homology to other known proteins (National Science Teachers Association. 2001). â€Å"Proto-oncogenes that were originally identified as resident in transforming retroviruses are designated as c- indicative of the cellular origin as opposed to v- to signify original identification in retroviruses† (National Science Teachers Association. 2001). The classification listed below includes only those genes that have been highly characterized (National Science Teachers Association. 2001). Of particular interest is the ras family of proto-oncogenes. There are three homologs of this gene, H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras, and these have been detected in more human tumor types and at a higher frequency than any other oncogene (Anderson et al., 1992). They acquire transforming activity by a point mutation in their coding sequence. Invivo, activating point mutations have been observed in codons 12, 13, 61, 117, and 146 (Anderson et al., 1992).

Is Marriage a Dying Institution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is Marriage a Dying Institution - Essay Example and ways of leading life and gay marriages, marriage is still considered a platform to ensure stability in the society and is not really a dying institution although its form and outlook have changed overtime. Few believe in the traditional words of the Book of Common Prayers that marriage is meant to last till death part the two partners. The few people who marry in UK have majority of then ending in divorce. This has even raised the concerns of the church leaders who are constantly trying to build a rescue plan. In this age of Information Technology cyber divorce ensures that a marriage can end with the click of a mouse. According to the Archbishop of Canterburry, the consumer culture has been on the rise and this has influenced the institution of marriage where people are constantly moving with the hope of finding someone better and worthier than whom he or she has. Apart from the rate of divorce, there are other factors that need to be considered. (BBC Online Network, 2007) In the modern times, the idea of living together and getting into an intimate emotional and physical relationship with one another is not much of an issue especially when some states like Canada have legalized the act. In California, such partners are known as â€Å"domestic partners†. Despite all states like North Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, North Dakota and Michigan still deem the act as a crime in the eye of law. Therefore there is no reason to lose all hope and faith in marriage and give the entire credit to cohabitation. Also, in places like India the idea of opposite sex people cohabiting without the bond of marriage is taken as a taboo. Thus, there are ways and scope to ensure that the institution of marriage still retains its bliss. Though homosexual relationships are increasingly gaining acceptance in different nations, yet these couples are not permitted to marry. Some states have identified a form of civil union, which is in practice marriage without the term