Genome complexity: what genes do and don't do (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, February 18, 2019, 18:07 (2104 days ago) @ David Turell

In the last entry bias in interpretation of scientific studies results was discussed. I've mentioned before the problem of overenthusiastic reporting by science writers:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190213132309.htm

Note the intro:

"Biology textbooks teach us that adult cell types remain fixed in the identity they have acquired upon differentiation. By inducing non-insulin-producing human pancreatic cells to modify their function to produce insulin in a sustainable way, researchers show for the first time that the adaptive capacity of our cells is much greater than previously thought. Moreover, this plasticity would not be exclusive to human pancreatic cells."

Comment: sounds like the cells can do what they want to do. No Way:

"To explore whether human cells have this ability to adapt, Geneva scientists used islets of Langerhans from both diabetic and non-diabetic donors. They first sorted the different cell types to study two of them in particular: α cells (glucagon producers) and ϒ cells (pancreatic polypeptide cells). "We divided our cells into two groups: one where we introduced only a fluorescent cell tracer, and the other where, in addition, we added genes that produce insulin transcription factors specific to β cells," explains Pedro Herrera.

"The researchers then reconstructed "pseudo-islets," with only one cell type at a time to accurately study their behaviour. "First observation: the simple fact of aggregating cells, even into monotypic pseudo-islets, stimulates the expression of certain genes linked to insulin production, as if the "non-β" cells naturally detected the absence of their "sisters." However, in order for the cells to start producing insulin, we had to artificially stimulate the expression of one or two key β cell genes," says Kenichiro Furuyama, a researcher in the Department of Genetic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the UNIGE and the first author of this work. One week after the experiment began, 30% of the α cells were producing and secreting insulin in response to glucose. ϒ-Cells, under the same treatment, were even more effective and numerous in converting and secreting insulin in response to glucose."

Comment: sure the cells can BE changed by human manipulation! NOT NATURALLY as the opening intro seems to state. Beware of what you read.