Scientists are trying to learn how to get the human body to use repressed genes to regenerate what is needed like deers regrow antlers, or lizards regrow tails. The researchers at the Salk Institute are using zebra fish as the subject to learn from. The researchers looked at master genes that controlled an eggs development into th embryo. The genes are controlled by a "dual-switch", which repress the genes but prepares them for activity. These switches are now being noticed in adult cells. The switches contain modifications to chromatin. Genes are controlled by nearby regions of DNA turned on by regulatory proteins. Second layer is built into the chromatin which has to be unpacked. They tested their theory by cutting off the tail of the zebra fish, and then the genes were turned on and the tail regenerated itself. In order for this happens is because the presence of an enzyme called methylase. The enyzme removes chemical attachments from one half of the switch.
Brittany K
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