Researchers Discover How ALS Spreads

Adhirath Bollapragada

18 May 2014

University of British Columbia

Published: 18 February 2014

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140218114305.htm

Summary:

             The fatal neurodegenerative disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has been under investigation by researchers, and in particular, how it spreads. New findings suggest that transmission can be blocked, and that misfolded non-mutant SOD1 can be transmitted from region to region in the nervous system, offering a molecular explanation for the progressive nature of the spread. ALS is a disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There are approximately 140,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide each year.

Connection:

            This connects to our first unit on the Human Body, where we learnt about the Nervous System. We learnt about the motor neurons and how they send the information back to where the sensory neurons received received information. This article connects to the nervous system as it talks about how ALS can break down the motor neurons in the nervous system. In addition to connecting with the nervous system, this article also talks about mutation and how genetic mutation can cause mutation in protein. As a result, this article relates back to our unit on DNA and RNA.