Fountain of youth gene discovered

a. Fountain of youth gene

b. Oct4

c. Oct5

d. Both a and b

e. None of the above

 

A gene, thought to be inactive in adults, may actually play a vital role in preventing heart attacks and stroke . and could also delay some of the effects of ageing, scientists have found.

• The gene, Oct4 , plays a key role in the development of all living organisms, but scientists have, until now, thought it was permanently inactivated after embryonic development.
• Researchers have determined the gene plays a critical protective role during the formation of atherosclerotic plaques inside blood vessels.
• The rupturing of these plaques is the underlying cause of many heart attacks and strokes.
• The researchers found that Oct4 controls the movement of smooth muscle cells into protective fibrous "caps" inside the plaques — caps that make the plaques less likely to rupture.
• They also have provided evidence that the gene promotes many changes in gene expression that are beneficial in stabilising the plaques.

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