Here's an interesting STATs article:
HAMILTON, New Zealand (Reuter) - New Zealand scientists believe they have
discovered the gene that makes men bigger than women.
Their ground-breaking research is expected to have important medical and
agricultural implications, especially in treating dwarfism and increasing the
amount of wool, milk and meat from farm animals.
Professor Dick Wilkins, spokesman for the team of scientists at AgResearch
Ruakura and Waikato University, told Reuters Tuesday the gene was present in
all mammals.
Its discovery was an unexpected result of research into milk production.
The scientists started researching milk production for New Zealand's largest
crown research institute, AgResearch, in 1994. Last year they stumbled on the
male-growth gene STAT5b in mice.
Wilkins, from the university's Biological Sciences Department, said STAT5b
was linked with the rate of growth in males, hair growth and fatness.
Project leader Helen Davey of AgResearch said research had begun with the
removal of a gene in mice, and subsequent breeding for investigation.
She said the team had thought it was investigating a single gene, when in
fact there were two -- and it knocked out the ''wrong gene,'' STAT5b. The
research showed a closely related gene known as STAT5a appeared to be
involved in milk production.
''We thought knocking out this gene would specifically alter milk production,
so it came as a complete surprise to find male mice were stunted in their
growth,'' Davey said.
''We suddenly find ourselves researching a gene which is also relevant to the
beef and wool industries and may also be responsible for some growth defects
in humans.''
Wilkins said many biochemical and endocrine factors had been found to
contribute to making male species bigger than females.
The STAT5b gene orchestrated the process -- ''it acts as the referee that
starts the match,'' he said.
The gene interacted with growth hormones, allowing male growth to outstrip
female growth. It kicked in when males reached puberty, causing a sudden
growth spurt.
Wilkins said the challenge now was what to with the basic concept.
''If the agricultural sector took it up they might be able to run with it and
increase animal production. We're looking at fiber, fatness and leanness of
animals,'' he said.
One of the research team's first moves was to invite collaboration from
male-female growth specialist Professor David Waxman of Boston University in
the United States.
Waxman, who analyzed frozen samples for the New Zealand team, recently
announced the work at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society in
Minneapolis.
A scientific paper based on the project is to be published in the Proceedings
of the U.S. Academy of Sciences.
18:59 07-14-97 |
