Influence of genetic aggravants on the shape of the face

Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz

Elhuyar Zientzia

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Image of the mouse embryo. Marked in red, activity of genetic intensifiers. Ed. H. H. Morrison, MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh

The shape of the face is written in genes, but where and how it is not clear. Now, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have highlighted the influence of intensifiers. Intensifiers are small fragments of DNA that cause the genes to express themselves more or less. In the embryonic tissues of mice have been found thousands of multipliers that can influence the shape of the face.

On the other hand, they have accused the influence of three intensifiers that act on the genes associated with the shape of the face. To do this, they created free mice from these genetically modified intensifiers. And they removed high-precision 3D images of eight-week embryos. They have seen that the skulls of mice that lacked aggravants were longer or shorter than normal mice. The research has been published in the journal Science.
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