Gene Therapy Ages Human Cancer Cells in Lab

mattr writes "Korean scientists are the first in the world to selectively age off and kill human cancer cells, by injecting a gene that suppresses telomerase, a cancer-specific enzyme that normally makes cancer cells immortal by protecting the telomere tips of their chromosomes. The telomere length modulation mechanism was found by two scientists from Yonsei University and colleagues at U. Central Florida, and is reported in the April 1 issue of Genes and Development magazine."

Finally!

[Bananatree3]

The perfect aging drug! Now I can look older and act younger!

Pretty cool...

[Anonymous Coward]

I think I'm gonna have a cigarette now.

Hey, we cured cancer...

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey! We cured cancer! No, just messin' with yah... april fools!

Re:I wonder...

[krf]

Yeah, but it actually throws the works into reverse. It's great for the first few years, but then you have to go through toilet training in reverse.

And let's just say it goes downhill from there.

Go Knights!

[Digitus1337]

The University of Central Florida doesn't get any credit because we don't have a good football team, but this is the third /. piece featuring the school in the past six months. How's for some nerd credit?

Re:I wonder...

[Gabrill]

You missed the point where they had to inject each cell to target it. If we just uniformly make all cells immortal, then we would have out of control cell reproduction. You know, kind of like cancer.

The real trick would be to figure out how to hold the human body at the point of equilibrium for 18 to 21 years of age.

Never mind that. Then we couldn't legally get beer. 8-)

Re:who gets credit

[shigelojoe]

Do you have any proof of this or are you just talking out your ass?

You must be new here.

Re:I wonder...

[DarkMantle]

but then you have to go through toilet training in reverse.

This happens anyway. Haven't you heard of adult diapers?

Re:who gets credit

[Anonymous Coward]

Eh, in Korea, only old cancer cells get credit.

new todo list

[hedley]

1) Eat more charred foods
2) Use the cell phone handset a lot more
3) picnic under high tension wires often
4) cheap cigarettes from Canada
5) Use more liquids ending in -ene, -ide
6) Have more food colouring parties
7) Break out that Roentgen tube lying in the attic, make some cool photos.
8) Work with small fibres and dusts as often as possible.

Yep, now I can really break loose...

Hedley

Re:who gets credit

[maelstrom]

Fuck low UID slashdotters.

Re:Got a sweet tooth?

[Anonymous Coward]

What they don't tell you about that study is that the rats were also habitual smokers, sad really...

Amazing...

[torrents]

"reported in the April 1 issue of Genes and Development"

I just hope it's not some cruel April Fools joke...

Re:who gets credit

[Desert Raven]

Yup, I can see it now:

Aide: Sir, have you looked at the bill on genetic research?

Shrub: Yes, and I vetoed it.

Aide: Um, why sir? It would have cured cancer?

Shrub: It said a side-effect of the research might be immorality, and I won't STAND for that!

Aide: (slaps forehead) No sir, it didn't say immorality, it said immortality.

Shrub: (looks confused)

Re:Finally!

[shadowbearer]

Don't worry, that comes with time ;-)

SB

Re:who gets credit

[Clay Pigeon -TPF-VS-]

I beg to differ. He gets modded down for not following group think, but he does come up with some good stuff.

Obligatory

[maxwell demon]

In Korea, only old cancer cells die.

Re:Who would pay money for a slashdot id?

[NitsujTPU]

You would think that would be the case, but those of us with id's like say... mine, have groupies who follow us around offering us sexual favors constantly.

Re:who gets credit

[Shihar]

"...he banned any weapons research that was expected to take more than two years to deliver a weapon (probably on the theory that he would control the world in less than two years). American research is falling into this second trap."

I agree. As an American, I think it is pragmatic to think it will take at least 5 years to take over the world. I put forward that we should all sign an online petition to congress to get them to fund weapons that will put out in at least 5 years, instead of the current two year limit.

This has many advantages, not the least of which are massive robotic mechs that we can build in conjunction with our allies in Japan.

Re:sharks

[Anonymous Coward]

Only one problem with that: An unusual exception is the shark. Sharks don't get cancer, even though they're relatively complex creatures. Homeopaths have been experimenting with shark cartilage for years trying to work out why this is.

But sharks do get cancer [google.co.uk]
And if, supposing dharks didn't get cancer, what would cartilage have to do with it?
And, since you're talking about homeopaths, why would pills that don't contain any cartilage, but are supposed to somehow remember that there was once some cartilage in the mixing vat help?