Rebuilding the road to cancer
Article Abstract:
The route to tumour formation is a multi-step journey involving accumulated genetic alterations. Researchers have effectively turned human cells into tumour cells in the laboratory, to determine the minimum amount of genetic events needed for tumour formation. The researchers predicted that if telomere erosion could be prevented, this would cooperate with additional oncogenes and enable direct progression to cancer.The telomerase enzyme's catalytic subunit (hTERT) was artificially expressed and the approach was shown to immortalize human cells. Such cells were then transformed by the addition of two familiar oncogenes. A combination of three genetic elements was enough to cause efficient tumour growth.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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Uncertain road to ozone recovery
Article Abstract:
There are a number of barriers to ozone recovery. These include emissions of refrigerant chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), of halons (bromocarbons) as fire-fighting chemicals and of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as interim CFC replacements. It is clear that emissions of halocarbons must be reduced more rapidly than is apparent from current investigations of the atmosphere if real progress is to be made towards ozone recovery. It is possible that ozone depletion can be halted by the end of the first decade of the 21st century, but this will demand high levels of global stewardship.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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The end of the road for silicon?
Article Abstract:
The roadmap for silicon technology indicates that the end of silicon dioxide as a gate insulator will come in 2012. It will be necessary for scientists and semiconductor experts to develop new technologies if silicon-based microchips are to continue becoming smaller and more powerful. It may prove possible to use an insulating film with a dielectric constant higher than that for silicon dioxide. This would permit the use of a thicker insulating layer for the gate electrode.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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