The Xist Gene

The Xist Gene

In our today's efficiency-oriented society one of the greatest fears of parents is the diagnosis of their offspring with a genetic disorder. It is driven by the concern of ones child not being able to fit into our society due to mental or physical developmental disabilities which are often caused by the presence of an additional chromosome in the child's genome.
Lately scientists have achieved a milestone in the research about such trisomy disorders. The idea of being able to eliminate the affects of the genetic disorder all orbits around the discovery of the so called Xist gene.
Researchers have found this gene in the investigation of the natural process of silencing one of the two x chromosomes in female mammals. The presence of this x inactivation gene in the x chromosome helps to prevent the gene expression the particular chromosome. When activated, the Xist gene covers the the chromosome like a blanket.
Now researchers are trying to adapt this method to other chromosomes and hope, one day to be able to silece additional chromosomes in humans and thereby prevent the gene expression causing developmental issues in humans affected by trisomy dissorders.

http://www.nature.com/news/researchers-turn-off-down-s-syndrome-genes-1.13406