While the rest of the world indulges in narcissistic quarrels over identity, certain scientists have been quietly progressing in areas that may one day actually improve our lives. Today, our researchers have identified Deep Mutational Scanning (DMS) as a new technique which may lead to some major advances in cancer research. [1] But before you read the excellent but somewhat heavy link from Nature, please have a look at the excellent story by Xantha Leatham of the Mail. [2]
Some readers will have heard of the so called “death star” protein KRAS, and its implication in about 10% of all cancers. Xantha explains ( far more readily than we could) how DMS has been used to identify key mutations in this protein which could in theory, render it vulnerable to molecular treatments. One in ten cancers potentially curable? Isn’t that rather good news.?
How ironic too that the Mail, of all outlets, has let slip another little truth. The team that put together this work is multinational and interdisciplinary. Horrors! What if readers began adducing this inconvenient truth in the Comments sections attached to some of their more spittle-flecked xenophobic opinion-mongers!
[1]https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-35940-3
[2]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12877417/Hope-battle-against-deadliest-types-cancer.html
#Deep Mutational Scanning #cancer #cancer research #KRAS
Learning, Science and Society 