The Cause of Cancer?

NY Times Article
Curing cancer. It's been the goal of biochemists for decades. Well, we still haven't gotten to that point, but we are now one step closer. While studying melanoma cancers (caused by a buildup of melanin, or pigments that cause skin and hair color), a group of researchers discovered that the cause maybe found in the control center of the genes.
This is a revolutionary concept. Before, researchers had always simply studied the genes, but as one scientist said, “The brakes or the gas that control the genes that cause cancer are as important as gene mutations." 
Other studies based on this finding show that mutations in the control region of the gene, not just the gene mutations themselves, are inherited and linked to cancer, and thus are genetically linked.

So what does the mutation do anyways? Basically it promotes the production of telomerase. What is that? Picture your DNA, coiled like a ladder. Telomerase is the chemical that holds together the ends of the "ladder," called telomeres, and with this extra substance, the cells become basically immortal. Now doesn't that sound appealing?! The problem is, only the cancerous cells are the immortal ones, which actually is worse. 

Telomerase also reportedly has other overlooked functions, which are still being researched.

We certainly haven't come close to curing cancer, but now we can start that process. After all, could you build a plane without the blueprints? With the knowledge of the inheritance of cancerous genes, as well as new information on telome

rase and gene control malfunctions, we now can start to assemble the plane and cure cancer.

So what do you think? Can we do it? Can we actually cure cancer? Well, that is up to one of us. Maybe one of our peers will do it. Or maybe their research will help a future generation cure cancer. Who knows? Maybe it will be you! Are you up to the challenge?

God Bless America

Washington Post: 40th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade

As pointed out by the Washington Post, we now near the fortieth anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade trial. This trial legalized abortion, and yet the nation still seems divided as to what defines a new life. The Post also reports through polling that less and less people are able to connect the trial with abortion. This has a twofold statement. First of all, people are becoming less and less aware of the political situation. Secondly, it seems to imply that they simply don't care.
One interesting fact stated that more than half of Catholics support the ruling, despite the insistency of the Church in its stance on preserving life. The author does, however report that most people who attend religious services weekly do oppose the court's ruling.
What have we become, where distinct life forms are being killed? Pregnancy is not a disease! The solution isn't abortion, it is being responsible with your sexuality. We must stand to protect these innocent children of God.
How can the court's ruling still dictate our practices when the country is still completely undecided? And yet, it is, and now Mr. Obama is intruding further on our rights, requiring companies to provide contraceptives despite their beliefs?
How can more than half of American Catholics support abortion and still call themselves Catholics? We have to put an end to this senselessness before it ruins us. American government is separated from Church, but this does not mean it is an organization of atheists that is free to dictate and impose their wills upon those who disagree with them.
What can we do to stand up for ourselves? Ask yourself this, see if you can find an answer, and perhaps you can be the change that we need. I just ask you to think about it.
God Bless America, and so help us all

I am an avid musician, playing piano, guitar, and drums/percussion. My family owned a music store, and I was a friend of one of the best jazz musicians in Omaha and a student of another. I am an Eagle Scout, and through this program learned to love hiking, nature, woodcarving, etc. I live on an acreage around other acreages, and love to mow, trim, cut and split wood, and in general work outside (and make money from it). I have a dog, a boxador puppy who can jump over my head. I can't stand cats. The list of what I didn't do to my knee is shorter than the list of what I did to it.