Some genes remain active even after human death
By analyzing samples taken from the bodies of deceased people, an international team of scientists has shown that certain genes become more active after a person’s death. The results of the study can be used in forensic science.
Life inside comórek of the human organism centers aroundół genów (DNA), on whichóThe activation of which is influenced by many factorsóIn internal and external. In the study conducted by the scientistóin Barcelona „measured” just such genetic activity, porównn prótissue fragments taken from peopleób of the living and the dead.
Scientists wanted to know the number of transcriptions of genetic data by particles called RNA. In a nutshell, we can say that RNA is a type of ribonucleic acid, whichóry carries genetic information in the comórkach (activated – copies it).
Scientists have assumed that the activity of RNA ró¿nates in tissues taken from waspsób the living and the dead. They also wanted to study how death affects transcriptional processes in comórkach of the body. Head of research Prof. Roderic Guigó explains that until now there was no certainty that próThe postmortem papyri actually reflect what happens in the body during life – BBC website reads.
The results of the international team’s work were published in the journal „Nature Communications”.
Guigó He and his team conducted the study using RNA sequencing and poróThey have been used in theótissue cells taken from osób of the dead and living. – We expected that with the death of a person there will be a termination of gene activityów w comórkach – mówi Guigó. What surprised him, however, was what he discovered. – There is a reaction comórek on the death of an individual. We see some pathways, someóre genes, whichóre are activated, and this means that after death there is still some activity at the level of genetic transcription – explains scientist.
The reason for the activation of comórec after death is not clear. Prof. Guigó believes that the matter may be related to the cessation of blood flow, and thus to hypoxia in the body’s comórek, whichóre after the death of the organism still remain active. The research also revealed changes in the level ofóIn the activity of RNA in specific tissues and comórkach after a person’s death.
The technique could be useful in forensic investigations. Thanks to the poróIn the process of creating new próbek with the data obtained, it is possible to relatively easilyób to determine the exact date and even time of a person’s death. Prof. Guigó poresócompares his discovery to „unique genetic fingerprint. However, the scientist stresses that in order to móc use this technique for criminal cases, further studies are needed.