Evolution has enabled us to become astonishing creatures, but it may have it’s drawbacks: Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) have discovered that gene mutations that once helped humans survive may increase the possibility for diseases, including cancer.
The team of researchers from BGU’s National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev (NIBN) set out to look for mutations in the genome of the mitochondria, a part of every cell responsible for energy production that is passed exclusively from mothers to their children. The mitochondria are essential to every cell’s survival and our ability to perform the functions of living.
“Our ancestors responded to environmental changes, such as climate shift, with mutations that increased their chances of survival. But today, these same mutations predispose us toward complex diseases such as cancer,” according to researcher Dr. Dan Mishmar, a molecular biologist from the Department of Life Sciences at BGU. “Although mitochondria’s role in the emergence of new species has been investigated recently, the idea that they are responsible for our susceptibility to illness startles many.”
