Cellular memory modules: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:38, 20 April 2023

Revision as of 01:25, 24 April 2023

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=== Synthetic Memory Devices ===

Cellular memory modules are extremely beneficial to [[Synthetic biology|synthetic biologists]] as they are a form of transcriptional memory. Transcription is a well-understood biological process and completes a large amount of the cell’s information processing. Due to this, synthetic biologists can develop synthetic memory devices used in experiments that increase our understanding of cellular processes. These devices can record stimulus exposure, maintain [[gene expression]], and identify cell populations that respond to specific events along with tracking their progression throughout the response. This information can carry into disease research because if an event response correlates with future cell behavior, this can give scientists a greater understanding of diseases resulting from cellular inheritance like [[cancer]].<ref name="Burrill-2010">{{Cite journal |last=Burrill |first=Devin R. |last2=Silver |first2=Pamela A. |date=2010-01-08 |title=Making Cellular Memories |url=https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(09)01620-1 |journal=Cell |language=English |volume=140 |issue=1 |pages=13–18 |doi=10.1016/j.cell.2009.12.034 |issn=0092-8674 |pmc=2882105 |pmid=20085698}}</ref> . Experimenters can use these synthetic memory devices to simulate specific events like exposure to potential disease risk factors to determine their physiological effects early on. This could have life-saving implications as we could receive information we normally only obtain after decades of exposure and disease formation significantly earlier on. This research could guide public health officials and policymakers on recommendations and regulations regarding these risk factors. Additionally, memory modules can accomplish long-term maintenance of their desired protein levels by using their output as regulatory input in order to perform new functions. This allows a memory module to assist in [[gene therapy]], either curing or improving a person’s ability to fight disease.<ref name="Burrill-2010" />

=== Cancer Development ===