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Imperfect Timing
03 June 2013

Imperfect Timing

On a long journey, one wrong turn early on can send you off in completely the wrong direction, whereas a misstep near the destination might be easily rectified. Similarly, when things go awry in early development, while the body is still putting itself together, the repercussions can be severe. Tuberous sclerosis complex is a disease that causes abnormal growths around the body, and can also cause mental disabilities and seizures. It is caused by a genetic mutation in the brain that occurs early in embryonic development. Now researchers have found that the timing of this mutation dictates the intensity of the symptoms. When the mutation occurred in the brain of an 18-day-old mouse embryo (pictured), the symptoms were much less severe than for those who experienced the mutation after 12 days. This discovery might lead the way to new treatments, and shows that timing really is everything.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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