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Hitting the Target
08 October 2016

Hitting the Target

Our body is made up of a myriad of different cell types, each defined by their own specific set of proteins and roles to play. And within these categories, every individual cell has the potential to vary slightly, creating a unique and complex community. Known as cellular heterogeneity, small differences between cells make it difficult to efficiently target all the members of a given type for treatment, a problem perhaps most acute in cancer research. Pictured are cells grown in a dish, malignant (in red) and pre-malignant (in blue), all expressing a gene circuit aimed at detecting cancer. Here this means that the cells have been transformed with an artificial set of genes which become active if certain cancer-related proteins are present, eventually producing a protein with green fluorescence. Variation between individual cells affects the gene circuit’s response, creating a kaleidoscope of colours and a host of complications for researchers.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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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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