Mice without cholesterol
2004/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
Transgenic mice without cholesterol have grown in Israel. Thanks to them, they want to investigate the behavior of cholesterol in the body.
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The modified gene is Dhcr24. In the absence of this gene encoding the enzyme needed to synthesize cholesterol, researchers have found that mice create a compound called desmosterol. Desmosterol is the precursor of cholesterol.
Transgenic mice without cholesterol at birth were smaller than normal and were also sterile. This has detected a direct relationship between cholesterol and the reproductive system.
In humans only two children without cholesterol have been seen. Because of a mutation they could not produce cholesterol and died.
![](https://elia.eus/static/elhuyar/img/elia_RGB.png)
Gai honi buruzko eduki gehiago
Elhuyarrek garatutako teknologia