Genetic hypothesis on organ distribution

1996/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

The early influence of genes is responsible for the asymmetric distribution of living organs. This hypothesis has been supported at least by a group of American researchers studying the location of organs of various animals. In recent years there has been much progress in the knowledge of gene sequencing and, along this path, this group believes that it will come to affirm many theories that until now were impossible to stop. They started from the following question: Why is the heart of the living on the right? These are the results obtained.

It seems that the activity of the gene named Shh occurs in the embryo and in the first 48 hours of life. This gene is located to the right of the embryo and, consequently, in that area the activation of other genes and proteins predominates. Therefore, it is only the influence of biochemical processes that occur asymmetrically that the heart of living beings is on the right. An extrapolation suggests that the asymmetric distribution of the organs of living beings will thus appear.