Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by agnosticmantis on Friday November 13, 2026 @03:14PM
(#50489022)
In mice.
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Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by derektank on Friday November 13, 2026 @03:52PM
(#50489488)
Humans have the same protein. Knock out studies in mice have historically been very informative about human biology (with some exceptions). That’s very different from drug studies, where the molecules not only have to have the same effect in the model species, but also all off target effects have to be similar. That’s a higher barrier to clear and why mice studies of pharmaceutical interventions should (and do) face higher scrutiny.
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by _s_a_m_ on Friday November 13, 2026 @04:38PM
(#50490188)
interesting, i exactly read the opposite position from biologists that the mice experiments are now very useful when it comes to applicability to humans. I guess we have every possible oppinion.
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by arijun on Friday November 13, 2026 @05:31PM
(#50490996)
The reasoning they gave seems plausible, what reasoning do your biologists give for holding the opposite position?
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by glenstein on Friday November 13, 2026 @10:27PM
(#50493500)
I don't think that any self-respecting biologist would actually make any sort of categorical dismissal of research in mice. That kind of research has been the basis of noble prize-winning advancements in immunotherapies that now positively impact cancer survival rates for humans.
I'm sure the totality of opinions from biologists is vast and complex, but there is no way that "all opinions have been expressed" is a faithful report of the state of our knowledge on biology.
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by glenstein on Friday November 13, 2026 @10:16PM
(#50493413)
The "in mice" meme needs to be retired. We share critical similarities in DNA, proteins, immune systems and immune responses that already have been the basis for impressive advances in research applicable to humans when it comes to immunotherapies.
We shouldn't overhype research done on mice but we also shouldn't reflexively dismiss it as unrelated to humans.
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by skybrian on Saturday November 14, 2026 @12:03AM
(#50494135)
There is a natural tendency to hype basic research as having human applications because perhaps that will attract funding. But most of us are reading science news without any practical use for it. It's useful to have a succinct reminder to avoid getting too excited about it.
Re:Found: A protein that drives ageing without unleashing in...
by glenstein on Saturday November 14, 2026 @02:04PM
(#50499789)
I think more people mean it and understand it in a literal sense than you seem to appreciate.