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Scientists have been researching Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia for almost a century, and they continue to discover new symptoms and reasons for both conditions. If they had some form of a model organism to investigate these illnesses, it might be simpler for them. The staff at Yale University came up with the concept of developing a plant afflicted with schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease due to a similar conception. Theoretically, yes, it is possible.
Scientists recently discovered that plants and animals share genes that, in some cases, control metabolism while, in other instances, control circadian rhythm regulation and responses to salt stress. This is the clustered mitochondria homolog (CLUH) gene in the latter and the mitochondrial Friendly Mitochondria (FMT) gene in the former.
Researchers discovered that lower gene activity causes weakness and a slowing down of bodily functions in both cases of mitochondrial FMT gene mutations in Tal’s clover, a tiny flowering plant, and the CLUH gene in a healthy mouse. This finding suggests that both types of gene mutations can cause diseases. A similar malfunction brings on neurological and mental illnesses in people.
Despite being simplistic, senior author Thomas Horvath notes that the results “suggest that there are mitochondrial mechanisms that interpret similar roles in plants and mammals.”
To produce a model organism in the future to research disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease, scientists are now trying to compile all the knowledge about the genetic similarities between plants and animals into one catalog.
It should be emphasized that scientists have long utilized the rezukhovidka as a model organism. The genome’s small size (about 157 million base pairs) makes it a practical tool for gene mapping and sequencing. Professionals use this plant to research plant developmental biology and genetics.
Even in space, rezukhovidka was grown in 1982 at the Soviet Salyut-7 station. And in January 2019, Chanyo-4, a Chinese satellite, carried its seeds to the moon’s far side. The scientists eventually set up a closed ecosystem inside the space station, where Tal’s cruciforms and potato plants would use carbon dioxide produced by silkworm larvae to produce oxygen. True, every organism perished on the first moon night because the biological container was not made to withstand such conditions.
However, many more investigations must be conducted, and numerous scientific works must be written before Tal’s gum disease is recognized as one of the significant elements in the history of the struggle against schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.
references:
https://news.yale.edu/2022/06/02/studying-schizophrenia-plants-yale-researchers-are-giving-it-shot