Natalie Weber
25 February 2019
RD2
883 Words
Biomimicry in Cancer Research
Biomimicry is the application of modeling and applying natural processes in order to help advance the modern world. In 2013 Jeffrey Karp, a biomedical engineer at the University of Massachusetts, published innovative research regarding an advancement in biomimicry; the imitation of jellyfish tentacles to sort and capture cancer cells. Karp, along with a group of MIT researchers, successfully developed a microchip that uses tiny strands of DNA to grab hold of tumor cells roaming in the bloodstream. This microchip was inspired by jellyfish which possess the ability to extend their long tentacles to reach for food. The microchip models jellyfish using strands of DNA to capture tumor cells, counting and sorting them in order to determine how well chemotherapy and/or cancer treatments are working. Medical professionals are then able to determine how resistant the tumor is or whether it is expected to appear elsewhere in the body. This jellyfish-inspired microchip is one of the multitude of advancements in cancer research due to biomimicry. A study was recently published discussing the evolution of a “zombie gene” known as LIF6 (Leukemia Inhibitory Factor) in elephants that makes them almost completely immune to cancer. Although LIF6 and the research surrounding it is relatively new, it is entirely possible that the recreation of this cell using biomimicry could be as successful as the jellyfish-inspired microchip, providing a cure for cancer.
Cancer is an aggressive and severe disease in which abnormal cells divide uncontrollably and destroy body tissue. Cancer affects millions of individuals and families worldwide. In 2018 there were nearly two million new cases of cancer diagnosis and over six hundred thousand cancer deaths in the US alone (American Cancer Society, 2018). Personally, I have lost various family members to the disease and believe my family, along with millions of others, would love nothing more than to hear that a cure has been developed for this unpredictable, unanticipated, unfair, and devastating disease. .
My paternal grandfather suffered from cancer twice in his lifetime, the latter of which was terminal. “Papa,” as I referred to him, was one of the most healthy, strong, and intelligent individuals I’ve ever known. He had always been a fitness fanatic, consistently eating healthy and exercising vigorously even throughout old age and cancer diagnosis. It came as a surprise that someone as healthy as him could have been susceptible to such a horrible disease. After his first encounter and seemingly successful recovery from cancer, he began to devote the majority of his life to researching published cancer studies and developing “anti-cancer” habits. You would think that an already healthy individual who actively attempted to combat a disease would reduce their chances of encountering it a second time. However, this was devastatingly not the outcome of my papa’s hard work and self care.
Although many types of cancer treatments have been developed in modern medicine, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, there is no established, absolute cure. In 2012, my papa’s battle against cancer and chemotherapy came to an end. The tumorous cells had spread throughout his body and targeted vital organs. While most diseases can be blamed on factors such as poor health, infections, or environment, it remains a mystery as to why such a disease would occur in such a proactive, healthy individual.
It is evident that no matter how seemingly healthy or unsusceptible an individual may seem, they are still at risk of encountering cancer. Unlike other diseases, cancer is simply a mutation of genes that can not be stopped with a healthy lifestyle or antibiotics. Large-bodied organisms have more cells that can potentially turn cancerous than small-bodied organisms, imposing an increased risk of developing cancer. However, on August 14 2018, “Cell Reports,” published an article regarding the discovery of LIF6 in elephants. LIF6 is one of the many forms of the non-functioning LIF genes present in nature. It has been observed that elephants get cancer far less than expected considering their size and its damaging effect on their cells. Further research regarding the species’ seemingly immunity to cancer revealed that elephants carry many non-functioning copies of the LIF gene, but have evolved to effectively activate one of these copies, LIF6, in order to combat tumorous cells. LIF6 acts in response to DNA damage and translocates to the mitochondria where it induces apoptosis, a biological process involving the death of cells as a controlled part of an organism’s internal functions.
Continued research of this gene could lead to a successful replication. Medical professionals would then be able to introduce LIF6 into humans via a process similar to vaccination. Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate a human’s immune system to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate infectious disease. Similarly, the introduction of LIF6 to a human immune system could result in cancer immunity. Successful biomimicry of LIF6 would allow it to activate in the human immune system and respond to DNA damage in human the same way it does in elephants; by translocating to the mitochondria of cancerous cells and inducing apoptosis.
Works Cited
Natalie's English 200 Blog 
Reviewer: Shannon Goo
Writer: Natalie Weber
RD#2
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Does not meet word count requirement.
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Also works cited should be in MLA format.
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Seems like a great solution! Cancer is such a terrible disease that unfortunately has no cure, however hopefully with this solution we are able to get closer to finding a “cure” or immunity.
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