How genes work - Classical subject, physiology, underpins new biomedical advances

[Guest guest]

How genes work - Classical subject, physiology, underpins new biomedical

advances

17 Mar 2005 Medical News Today

The ancient art of physiology -- the study of how the body works and how to

repair it when things go wrong--has seen an upsurge in importance as it now

plays a key role in the understanding of how genes work to support the human

body.

At his inaugural lecture on Thursday (17 March), University of Edinburgh

Professor J. Shipston will say that our ability to isolate, manipulate

and visualise gene products in cells and whole animals has revolutionized the

understanding of the body and its functions. This in turn has caused a rise in

demand for scientists with physiological training, to fully exploit these

advances.

He will say: " This classical subject was described by Aristotle as the study of

the whole organism and its component parts. It is now at the forefront of

current biomedical advances as it seeks to understand how the catalogue of our

genes, the human genome, is exploited to generate and maintain the human body. "

J. Shipston, Professor of Physiology and Director of the Centre for

Integrative Physiology at the University, will discuss the importance of

communication within and between cells of the body, in order to keep its 30kg of

cells warm, fed and able to reproduce in 20 litres of water. To achieve this,

cells need to overcome a major paradox -- the transfer of information, nutrients

and waste products across fatty cell membranes which are designed to limit the

transfer of these important molecules in order to keep the cell's environment

separate from that of its neighbours.

He will say that art influences his approach to science, as by visualising the

body's life processes, such as cells releasing hormones or single molecules in

motion, he is able to obtain new insights into the basic processes which make

the body work.

Physiology and the Art of Communication by Professor Shipston, College

of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh: Thursday, 17 March

2005 in the Anatomy Lecture Theatre, Medical School, Teviot Place at 5.15pm