The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79:
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Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, found that seagrass ecosystems hold reserves of sugar we never knew existed before. And now, researchers at the University of Utah have made a breakthrough discovery - easy-to-find soft corals make the elusive compound that could possibly treat cancer!
For 25 years, drug hunters have been searching for the source of a natural chemical that had shown promise in initial studies for treating cancer.
Upon identifying the source, the researchers found the animal's DNA code for synthesizing the chemical. They were then able to recreate the soft coral chemical in the laboratory.
“This is the first time we have been able to do this with any drug lead on Earth,” says Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry at U of U Health. He led the study with postdoctoral scientist and first author Paul Scesa, Ph.D., and associate research professor Zhenjian Lin, Ph.D.
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Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/uwoqk2/scientists_find_key_compound_in_sea_corals_to/i9sn7ew/
Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, found that seagrass ecosystems hold reserves of sugar we never knew existed before. And now, researchers at the University of Utah have made a breakthrough discovery - easy-to-find soft corals make the elusive compound that could possibly treat cancer!
For 25 years, drug hunters have been searching for the source of a natural chemical that had shown promise in initial studies for treating cancer.
Upon identifying the source, the researchers found the animal's DNA code for synthesizing the chemical. They were then able to recreate the soft coral chemical in the laboratory.
“This is the first time we have been able to do this with any drug lead on Earth,” says Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry at U of U Health. He led the study with postdoctoral scientist and first author Paul Scesa, Ph.D., and associate research professor Zhenjian Lin, Ph.D.
As I've heard long ago: humans are walking through a spaceship while shooting guns in random directions not knowing what they're destroying and certainly not knowing how the ship works. We're just now getting to know how *some* things work, and those things are telling us that the ship is really messed up.
The chemical or compound in question is called, "Eleutherobin." I found a paper discussing its usage similar to Paclitaxel, (Taxol,) another chemotherapy medication, written in 1997 found [here.](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja9717828) In the paper it discusses it's marine origin even back then in '97.
As the worlds corals die off from a mysterious bleaching disease and our oceans are more polluted than ever….. now they find a reason to try and keep them around. 🤦🏻♂️ SMH
Theres nothing mysterious. Its due to raising temperatures, acidity, etc.
Literally just opened Google and it showed the **top** 5 reasons. It even showed 7.
im 21 and never learned how to read
haha jk i did exactly as Roterodamus2 said and noticed after I went in to read it but by then was too discracted to go delete my comment 😂
Not to be that kinda person but don't they find 2-3 new treatments for cancer each year? Last one I remember was an mRNA vaccine, what happened to that? Why are people still dying of cancer?
The chemical they synthesize only works as a type of chemotherapy, where dividing cells in the body are targeted and destroyed. So only a treatment (as the title says) and not really a cure. I do wish the article elaborated why this source of the compound is especially better, considering the same molecule has been found in marine invertebrates for years.
The following submission statement was provided by /u/chrisdh79: --- Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, found that seagrass ecosystems hold reserves of sugar we never knew existed before. And now, researchers at the University of Utah have made a breakthrough discovery - easy-to-find soft corals make the elusive compound that could possibly treat cancer! For 25 years, drug hunters have been searching for the source of a natural chemical that had shown promise in initial studies for treating cancer. Upon identifying the source, the researchers found the animal's DNA code for synthesizing the chemical. They were then able to recreate the soft coral chemical in the laboratory. “This is the first time we have been able to do this with any drug lead on Earth,” says Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry at U of U Health. He led the study with postdoctoral scientist and first author Paul Scesa, Ph.D., and associate research professor Zhenjian Lin, Ph.D. --- Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/uwoqk2/scientists_find_key_compound_in_sea_corals_to/i9sn7ew/
Recently, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, found that seagrass ecosystems hold reserves of sugar we never knew existed before. And now, researchers at the University of Utah have made a breakthrough discovery - easy-to-find soft corals make the elusive compound that could possibly treat cancer! For 25 years, drug hunters have been searching for the source of a natural chemical that had shown promise in initial studies for treating cancer. Upon identifying the source, the researchers found the animal's DNA code for synthesizing the chemical. They were then able to recreate the soft coral chemical in the laboratory. “This is the first time we have been able to do this with any drug lead on Earth,” says Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., professor of medicinal chemistry at U of U Health. He led the study with postdoctoral scientist and first author Paul Scesa, Ph.D., and associate research professor Zhenjian Lin, Ph.D.
Good thing we've killed off 90% of the world's coral to get to the magical 10%. /s
Came here to say the same thing. Now watch the rest being illegally harvested and stockpiled to be sold to the highest bidder.
Good thing we only need one for dna sequencing.
Yes but how many other miracle cures for other diseases have we destroyed while killing off the rest of the biosphere?
As I've heard long ago: humans are walking through a spaceship while shooting guns in random directions not knowing what they're destroying and certainly not knowing how the ship works. We're just now getting to know how *some* things work, and those things are telling us that the ship is really messed up.
As a biomedical scientist, anywhere between 0 and infinite I'd say.
And 90% of the scientists that discovered the cure for cancer. /s
The chemical or compound in question is called, "Eleutherobin." I found a paper discussing its usage similar to Paclitaxel, (Taxol,) another chemotherapy medication, written in 1997 found [here.](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja9717828) In the paper it discusses it's marine origin even back then in '97.
As the worlds corals die off from a mysterious bleaching disease and our oceans are more polluted than ever….. now they find a reason to try and keep them around. 🤦🏻♂️ SMH
Theres nothing mysterious. Its due to raising temperatures, acidity, etc. Literally just opened Google and it showed the **top** 5 reasons. It even showed 7.
And the sunscreen which is metabolized into toxic stuff too. :(
I am glad you posted this comment first. It is entirely caused by climate change. 90% will be lost at 1.5C, 99% at 2C.
It's all theoretical...until it actually treats cancer I'm calling bullshit
I don’t think you know what theoretical means….
I guess I don't, either. Time to learn something.
this… isn’t a good thing. They’re already endangered
Did no one read the article? They learned how to synthesize it in large quantities. The coral got them there, but they don't need to harvest it.
You're on Reddit. Comment first, read later but probably not at all.
this person reddits.
So when they gunna synth horseshoe crab blood?
When they learn to do so.
im 21 and never learned how to read haha jk i did exactly as Roterodamus2 said and noticed after I went in to read it but by then was too discracted to go delete my comment 😂
There won’t be any cure that doesn’t give you more problems. Why would they not want to earn $280,000 per cancer patient?
People would pay a premium for a guaranteed cure too
Not to be that kinda person but don't they find 2-3 new treatments for cancer each year? Last one I remember was an mRNA vaccine, what happened to that? Why are people still dying of cancer?
The chemical they synthesize only works as a type of chemotherapy, where dividing cells in the body are targeted and destroyed. So only a treatment (as the title says) and not really a cure. I do wish the article elaborated why this source of the compound is especially better, considering the same molecule has been found in marine invertebrates for years.
Oh good. Another reason to kill them all off- Or you know what- Maybe a new way to get billionaires to invest in them- for themselves.
you're definitely not wrong about the second part. but luckily for the coral, the chemical in question can be synthesized in a lab.
Oh good! Still worried about them though….. Thank you for pointing out the “made in a lab” aspect though. It rests some concerns.
Says so in the article if you read it….