Sunday, April 29, 2012

Fly Mothers and Human Mothers Share Milk Enzyme




It has been discovered that tsetse fly mothers have an enzyme in common with mammalian mothers. This enzyme is called sMase, and it has been found vital to both fly and human lactation. The delivery of this lactation for both species are very different, but this similar enzyme will make it possible to use tsetse flies in different lactation research. In humans, sMase deficiencies can cause a neurological disorder fatal for young children called Niemann-Pick disease. There are also sicknesses caused by the tsetse fly, so scientists will be able to use this enzyme to help decrease their population.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/science/tsetse-flies-and-mammals-share-a-milk-enzyme.html?_r=1&ref=science#

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