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Investigating Molecular Crime Scenes: Serrine Lau's Journey into Toxicology

Serrine Lau, a leading toxicologist, explores how our bodies interact with harmful chemicals, including those found in cigarette smoke and car exhaust. Her research focuses on the genetic differences that affect individual responses to chemical exposure and the implications for disease risks. Using mouse models, Lau investigates the interplay of genes and polyphenols, aiming to understand how DNA affects our metabolism of toxins. Her findings reveal links between specific genes and increased susceptibility to kidney cancer, shedding light on the complex world of toxicogenomics and its potential in medicine.

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Investigating Molecular Crime Scenes: Serrine Lau's Journey into Toxicology

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  1. Chemical World Toxicologist Serrine Lau: Investigating Molecular Crime Scenes FINDINGS

  2. Serrine Lau is a toxin detective Lau investigates how our bodies interact with poisonous chemicals. • Toxicologists study how • People process chemicals • DNA interacts with chemicals • Genetic differences affect risk of disease from chemical exposure Question: Which toxic chemical is in cigarette smoke? FINDINGS

  3. Answer: Polyphenol OH HO Found in cigarette smoke, car exhaust, photo developing solutions, some cosmetic depigmentation creams Hydroquinone is a polyphenol that yields toxic byproducts in the body. FINDINGS

  4. Are All Environmental Chemicals Dangerous? What natural chemical given to pregnant women decreases the risk of birth defects? Answer: Folic Acid No. Even organic foods grown without pesticides are swimming in natural chemicals. FINDINGS

  5. Using a Mouse Model to Study Toxins To avoid exposing people to harmful chemicals, Lau uses rodents to study the interplay of genes and polyphenols. FINDINGS

  6. Modeling Metabolism: Chemical Travels FINDINGS

  7. Damage Report: Liver, Kidneys, Bladder FINDINGS

  8. Our DNA affects: How we metabolize polyphenols and other chemicals The function of proteins the genes encode Individual risk of contracting disease from chemical exposure DNA Differences Can Influence Risk What do toxicogeneticists study? Which functions do proteins have in processing chemicals? Can you name a gene that has been linked to kidney cancer? FINDINGS

  9. Lau Links Genes to the Crime Scene Lau is isolating genes that may increase the susceptibility of mice to chemically induced kidney cancers. Eker rats develop tumors when their kidneys metabolize toxic hydroquinone. Some humans have a similar gene, which may increase their susceptibility to kidney cancer. tumor FINDINGS

  10. Lau’s Findings • A gene directs the production of tumor suppressor protein • When this protein is lacking, cells lose an important safeguard against tumors • In some humans susceptible to kidney cancer, the tumor suppressor protein doesn’t work properly FINDINGS

  11. Research Applications What is toxicogenomics, and how can it speed the development of new medicines? FINDINGS

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