Play and help science cure cancer
You probably know about DNA. These molecules carry the instructions for all the building blocks of our cells.
DNA can be seen as our body’s blueprint.
In order to ‘use’ this blueprint, your DNA serves as templates for messenger RNA and microRNA.Â
Each messenger RNA contains the instructions for a specific building block a cell needs. MicroRNAs control the production of the building blocks from each messsenger RNA by binding to it.
In a healthy cell, there is a delicate balance between Micro RNAs and Messenger RNAs.
In lymphoma, a form of Cancer of the white blood cells, the levels of specific microRNAs are altered compared to healthy white blood cells disrupting this balance. As a result, these lymphoma cells divide in an uncontrolled way, resulting in enlarged lymph nodes.
Researchers showed that microRNA-150 production was blocked in lymphoma cells. Re-introduction of this microRNA in lymphoma cells blocked the uncontrolled growth.
However, they don’t dare to ‘play with your DNA’. So before they can think about how this can help to make a new treatment they need to fully understand how microRNA-150 works. So they need to know where the microRNA binds to the messenger RNA, and where it does not bind.
We need to find all the binding places for microRNA-150.
Computer algorithms have failed to reliably predict all possible binding places.
That is why we need you! You are far better equipped to recognise patterns and think creatively.
