Scientists have discovered that a cancer protein can trigger variety of tumours since unlike other cell growth regulators it doesn’t turn genes on or off but instead boosts the expression of genes that are already turned on.
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health in US and colleagues have discovered the mechanism which is responsible for MYC protein leading to various cancers.
The protein aids in cell activation, a process in which cells mature and divide quickly.
During an immune response, for example, white blood cells are activated to help fight infections.
If activation isn’t properly regulated, then cells can start growing out of control and result in cancer. Researchers have known that abnormally high levels of MYC can lead to cancer, but until now, no one had been able to explain how it can lead to so many different cancers.

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I ate ants and spiders as a child, says Jessie J
Singer Jessie J used to eat spiders and ants as a child, she says in her new autobiography. The 24-year-old in her autobiography Nice To Meet You — My Story also revealed about a childhood shoplifting incident where she stole a hoodie emblazoned with the mantra “It wasn’t me” from SHAGGY’s hit tune, reported the Daily Mirror.
“I used to sit by plant pots, I don’t know why. There is a picture of me about three with bright yellow hair covered in mud and eating ants and stuff. I used to eat tiny little spiders, I don’t know why. I was an odd child.”
“On the beach everyone would be making sandcastles and I’d be making a TV. And on videos I am there in the background making whale noises,” she said. — PTI

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Spider-man creator Stan Lee gets pacemaker
Spider-man creator Stan Lee, whose Marvel comic book heroes have dominated US culture for more than half a century, has been fitted with a heart pacemaker at the age of 89, he announced on Friday.
In a typically colourful statement, Lee — whose characters include the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, who teamed up in this year’s big screen blockbuster The Avengers — said he plans to live for another 90 years.
“This is a dispatch sent from your beloved Generalissimo, directly from the centre of Hollywood’s combat zone!” he said in the statement, reporting that he was recovering after having the device fitted last week.
“Now hear this! Your leader hath not deserted thee! I have had an electronic pacemaker placed near my heart to ensure that I’ll be able to lead thee for another 90 years,” he added. — AFP

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Sofia embarrassed over dress split at Emmys
Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, whose dress split from behind as she walked the red carpet during the Emmy awards, says she almost had an heart attack when she came to know about the wardrobe malfunction.
The actress says it was her boyfriend Nick Loeb, who first noticed the problem. The picture was taken by my boyfriend to tell me how bad it was, because I wouldn’t understand how bad it was and I kept walking all over the event. So he was like, ‘You have to stop! Let me show you what is going on in the back’,” Vergara said. “I almost had a heart attack and then I wanted to get it fixed very fast because I wanted to be part of the celebration of receiving (Modern Family’s outstanding comedy series) Emmy on stage.” Vergara says she was whisked away somewhere backstage where two women fixed the slit in her Juhair Murad gown. — PTI