Scientist meets patient with Treacher Collins Syndrome

Calcium, the main constituent of bone, turns out to play a major role in regulating the cells that orchestrate bone growth, a finding that could affect treatment for conditions caused by too much collagen deposition, such as fibrosis and excessive scarring, as well as diseases of too little bone growth, such as Treacher Collins Syndrome (TCS).
The finding by Michael Rape and his colleagues at UC Berkeley came from study of the signals that tell undifferentiated stem cells in the very early embryo to mature into bone cells. In the craniofacial disorder TCS, for example, the embryo does not form a structure called the neural crest, from which the jaws, inner ear and numerous other bones in the head and face develop.
As a result, people like Francis Smith, a University of Colorado researcher who visited Rape in his lab a month ago, require dozens of surgeries during childhood to reconstruct the face, implant hearing aids and even reconstruct the trachea to breathe normally.
Cont'd story at: news.berkeley.edu/2016/10/06/r...
Rape hopes that basic research to pinpoint the key signals that trigger proper bone growth can help those like Smith avoid such painful surgeries. One option could be the implantation of a biodegradable matrix seeded with bone cells called chondrocytes, which would then be stimulated to release collagen, the blueprint for bone growth. The new findings suggest that stimulating collagen release with calcium would also trigger proper bone growth.
Video by Roxanne Makasdjian and Stephen McNally
Music: "CGI Snake" and "Cylinder Two" by Chris Zabriskie
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[@hereandabout]

.my dad was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome on one side of his face . i adored my dad and never thought as a child there was anything wrong with him . he also was really smart . and he lived 81 years .

[@teslaandhumanity7383]

He looks so well but must have been so hard so much surgery. Glad he has a voice ❤️

[@nadirasafira3377]

everytime i found a new disease name i always wonder how does the px of these extreme diseases go through life, bcs i cant imagine how would i be if i were in that position. this kind of video actually gives me motivation to keep going as a dentistry student. wishing for the best future of medical tx!

[@tie7626]

I read his name and gasped

[@christinereed5036]

I am reading the biography of Dr. Francis Joel Smith called Wonderfully Made. His story is truly inspiring and I highly recommend it!

[@MegaVictorygirl]

Dr. Smith is an amazing violinist! He’s a shiny star.

[@h-dawg969]

& they went on to start a podcast called trigonometry with their friend Konstantin.

[@UrgeidoitNet]

amazing!

[@TheHmmer4]

True heroes of the world

[@debbie9369]

Impressive.

[@insertnamehere7583]

Leaving a comment for the algorithm

[@ashutoshshrimali2001]

King move 👑