Department of Education

National Capital Region

Division of City Schools
City of Manila


MANILA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Taft Ave. cor. Padre Faura St. Ermita, Manila



Effects of Bioluminescent Reporter Gene (Beta-glucuronidase) on Cancerous and
Normal Cells





Proponents:

De Guzman, Sean Tristan
Erlano, Lyanne Iris G.
Rocha, Justine N.
Varona, Maria Donnabelle B.



Introduction
I. Background of the Study

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and
are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the
blood and lymph systems. These are caused by a genetic material called oncogene that carries
the ability to induce cancer. There are differences between cancerous cells and normal cells.
First of all normal cells reproduce themselves exactly unlike cancer cells, they dont stop
reproducing and growing. Cancer cells can stop themselves from self-destructing or they may
self-destruct slowly than reproducing, thus making them immortal as some scientists say.
Cancer cells dont also obey signals because something in these cells, blocks the normal
signaling system. Lastly, is they dont stick together because they can lose molecules in their
surface, thats why they can be detached from their rightful places and scatter to other parts of
the body.

Cancer has four standard methods of treatment. First is the Cancer Surgery. It is the
oldest type of cancer therapy, and it remains an effective treatment for many types of cancer
today. It is done by removing cancerous tissues from the body. Second is the Biological
Therapy. It is a type of treatment that works with your immune system. It can help fight cancer
or help control side effects from other cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Third is the
Chemotherapy, the most common and widely used method of cancer treatment. This method
uses chemical substances, especially the treatment of cancer by cytotoxic and other drugs. This
differs from other methods because it is used as a systematic treatment which means the drugs
travel throughout the body to reach cancer cells wherever they are. Chemotherapy can also be
harmful to ones health because it also kills the normal cells particularly the ones that reproduce
fast, like cells in our hair. The last one is the Radiation Therapy which uses high energy
radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA. Radiation therapy can also damage normal
cells, therefore treatment must be carefully planned to minimize side effects.


Other researchers conducted studies of other methods for cancer treatment because of
these harmful effects that the current therapies give. One study is Firefly Light Helps Destroy
Cancer Cells; Researchers Find That the Bioluminescence Effects of Fireflies May Kill Cancer
Cells from Within which is conducted by the researches of London. The abstract of the study
shows that the bioluminescence of fireflies combined with a photosensitizing agent kills cancer
cells. Researchers of London inserted a firefly gene that activates bioluminescent light into
modified cancer cells, hoping to set off a chain of events that has a proven track record at
fighting the disease. This light source, known as Luciferin, caused the modified cancer cells to
glow much like it does with the firefly. When a photosensitizing agent was added and then
exposed to lasers or another external beam. The light triggers the production of active oxygen
species that can destroy cancer cells.

In this study, the researchers used a bioluminescent reporter gene (Beta-glucuronidase)
to see its effect on cancerous and normal cells.