Consider biological evolution. It made us humans (and the entire amazing planet) what we are today.  It gave us oxygen to breathe, plants to eat and absorb CO2,  maybe even indirectly the magnetic field to protect us from radiation…

But plants and animals are not the only things evolving.  So are cancer cells.  Viruses. And things that do us harm.

Pancreatic cancer is caused by a ‘greasy ball’ of protein, called by scientists KRAS, which regulates cell division:

“The KRAS protein… acts as a critical molecular “on/off switch” in cells, regulating vital functions like proliferation, differentiation, and survival.  …mutated KRAS becomes permanently active, driving uncontrollable cell growth and tumor development.”

In other words, pancreatic cancer (also lung cancer, colon cancer, and other forms) occurs when mutated cancer cells are turned ‘on’ – and proliferate without stopping, eventually killing us.

Scientists decades ago thought about ways to shut down KRAS with drugs, to turn it permanently to “off.” It turned out to be difficult. KRAS has an Iron Dome outer wall made of fat that protects it against invading drugs.

Writing in the New York........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)