• Question: what does lyse mean when talking about cells and multiple myeloma

    Asked by Abi to Triona on 12 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Tríona O'Connell

      Tríona O'Connell answered on 12 Nov 2014:

      Lyse means to break open. We need to burst the cell membrane in order to get the DNA or proteins within out to analyse.
      Lysing cells is very common in the study of biology, including that of multiple myeloma.
      Cells can lyse in the body, but that’s usually a sign of a serious disease, if you get haemolysis (lysis of blood cells), you’re probably pretty sick and will have to go to the doctor.

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