Tuberculosis patients under therapy with the drug combination isoniazid (INH) and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) were screened to investigate the cytogenetic effects. Results were compared with those from the patient controls (ie, tuberculosis patients before starting drug therapy) and general controls (individuals from the general population). The induction of chromosome aberrations was homogeneous and increased significantly in all the drug-exposed patients, whereas the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was increased only in one of them. These results indicated differences in the two processes: chromosome aberrations and SCEs. Patients under therapy exhibited no change in cell growth kinetics, but the mitotic index was slightly enhanced compared to patient controls. It is concluded that the drug combination of INH + PAS induces damage in lymphocyte chromosomes in vivo. Further studies should be carried out on germ cells.

It has been estimated that less than two percent of the mammalian genome encodes proteins, rest of the genome which was earlier considered as junk DNA is the treasure trove of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Many ncRNAs have now been characterized. They constitute one of the largest families of gene regulators that are found in plants and animals. They form a complex network and have key roles in diverse regulatory pathways involved in human health and disease. In this review, different types of ncRNAs, their biogenesis, structure, function and evolutionary significance is showcased.

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