Scientists claim that they have found an absent link in the way cells shield themselves against cancer.

The researchers discovered how these cells lever a gene that is known as p53 and works against blocking the development of tumors sometimes.

According to the researchers, their findings have some important implications for diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The study has been published in the Journal Genes and Development February issue and it was conducted by the researchers from the University of Dundee.

It was nearly 30 years back when the p53 gene was first discovered and it plays an important role to keep body in good health as it orders the damaged cells to kill themselves or hampered their further division.

In almost half of cancers, the p53 gene either becomes inactive or gets damaged and this damage of p53 allows damaged cells to divide freely and develop cancer.

In the current study, the researchers applied a genetic trick that made zebrafish turned green when the p53 gene initiated to find the way of its regulation.

The researchers found that the gene produced sound p53 protein as well as an alternative control switch variant of this protein that is known as isofrom.