1.   According to the theory, the virus inserts its deadly genetic material into the chromosomes of healthy prostate cells.

2.   Casodex blocks the receptor on prostate cells from using testosterone as a growth stimulus.

3.   For prostate cancer, for example, scientists might add a gene that would kill prostate cells on command.

4.   It would activate the suicide gene, killing his prostate cells, but leaving every other cell of his body untouched.

5.   Once triggered, prostate cancer cells, like healthy prostate cells, require male sex hormones to survive.

6.   Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in Baltimore and a Californian biotech company have created a mutant strain of the common cold virus that attacks only prostate cells.

7.   The marker is part of a gene that instructs prostate cells to make a protein known as the androgen receptor.

8.   The receptor, when male hormones attach to it, stimulates the prostate cells to grow and divide.

9.   They reason that a gene expressed in a heart or prostate cell must be important, otherwise it would be dormant.

10.   The new genetic test looks for a specific string of molecules active in prostate cells.