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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Study links mutated histone protein to rare brain stem cancer in children

Most cancer treatments are blunt. In an attempt to eradicate tumors, oncologists often turn to radiation or chemotherapy, which can damage healthy tissue along with the cancerous growths.

2 Apr 2013

New research discovery in mosquitoes could lead to possible tools for controlling malaria

A surprising research discovery in mosquitoes could affect future prospects for malaria control. A team of scientists from West Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom found that the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, which was thought to be splitting into two completely new species, may actually have a more complex range of forms due to frequent inter-mating.

2 Apr 2013

Life Technologies signs distribution agreement with LGC Forensics for ParaDNA system

As the global market leader in human identification, Life Technologies Corporation announced today it signed a global exclusive agreement with LGC Forensics for the right to distribute ParaDNA, a portable rapid DNA system that determines the quality of human DNA faster and more economically than any existing method.

1 Apr 2013

Researchers focus on understanding mechanistic, physiological aspects of conflicts in living cells

Bacteria appear to speed up their evolution by positioning specific genes along the route of expected traffic jams in DNA encoding. Certain genes are in prime collision paths for the moving molecular machineries that read the DNA code, as University of Washington scientists explain in this week's edition of Nature.

30 Mar 2013

Living cells and cell fragments move in response to electric fields, scientists find

Like tiny crawling compass needles, whole living cells and cell fragments orient and move in response to electric fields - but in opposite directions, scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found. Their results, published April 8 in the journal Current Biology, could ultimately lead to new ways to heal wounds and deliver stem cell therapies.

30 Mar 2013

Mount Sinai experts to educate families on identifying signs, symptoms of ASD

The latest report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one out of 50 school-aged children has an autism spectrum disorder.

30 Mar 2013

Viral protein hijacks cellular machinery and grabs the wheel

Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a component of the herpesvirus that "hijacks" machinery inside human cells, allowing the virus to rapidly and successfully invade the nervous system upon initial exposure.

30 Mar 2013

Researchers identify HNF1B gene that can increase risk of ovarian cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center have identified a novel gene that can contribute to a woman's susceptibility for developing ovarian cancer. Researchers identified the gene, called HNF1B, through large-scale analysis of more than 16,000 women with ovarian cancer and more than 26,000 healthy women.

28 Mar 2013

New screening procedure determines animal, plant, and microbial substances in foodstuffs

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Genetic Security Research and Consulting at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a novel screening procedure that provides for highly sensitive, quantifiable analysis of animal, plant, and microbial substances present in foodstuffs.

28 Mar 2013

Inflammation and epigenetics: an interview with Dr Belkina and Dr Denis, Boston University School of Medicine

Inflammation can be thought of as taking two major forms: acute or chronic. Acute inflammation, which can be painful, usually arises quickly and resolves quickly. It accompanies bacterial infections, traumatic injury and is useful to fight infections and promote healing.

28 Mar 2013

Chromatrap chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay range added to Porvair Sciences’ portfolio of products for epigenetics

Porvair Sciences has announced the addition of the novel Chromatrap chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay range to its portfolio of products for epigenetics.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 28 Mar 2013

Researchers uncover DNA rearrangement process for sex determination in Tetrahymena

It's been more than 50 years since scientists discovered that the single-celled organism Tetrahymena thermophila has seven sexes. But in all that time, they've never known how each cell's sex, or "mating type," is determined.

28 Mar 2013

Johns Hopkins scientists identify DNA-damaging substances in food

In a laboratory study pairing food chemistry and cancer biology, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center tested the potentially harmful effect of foods and flavorings on the DNA of cells.

28 Mar 2013

Researchers shed new light on role of methylation in gene expression

Researchers at UC Davis and the University of British Columbia have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed.

28 Mar 2013

Researcher discovers genetic variations that are linked to breast cancer

Working with an international consortium conducting research on breast, ovarian and prostate cancer among 200,000 people, Professor Jacques Simard, holder of the Canada Research Chair in Oncogenetics at Laval University, was actively involved in the discovery of DNA "spelling mistakes" linked to breast cancer.

28 Mar 2013

New laboratory study shows certain protein particles multiply, spread from one cell to another

In diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's endogenous proteins accumulate in the brain, eventually leading to the death of nerve cells. These deposits, which consist of abnormally formed proteins, are supposed to migrate between interconnected areas of the brain, thereby contributing to the development of the illness.

28 Mar 2013

Study: Gene therapy can boost heart muscle function

In an animal study, researchers at the University of Washington show that it is possible to use gene therapy to boost heart muscle function. The finding suggests that it might be possible to use this approach to treat patients whose hearts have been weakened by heart attacks and other heart conditions.

27 Mar 2013

Study raises alarm over loss of individual 'genomic liberty' due to gene patents

Humans don't "own" their own genes, the cellular chemicsals that define who they are and what diseases they might be at risk for. Through more than 40,000 patents on DNA molecules, companies have essentially claimed the entire human genome for profit, report two researchers who analyzed the patents on human DNA. Their study, published March 25 in the journal Genome Medicine, raises an alarm about the loss of individual "genomic liberty."

27 Mar 2013

Trovagene introduces urine-based HPV-HR DNA test for identifying high-risk HPV strains

Trovagene, Inc., today announced the commercial availability of its urine-based HPV-HR (high-risk) assay, a molecular human papillomavirus test.

27 Mar 2013

Penn researchers develop nanotechnology-inspired technique for diagnosing Lyme disease

Early diagnosis is critical in treating Lyme disease. However, nearly one quarter of Lyme disease patients are initially misdiagnosed because currently available serological tests have poor sensitivity and specificity during the early stages of infection.

27 Mar 2013

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study links mutated histone protein to rare brain stem cancer in children

New research discovery in mosquitoes could lead to possible tools for controlling malaria

Life Technologies signs distribution agreement with LGC Forensics for ParaDNA system

Researchers focus on understanding mechanistic, physiological aspects of conflicts in living cells

Living cells and cell fragments move in response to electric fields, scientists find

Mount Sinai experts to educate families on identifying signs, symptoms of ASD

Viral protein hijacks cellular machinery and grabs the wheel

Researchers identify HNF1B gene that can increase risk of ovarian cancer

New screening procedure determines animal, plant, and microbial substances in foodstuffs

Inflammation and epigenetics: an interview with Dr Belkina and Dr Denis, Boston University School of Medicine

Chromatrap chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay range added to Porvair Sciences’ portfolio of products for epigenetics

Researchers uncover DNA rearrangement process for sex determination in Tetrahymena

Johns Hopkins scientists identify DNA-damaging substances in food

Researchers shed new light on role of methylation in gene expression

Researcher discovers genetic variations that are linked to breast cancer

New laboratory study shows certain protein particles multiply, spread from one cell to another

Study: Gene therapy can boost heart muscle function

Study raises alarm over loss of individual 'genomic liberty' due to gene patents

Trovagene introduces urine-based HPV-HR DNA test for identifying high-risk HPV strains

Penn researchers develop nanotechnology-inspired technique for diagnosing Lyme disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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