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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).

Presentation examines role of genes behind autism disorders

Autism spectrum disorders affect nearly 1 in 88 children, with symptoms ranging from mild personality traits to severe intellectual disability and seizures. Understanding the altered genetic pathways is critical for diagnosis and treatment.

4 Feb 2013

Researchers create high-resolution map of gene regulatory elements in the brain

Future research into the underlying causes of neurological disorders such as autism, epilepsy and schizophrenia, should greatly benefit from a first-of-its-kind atlas of gene-enhancers in the cerebrum (telencephalon).

2 Feb 2013

Study shows how female steroid hormones can make changes to the breast genetic material

Melbourne scientists have discovered how female steroid hormones can make dramatic changes to the genetic material in breast cells, changes that could potentially lead to breast cancer.

2 Feb 2013

Scientists discover new evidence for role of epigenetic changes on premature aging diseases

Scientists at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain have found new evidence for the role of epigenetic changes (those heritable alterations in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in DNA sequence) on premature aging diseases.

1 Feb 2013

Scientists identify specific p53 pocket that can be targeted by cancer-fighting drugs

UC Irvine biologists, chemists and computer scientists have identified an elusive pocket on the surface of the p53 protein that can be targeted by cancer-fighting drugs. The finding heralds a new treatment approach, as mutant forms of this protein are implicated in nearly 40 percent of diagnosed cases of cancer, which kills more than half a million Americans each year.

1 Feb 2013

Weill Cornell and NewYork-Presbyterian create pioneering Institute for Precision Medicine

Recognizing that medicine is not "one size fits all," Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital have created the pioneering Institute for Precision Medicine at Weill Cornell and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. This new, cutting-edge translational medicine research hub will explore the new frontier of precision medicine, offering optimal targeted, individualized treatment based on each patient's genetic profile.

1 Feb 2013

Notch protein responsible for activating GATA2 gene to generate hematopoietic stem cells

Researchers from the group on stem cells and cancer at IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) have deciphered one of the gene regulation circuits which would make it possible to generate hematopoietic blood cells, i.e. blood tissue stem cells.

1 Feb 2013

Three Robert Wood Johnson members win Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Awards

Three members of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School faculty have been named 2013 recipients of the prestigious Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Awards, highlighting their expertise as exceptional educators or researchers.

1 Feb 2013

Study demonstrates new fragile genomic sites responsible for chromosomal alterations in tumors

Cancer arises from the accumulation of mutations and structural changes in chromosomes, which in some cases give rise to combinations that favour the growth or expansion of the disease. In this context, chromosomes tend to lose or duplicate entire regions, although, the mechanisms that initiate these chromosomal abnormalities are not fully understood.

1 Feb 2013

Study expands and deepens biological and genetic links between CVD and schizophrenia

A new study, to be published in the Feb. 7, 2013 issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, expands and deepens the biological and genetic links between cardiovascular disease and schizophrenia. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature death among schizophrenia patients, who die from heart and blood vessel disorders at a rate double that of persons without the mental disorder.

1 Feb 2013

Congenital sight impairment cure grows closer

A cure for congenital sight impairment caused by lens damage is closer following research by scientists at Monash University.

31 Jan 2013

C. albicans capable of sexual reproduction

Like many fungi and one-celled organisms, Candida albicans, a normally harmless microbe that can turn deadly, has long been thought to reproduce without sexual mating. But a new study by Professor Judith Berman and colleagues at the University of Minnesota and Tel Aviv University shows that C. albicans is capable of sexual reproduction.

31 Jan 2013

Finding medical applications for unused inventions: an interview with Gabriel Mecklenburg, Co-Founder of Marblar

Marblar is gamifying the process of technology transfer. We post technology on our platform in the form of a challenge, and the Marblar community then competes to uncover new problems these technologies could solve – thereby discovering new market applications for these technologies.

31 Jan 2013

Scientists review damage-control in metabolism

In this week's issue of the prestigious journal Nature Chemical Biology, scientists Carole Linster (University of Luxembourg), Emile Van Schaftingen (Louvain University), and Andrew D. Hanson (University of Florida, Gainesville) review an important, but so far neglected, part of metabolism, namely metabolite damage-control.

31 Jan 2013

Researchers identify mechanism by which vancomycin resistance spreads between bacteria

Worldwide, many strains of the bacterium Staphyloccocus aureus, commonly known as staph infections, are already resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin. But as bacteria are becoming resistant to this once powerful antidote, S. aureus has moved one step closer to becoming an unstoppable killer.

31 Jan 2013

Silibinin kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation and protects against cancer

A pair of University of Colorado Cancer Center studies published this month show that the milk thistle extract, silibinin, kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation and protects against damage by UVB radiation - thus protecting against UV-induced skin cancer and photo-aging.

31 Jan 2013

Clarient adopts QIAGEN’s therascreen KRAS test to diagnose colorectal cancer

QIAGEN N.V. today announced that Clarient - a GE Healthcare Company and leading provider of cancer laboratory testing services in the United States - has adopted the use of the therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit (therascreen KRAS test) as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of Erbitux (cetuximab) as a treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 30 Jan 2013

Molecular genetics expert wins Wolf Prize for his contribution to humanity

Joachim Messing, among the world's top experts in molecular genetics, became famous for developing a genetic engineering technique used in laboratories to create plants that have produced disease-resistant crops considered vital to feeding the world's population.

30 Jan 2013

Insight into reasons why precocious puberty occurs in females

New research from Oregon Health & Science University has provided significant insight into the reasons why early-onset puberty occurs in females.

30 Jan 2013

FBH1 gene helps turn up the effect of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer patients. However, many patients suffer from serious side-effects and a large proportion does not respond to the treatment. Researchers from the Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) and Center for Healthy Aging, University of Copenhagen, now show that the gene FBH1 helps turn up the effect of chemotherapy.

30 Jan 2013

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Presentation examines role of genes behind autism disorders

Researchers create high-resolution map of gene regulatory elements in the brain

Study shows how female steroid hormones can make changes to the breast genetic material

Scientists discover new evidence for role of epigenetic changes on premature aging diseases

Scientists identify specific p53 pocket that can be targeted by cancer-fighting drugs

Weill Cornell and NewYork-Presbyterian create pioneering Institute for Precision Medicine

Notch protein responsible for activating GATA2 gene to generate hematopoietic stem cells

Three Robert Wood Johnson members win Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Awards

Study demonstrates new fragile genomic sites responsible for chromosomal alterations in tumors

Study expands and deepens biological and genetic links between CVD and schizophrenia

Congenital sight impairment cure grows closer

C. albicans capable of sexual reproduction

Finding medical applications for unused inventions: an interview with Gabriel Mecklenburg, Co-Founder of Marblar

Scientists review damage-control in metabolism

Researchers identify mechanism by which vancomycin resistance spreads between bacteria

Silibinin kills skin cells mutated by UVA radiation and protects against cancer

Clarient adopts QIAGEN’s therascreen KRAS test to diagnose colorectal cancer

Molecular genetics expert wins Wolf Prize for his contribution to humanity

Insight into reasons why precocious puberty occurs in females

FBH1 gene helps turn up the effect of chemotherapy

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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