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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).

Abbott receives CE-Mark for new qualitative PCR-based HIV-1 test

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that it has received CE-Mark for a new qualitative PCR-based HIV-1 test that produces highly accurate results from dried blood spot and plasma specimens. The new assay is a long-awaited diagnostic tool for health officials in African nations and other resource-limited areas to detect HIV-1 infected infants at early stages and begin treatment when success is more likely.

21 Mar 2011

Sarsia Seed provides follow-up funding for APIM Therapeutics

APIM Therapeutics AS, an early-stage Norwegian therapeutic company, is pursuing a novel drug approach with the ability to potentiate the action of a wide range of chemotherapeutic drugs currently used to treat several types of cancer.

21 Mar 2011

WaferGen, NuGEN collaborate to develop integrated workflows for gene expression profiling and target enrichment

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, and NuGEN Technologies, Inc., a leader in innovative genomic samples preparation, today announced they will co-develop and co-market simple, seamlessly integrated workflows for gene expression profiling and target enrichment to enable researchers to more easily achieve high-throughput, high-density real-time PCR with small, degraded, and hard-to-replace clinical specimens, such as formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue (FFPE).

21 Mar 2011

Life Technologies enters clinical trials for DNA SBT platform for analysis of Human Leukocyte Antigen system

Life Technologies Corporation today announced that it is the first life science tools provider entering clinical trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of their DNA sequence-based typing (SBT) platform for analysis of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system. Submission for 510(k) clearance of this SBT platform will follow completion of the clinical trials, which is anticipated this summer.

21 Mar 2011

Researchers discover 'broad spectrum' cancer suppressor gene

Portuguese researchers have discovered a "broad spectrum" cancer suppressor gene - called LRP1B - which acts by removing proteins crucial for cancer development from the tumour environment. The fact that LRP1B does not act on the tumour itself (in this study thyroid tumours) but, instead, on molecules which are known to be important to many different cancers is what makes it so interesting.

21 Mar 2011

$CTI commences pixantrone PIX-R trial in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma$

CTI commences pixantrone PIX-R trial in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has initiated its randomized pivotal trial of pixantrone for the treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ("DLBCL").

21 Mar 2011

BUSM professors highlight increased risks of naturally occurring infections

Paul Duprex, PhD, and Elke M-hlberger, PhD, both associate professors of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine, recently co-authored a commentary about viruses for Microbiology Today, the monthly publication of the Society of General Microbiology, which is the largest microbiological society in Europe.

19 Mar 2011

Researchers discover process that regulates DNA maintenance

DNA contains all of the genetic instructions that make us who we are, and maintaining the integrity of our DNA over the course of a lifetime is a critical, yet complex part of the aging process.

19 Mar 2011

Commentary on the global challenges of emerging viral infections

Paul Duprex, PhD, and Elke Mühlberger, PhD, both associate professors of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), recently co-authored a commentary about viruses for Microbiology Today, the monthly publication of the Society of General Microbiology, which is the largest microbiological society in Europe. The article focuses on the history of viruses and vaccines and gives their perspective on what is necessary to evolve to the next era of virology research.

18 Mar 2011

RainDance Technologies launches ASDSeq and XSeq Research Screening Panels

RainDance Technologies, Inc., today announced the commercial availability of the ASDSeq™ and XSeq™ Research Screening Panels. Developed in collaboration with Emory University and Greenwood Genetic Center, the two comprehensive panels enable researchers to simultaneously interrogate key genes known to be linked to X-chromosome disorders and syndromic forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using next-generation sequencing.

18 Mar 2011

Medical expert offers tips to protect from nuclear radiation exposure

As the world watches the nuclear tragedies unfold in Japan, fears are rising regarding the potential for radioactive fallout to travel to the United States, particularly the West Coast. Could this really happen and can we protect ourselves from a nuclear event? The general answer to both questions is yes, according to Medical Expert Dr. Isaac Eliaz.

18 Mar 2011

New tool for studying microRNA expression in zebrafish

A new research tool for studying microRNA expression in zebrafish will help researchers study the effects of miRNA on the early development of this model organism and better understand developmental and disease mechanisms in humans, as described in Zebrafish, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

18 Mar 2011

Modified mRNA raises hope for safe and effective cancer drugs

Modern gene therapies raise hopes of combating many diseases until now considered terminal. Nowadays, however, the methods are expensive and carry a risk of severe complications.

18 Mar 2011

Study: Stem cells may open door to new tools for colorectal cancer detection, treatment

Colorectal cancer cells trigger a set of genes similar to those found in intestinal stem cells, scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine have found.

18 Mar 2011

Individualized dentritic cell vaccine may increase survival time in patients with glioblastoma

A dendritic cell vaccine personalized for each individual based on the patient's own tumor may increase median survival time in those with a deadly form of brain cancer called glioblastoma, an early phase study at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found.

18 Mar 2011

Vitamin A may play key role in sperm cell formation and development of central nervous system

In a recently-published study mapping the structure and function of the so-called "orphan" nuclear receptor TR4, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) investigators suggest that Vitamin A may play a more direct role than was previously known in certain physiological functions including sperm cell formation and the development of the central nervous system.

18 Mar 2011

Quest Diagnostics ColoVantage molecular colorectal cancer detection test receives New York State approval

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading cancer diagnostics company, today announced that its ColoVantage test has been approved by New York State's Department of Health for testing on samples of patients in the state. It is believed to be the first molecular colorectal cancer detection method that employs a venal blood specimen to be approved by the state.

From Quest Diagnostics 18 Mar 2011

CBAI to operate its own business strategies

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, said today the focus of the Company on a go forward basis is to operate entirely off its own cash flow.

17 Mar 2011

Inovio signs agreement with OncoSec to sell non-DNA cancer vaccine technology

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has signed an agreement with OncoSec Medical Inc. providing for the sale to OncoSec of certain non-DNA vaccine technology and intellectual property relating to electroporation technology useful for electrochemical and cytokine based immune therapies for treating solid tumors.

17 Mar 2011

New lozenge clinical trial for dry mouth treatment

A clinical trial using an all-natural lozenge to treat dry mouth, a condition that impacts 40 percent of American adults, is under way at Georgia Health Sciences University College of Dental Medicine.

17 Mar 2011