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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).

TrovaGene receives patent for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection

TrovaGene, Inc. a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics to facilitate personalized medicine, received notice of U.S. Patent 7,803,929 entitled "Kits for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection by analysis of cell-free pathogenic nucleic acids in urine."

13 Oct 2010

Detect-Ready MRSA assay receives first independent validation

Molecular Detection Inc. a company developing Detect-Ready assays designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, today announced that its Detect-Ready MRSA assay has received its first independent validation in a study conducted at St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust, a leading teaching hospital in the UK.

13 Oct 2010

Cancer Research UK launches programme to turn genetic revolution into better treatment for cancer patients

Cancer Research UK has launched a multimillion pound programme, alongside the Technology Strategy Board's Innovation Platform, to help turn the genetic revolution into better treatment for cancer patients.

13 Oct 2010

Gene Biodesign joins Roche NimbleGen Certified Service Provider Program

Roche NimbleGen announced today that Taipei-based genomic services provider Gene Biodesign Enterprises Co. has officially joined the Roche NimbleGen Certified Service Provider (CSP) Program.

13 Oct 2010

Commercial genetic profiling services should provide detailed information about test results: Report

Direct-to-consumer personal genetic profiling services that claim to predict people's health risks by analysing their DNA are often inconclusive and companies that sell them should provide better information about the evidence on which the results are based, says the UK Nuffield Council on Bioethics, in a new report on the ethics of so-called personalised healthcare services.

13 Oct 2010

Cellectis bioresearch establishes US subsidiary

Cellectis bioresearch, a specialist in genome customization and subsidiary of Cellectis, today announced that it has established a US subsidiary, Cellectis bioresearch Inc. Located at the Cambridge Innovation Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cellectis bioresearch Inc. will be responsible for the US-wide promotion of Cellectis bioresearch products and services.

13 Oct 2010

New evidence supports possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) has been the subject of many studies since its discovery in 2006, but conflicting reports have created an unclear picture of XMRV's role in human disease. In three recent studies published in the November 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online, the evidence supports a possible link between XMRV and prostate cancer but not other links involving chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV infection, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

13 Oct 2010

Akonni receives NIJ grant to develop HCID system for SNP identification

Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and plans to market sophisticated genetic testing devices for diagnosing complex infectious and human diseases, today announced receipt of a nearly $500,000 Phase III Grant from the National Institutes of Justice (NIJ).

13 Oct 2010

Defect in 21st amino acid leads to progressive brain atrophy: Study

A research team at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel has detected a genetic mutation resulting in a progressive disease of severe mental retardation and epilepsy beginning at infancy. The research was just published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

13 Oct 2010

QIAGEN, Abbott enter agreement to strengthen testing menus for automated in-vitro diagnostic applications

QIAGEN and Abbott today announced that they have entered into an agreement that significantly strengthens both companies' testing menus for automated in-vitro diagnostic applications in the United States and Canada. Financial terms were not disclosed.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 13 Oct 2010

Rad51 protein plays a key role in DNA protection

Cancer Research UK scientists have shed new light on the vital role that a protein plays in protecting our DNA, reveals a study published in Nature Structural and Molecular Biology today.

12 Oct 2010

Global study finds new set of genes associated with body fat distribution and obesity

Two major international studies looking at data from a quarter of a million people around the globe have found a new set of genes associated with body fat distribution and obesity. Researchers at 280 institutions worldwide, including Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, conducted the studies. The research, published in the October 10 online edition of Nature Genetics, sheds light on the biological processes involved in body fat distribution, possibly leading to new ways of treating obesity.

12 Oct 2010

Researchers develop new method to identify chemical histone modifications

Test system on Drosophila should provide the key to histone function. The genetic inherited material DNA was long viewed as the sole bearer of hereditary information. The function of its packaging proteins, the histones, was believed to be exclusively structural. Additional genetic information can be stored, however, and passed on to subsequent generations through chemical changes in the DNA or histones. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen have succeeded in creating an experimental system for testing the function of such chemical histone modifications and their influence on the organism.

12 Oct 2010

Covidien presents hernia and abdominal wall repair products at EHS Meeting

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced that its hernia and abdominal wall repair products were featured in 18 podium presentations at the 32nd International Congress of the European Hernia Society (EHS).

12 Oct 2010

Invasive plants increase risk of tick-borne disease in suburbs as well

"You don't have to go out into the woods anymore," says tick expert Brian F. Allan, PhD, who just completed a postdoctoral appointment at Washington University in St. Louis. "The deer are bringing tick-borne disease to us."

12 Oct 2010

Biologists recommend virtual institute for RNA research

A Europe-wide network of labs focusing on RNA research is needed to make the most of RNA's high potential for treating a wide range of diseases. The recommendation for this virtual research institute comes from a panel of biologists at the European Science Foundation in a report published today, 'RNA World: a new frontier in biomedical research'.

12 Oct 2010

Genta announces EMA Orphan Drug designation for tesetaxel

Genta Incorporated today announced that tesetaxel, the leading oral taxane in clinical development, has been designated as an Orphan Drug by the European Medicines Agency for gastric cancer. The drug has previously received Orphan Drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both gastric cancer and melanoma, as well as Fast Track designation by FDA for gastric cancer.

11 Oct 2010

New experimental vaccine against Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have created an experimental vaccine against beta-amyloid, the small protein that forms plaques in the brain and is believed to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

11 Oct 2010

Roche, DKFZ announce research collaboration to predict cervical cancer risk

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. and the German Cancer Research Center announced today that they have entered into a research collaboration to enable more specific prediction of a woman's risk for developing cervical cancer.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 11 Oct 2010

Scientists proves Yersinia pestis as causative agent for Black Death epidemics in European continent

The latest tests conducted by anthropologists at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have proven that the bacteria Yersinia pestis was indeed the causative agent behind the "Black Death" that raged across Europe in the Middle Ages. The cause of the epidemic has always remained highly controversial and other pathogens were often named as possible causes, in particular for the northern European regions.

11 Oct 2010