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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).

Scientists identify genetic variants that increase asthma susceptibility

An international study looking at DNA from over 26,000 people has identified several genetic variants that substantially increase susceptibility to asthma in the population. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, will help scientists to focus their efforts to develop better therapies for the illness.

23 Sep 2010

Opinions: Genetically-modified crops can improve vaccines; MDG focus on women and girls; U.S. leadership for MDGs; Boosting access to drugs; Merits of bilateral development assistance

"The U.N. estimates that diarrheal diseases kill 1.8 million people every year. … So you might take it as good news that American company Ventria Bioscience says it has hit on an improvement to existing rehydration therapies, which could mean another tool in the fight against diarrhea," according to a Wall Street Journal editorial examining the delays the company has experienced since it first sought to have its product approved by the FDA back in 2004, even "[a]fter a panel of food, medicine, immunology, child nutrition and health experts had declared its product safe."

23 Sep 2010

Scientists develop humanized mouse model to study typhoid fever

Better treatments and prevention for typhoid fever may emerge from a laboratory model that has just been developed for the disease. The model is based on transplanting human immune stem cells from umbilical cord blood into mice that are susceptible to infections.

23 Sep 2010

Diagenode releases two monoclonal antibodies to enrich 5-hmC epigenetics research

Diagenode announced today that it has released two additional 5-hmC antibodies to complement its original 5-hmC (rat) monoclonal antibody. The two new 5-hmC monoclonal antibody (mouse) and polyclonal antibody (rabbit) antibodies give researchers additional choices for enriching and analyzing 5-hmC in their methylation studies.

23 Sep 2010

Biomatrica launches DNAgard Blood and DNAstable Blood sample stabilization products

Biomatrica Inc., the leader in room temperature biological sample stabilization, today announced the release of DNAgard® Blood and DNAstable® Blood.

22 Sep 2010

MDI and Integrated Sciences enter exclusive distribution agreement for Detect-Ready MRSA assay in Australia

Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a company developing Detect-Ready™ assays designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, and Integrated Sciences Pty. Ltd. today announced that they have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA assay in Australia.

22 Sep 2010

Forensic DNA World Map Project launched

United States-based firm Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs (GTH-GA) announced the launch of the Forensic DNA World Map Project (WMP), a new component to GTH-GA's popular DNAResource.com, which monitors developments in forensic DNA policy. GTH-GA's president, Tim Schellberg, made the announcement in Lyon, France during INTERPOL's 6th International DNA User's Conference.

22 Sep 2010

Telomere length associated with higher rate of relapse and lower overall survival in aplastic anemia patients

Among patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for severe aplastic anemia (a condition in which the bone marrow is unable to produce blood cells), the length of telomeres (chromosome markers of biological aging) was not related to the response to treatment but was associated with a higher rate of relapse (return to low blood cell counts) and lower overall survival, according to a study in the September 22/29 issue of JAMA.

22 Sep 2010

$Spanish researchers confirm genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures$

Spanish researchers confirm genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures

Spanish researchers have confirmed there is a genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Although more studies are still needed, these findings will make it possible to take preventive measures.

22 Sep 2010

Physical or psychological stress before cancer treatment may sabotage therapy

Patients who experience physical or psychological stress - including rigorous exercise - one or two days before a cancer treatment might be unknowingly sabotaging their therapy, new research suggests.

22 Sep 2010

Inovio Pharmaceuticals completes enrollment for PENNVAX-B vaccine Phase I clinical study

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today the Phase I clinical study assessing Inovio's PENNVAX-B DNA vaccine delivered using its proprietary electroporation technology in a preventive setting has fully completed the enrollment of 48 healthy volunteers. The multi-center study is being conducted by Inovio's clinical collaborator, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), at several clinical sites under a protocol designated HVTN-080.

21 Sep 2010

Stanford Cancer Center announces successful treatment of 5,000th patient with CyberKnife system

When Lori Brownell's first tumor appeared − on her left carotid artery − it was surgically removed, leaving an inches-long incision to heal. It was eight years before the feeling returned to that side of her neck, and for a time, she couldn't drive because she couldn't turn her head far enough.

21 Sep 2010

Regular consumption of watercress can prevent breast cancer: Research

Watercress, the super food, is now watercress the breast cancer preventive according to a study released September 20, 2010 in The British Journal of Nutrition conducted by the Cancer Research Centre at the School of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital in the United Kingdom.

21 Sep 2010

Clemson biochemist receives grants to study DNA repair pathways

A Clemson biochemist has received grants totaling $787,000 to study how cells repair damaged DNA, which can cause cancer and genetic illnesses. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Weiguo Cao three-year funding to investigate two DNA repair pathways.

21 Sep 2010

Gene links to ovarian cancer and diagnostic delays

According to the latest research a group of genes may help predict a woman's risk of developing ovarian cancer. Studies have also shown that breast and ovarian cancer may share some of the same genetic risk factors.

20 Sep 2010

Biomarkers may help predict children at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Children who have a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes might be identified earlier by way of tell-tale genetic indicators known as biomarkers. Some of those new biomarkers might be pinpointed in research led by Nancy F. Butte and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's National Institutes of Health.

20 Sep 2010

Chronix Biomedical completes Series E financing

Chronix Biomedical today announced that it has completed a Series E financing that raised $1.8 million from existing and new investors. Chronix is developing disease-specific biomarkers based on DNA fragments that are released into the bloodstream by damaged and dying (apoptotic) cells. Chronix's serum DNA biomarkers are applicable to a wide range of cancers and other chronic diseases.

20 Sep 2010

Myrexis releases MPC-9528 cancer metabolism inhibitor preclinical study results

Myrexis, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for cancer, today announced key findings from preclinical studies of the Company's novel cancer metabolism inhibitor (CMI), MPC-9528, at the Cancer and Metabolism Pathways to the Future Symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland.

20 Sep 2010

Cellectis bioresearch, Helix Biocon collaborate to promote cGPS service in India

Cellectis bioresearch, the specialist in genome customization and subsidiary of Cellectis and Helix BioService & Consultants Pvt Ltd (Helix Biocon), today announced that they will join forces for the promotion of Cellectis bioresearch's meganuclease-based products and services in India.

20 Sep 2010

Researchers discover HIV-1 resists AZT drug

Rutgers researchers have discovered how HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, resists AZT, a drug widely used to treat AIDS. The scientists, who report their findings in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, believe their discovery helps researchers understand how important anti-AIDS treatments can fail and could help AIDS researchers develop more effective treatment for the disease.

20 Sep 2010

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists identify genetic variants that increase asthma susceptibility

Opinions: Genetically-modified crops can improve vaccines; MDG focus on women and girls; U.S. leadership for MDGs; Boosting access to drugs; Merits of bilateral development assistance

Scientists develop humanized mouse model to study typhoid fever

Diagenode releases two monoclonal antibodies to enrich 5-hmC epigenetics research

Biomatrica launches DNAgard Blood and DNAstable Blood sample stabilization products

MDI and Integrated Sciences enter exclusive distribution agreement for Detect-Ready MRSA assay in Australia

Forensic DNA World Map Project launched

Telomere length associated with higher rate of relapse and lower overall survival in aplastic anemia patients

Spanish researchers confirm genetic risk factor for osteoporosis and bone fractures

Physical or psychological stress before cancer treatment may sabotage therapy

Inovio Pharmaceuticals completes enrollment for PENNVAX-B vaccine Phase I clinical study

Stanford Cancer Center announces successful treatment of 5,000th patient with CyberKnife system

Regular consumption of watercress can prevent breast cancer: Research

Clemson biochemist receives grants to study DNA repair pathways

Gene links to ovarian cancer and diagnostic delays

Biomarkers may help predict children at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Chronix Biomedical completes Series E financing

Myrexis releases MPC-9528 cancer metabolism inhibitor preclinical study results

Cellectis bioresearch, Helix Biocon collaborate to promote cGPS service in India

Researchers discover HIV-1 resists AZT drug

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