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Women with high folic acid levels may impact child's risk of developing asthma

Recent Norwegian research suggests that there may be a connection between high levels of folic acid in pregnant mothers and the development of asthma in their children. However, the researchers stress that pregnant women should continue to take folic acid supplements.

10 Feb 2011

Scientists develop novel approach to detect long-distance chromosomal interactions for CAD

The discovery that a "gene desert" on chromosome 9 was a hotspot for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk was among the highlights of findings produced recently by genome-wide association studies, which compare the genomes of many people for genetic variations and have been broadly used in the past few years to study hundreds of diseases and complex traits. Gene deserts are large genomic segments devoid of genes.

10 Feb 2011

Human-worm connection research provides insight into brain development, diseases

"Man is but a worm" was the title of a famous caricature of Darwin's ideas in Victorian England. Now, 120 years later, a molecular analysis of mysterious marine creatures unexpectedly reveals our cousins as worms, indeed.

10 Feb 2011

Study unveils surprising mechanism that controls brain formation

A study from The Scripps Research Institute has unveiled a surprising mechanism that controls brain formation. The findings have implications for understanding a host of diseases, including some forms of mental retardation, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism.

10 Feb 2011

Scientists discover KCNH2 gene mutation in patients with long QT syndrome

Researchers from the Hospital Virgen de las Nieves of the University of Granada have identified the most frequent mutations in the gene KCNH2 in patients with long QT syndrome.

10 Feb 2011

Myriad Genetics' 46-gene PROLARIS molecular diagnostic test predicts prostate cancer outcome

Myriad Genetics, Inc. announced today that a study published in Lancet Oncology shows the Company's 46-gene PROLARIS™ molecular diagnostic test significantly predicts prostate cancer outcome.

10 Feb 2011

BBSRC, EMBL-EBI applaud funding allocation for European Life-science Infrastructure for Biological Information

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) welcome news that funding has been earmarked from the UK's Large Facilities Capital Fund for ELIXIR - the European Life-science Infrastructure for Biological Information - as announced today (09 February 2011).

9 Feb 2011

Men with high levels of CCP genes more likely to have fatal form of prostate cancer

A genetic pattern could predict how aggressive prostate cancer is before treatment, and whether the disease will come back in men who have already been treated, according to research published1 in the Lancet Oncology.

9 Feb 2011

Urocortin system plays central role in regulating stress responses

Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect soldiers after combat or ordinary people who have undergone harrowing experiences. Of course, feelings of anxiety are normal and even desirable - they are part of what helps us survive in a world of real threats. But no less crucial is the return to normal - the slowing of the heartbeat and relaxation of tension - after the threat has passed.

9 Feb 2011

Cancer cells emerge as ghosts from the past: Literally

Cancer is growing by the day worldwide and the cancer cells still manage to evade both the body’s defenses and medical intervention. Now an explanation to the phenomenon is provided by an Arizona State University scientist.

8 Feb 2011

Scientists use fruit flies to study how prenatal alcohol exposure causes FAS

Drinking excess alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) due to the damaging effects of alcohol on a developing baby's brain. Despite its harmful effects, pregnant mothers continue to drink alcohol - up to 3 in every 1000 babies are born with FAS, which causes intellectual disabilities, behavioural problems, growth defects and abnormal facial features.

8 Feb 2011

How cocoa in chocolate reduces risk of heart disease

In time for the chocolate-giving and chocolate-noshing fest on Valentine's Day, scientists are reporting discovery of how this treat boosts the body's production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) - the "good" form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease.

8 Feb 2011

Cancer can give important clues about nature and history of life

Despite decades of research and billions of dollars, cancer remains a major killer, with an uncanny ability to evade both the body's defenses and medical intervention. Now an Arizona State University scientist believes he has an explanation.

8 Feb 2011

Study identifies genetic variation linked with increased risk of major depression

Numerous studies have shown that the brain molecule neuropeptide Y (NPY) helps to restore calm after stressful events. A team of University of Michigan-led researchers has now found that people whose genes predispose them to produce lower levels of NPY are more responsive to negative stimuli in key brain circuits related to emotion - and are therefore less resilient in the face of stress and may be at higher risk for developing a major depressive disorder.

8 Feb 2011

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Defects in the genome are the cause of many diseases. Gene therapy - direct replacement of mutant genes by intact DNA copies - offers a means of correcting such defects. Now a research team based at the Medical Center of the University of Munich, and led by Privatdozent Dr. Carsten Rudolph, has taken a new approach that avoids DNA delivery.

8 Feb 2011

Immune system genes linked to personality traits, mental illness and suicidal behaviour

Genes linked to the immune system can affect healthy people's personality traits as well as the risk of developing mental illness and suicidal behaviour, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

8 Feb 2011

Obesity rates double worldwide

The latest research has shown that obesity is on the rise worldwide and has actually doubled since 1980. On the other hand people in the developed countries have also managed to reduce their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This comes from three new studies published online Feb. 3 in The Lancet.

7 Feb 2011

British Journal of Dermatology publishes data on DermTech's new genomic assay for melanoma

DermTech International, a biotechnology company dedicated to bringing genomic medicine to dermatologists, today announced that the discovery data on its new genomic assay for melanoma have been published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

7 Feb 2011

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

The first genome-wide study to demonstrate an inherited genetic basis for racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival linked Native American ancestry with an increased risk of relapse in young leukemia patients. The work was done by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Children's Oncology Group.

6 Feb 2011

Wood smoke may create adverse health effects in humans

With millions of people warding off winter's chill with blazing fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, scientists are raising red flags about the potential health effects of the smoke released from burning wood. Their study, published in the American Chemical Society's journal, Chemical Research in Toxicology, found that the invisible particles inhaled into the lungs from wood smoke may have several adverse health effects.

6 Feb 2011

Genes News and Research

Women with high folic acid levels may impact child's risk of developing asthma

Scientists develop novel approach to detect long-distance chromosomal interactions for CAD

Human-worm connection research provides insight into brain development, diseases

Study unveils surprising mechanism that controls brain formation

Scientists discover KCNH2 gene mutation in patients with long QT syndrome

Myriad Genetics' 46-gene PROLARIS molecular diagnostic test predicts prostate cancer outcome

BBSRC, EMBL-EBI applaud funding allocation for European Life-science Infrastructure for Biological Information

Men with high levels of CCP genes more likely to have fatal form of prostate cancer

Urocortin system plays central role in regulating stress responses

Cancer cells emerge as ghosts from the past: Literally

Scientists use fruit flies to study how prenatal alcohol exposure causes FAS

How cocoa in chocolate reduces risk of heart disease

Cancer can give important clues about nature and history of life

Study identifies genetic variation linked with increased risk of major depression

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Immune system genes linked to personality traits, mental illness and suicidal behaviour

Obesity rates double worldwide

British Journal of Dermatology publishes data on DermTech's new genomic assay for melanoma

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

Wood smoke may create adverse health effects in humans

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