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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).

Inovio Biomedical changes corporate name to Inovio Pharmaceuticals

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in the development of new preventive and therapeutic vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has changed its corporate name to Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. by filing a Certificate of Amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 14, 2010. Inovio's trading symbol remains the same.

17 May 2010

Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences receives $9.5M grant to create research space

Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences has received a $9.5 million grant to create research space that will house a Collaborative Cluster in Genome Structure and Developmental Patterning in Health and Disease.

17 May 2010

No increase in risk of glioma or meningioma with use of mobile phones: INTERPHONE project

The International Journal of Epidemiology today published a combined data analysis from a multi national population-based case-control study of glioma and meningioma, the most common types of brain tumour. This is the first in a series of combined data analyses of head and neck tumours published as part of the internationally coordinated INTERPHONE project.

17 May 2010

HHS announces $1 billion in Recovery Act awards for construction, repair and renovation of research facilities

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced one billion dollars of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have been awarded to construct, repair and renovate scientific research laboratories and related facilities across the country. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) administered the grants, which are expected to create or sustain jobs nationwide and to help foster scientific advances that may lead to improved human health.

15 May 2010

Research sheds light on early embryogenesis, genetic disease

Chromosome 22q11 deletion syndrome (also known as DiGeorge syndrome) is the most common human chromosome deletion syndrome, having an estimated incidence of at least one in 4,000 live births.

15 May 2010

U.S. healthcare practitioners can resume use of Rotarix, says FDA

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the Food and Drug Administration has determined that U.S. healthcare practitioners can resume the use of Rotarix (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral), effective immediately. This action supersedes the FDA's recommendation from March 22, 2010 and reflects the agency's assessment that the presence of porcine circovirus type 1 in the vaccine poses no safety risk.

15 May 2010

Oxygen levels induce X chromosome inactivation in female cells: Study

Oxygen levels in the lab can permanently alter human embryonic stem (ES) cells, specifically inducing X chromosome inactivation in female cells, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Human ES cells have been routinely created and maintained at atmospheric levels of oxygen, which is about 20%. Cells in the body are usually exposed to only 1-9% oxygen.

14 May 2010

Researchers determine how cells regulate chromosome/microtubule interface

Whitehead Institute researchers have determined a key part of how cells regulate the chromosome/microtubule interface, which is central to proper chromosomal distribution during cell division.

14 May 2010

New research to improve treatment for oesophageal and upper stomach cancer

Poor diet, too much alcohol, smoking and increasing obesity could be leading to an epidemic of oesophageal and upper stomach cancer, according to a leading UK team of specialists at The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals.

14 May 2010

Chimerix commences first-in-human study of CMX157 for HIV

Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, announced the commencement of a first-in-human study of CMX157, a novel lipid conjugate of the nucleotide tenofovir with in vitro activity against both tenofovir-sensitive and tenofovir-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). CMX157 has the potential to increase efficacy and decrease toxicity as compared to tenofovir, and may enable the creation of new 'one pill, once-a-day', fixed-dose combination regimens for the treatment of HIV infection.

14 May 2010

Genta first-quarter net loss increases to $166.6 million

Genta Incorporated today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

13 May 2010

CyGene Laboratories reports heightened interest in at-home genetic testing

CyGene Laboratories Inc. today announced that it has experienced unprecedented levels of interest and requests for information following recent media coverage of Walgreens' decision to offer genetics testing kits supplied by Pathway Genomics in certain of their retail stores.

13 May 2010

Genetic Immunity formulates first topically administered nanomedicine therapeutic vaccine for HIV/AIDS

Genetic Immunity, a multi-national biopharmaceutical company developing nanomedicine vaccines today announces publication of the Company's innovative work to develop a stable liquid formulation to deliver a novel nanomedicine. Appearing in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics, the paper addresses how Genetic Immunity was able to overcome significant hurdles facing the field to successfully formulate the first topically administered nanomedicine therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, DermaVir.

13 May 2010

Researchers develop new approach to immunotherapy of cancer

Harnessing the immune system is emerging as one of the most promising new ways to fight cancer. Most cancer cells are eliminated by the immune system; however, over a lifetime, a few may escape this immune surveillance and lead to tumors and metastases. Hence a formidable opportunity has been to find ways to make the immune system recognize the tumor as a foreign body and trigger a response.

13 May 2010

Tobacco-free cigarettes may be more carcinogenic than tobacco products: Study

Using the same technique they developed to document the harmful effects of tobacco products, a team of researchers found that cigarettes made without tobacco or nicotine may be more carcinogenic because they actually induce more extensive DNA damage than tobacco products.

13 May 2010

NARSAD honours UNC's Patrick Sullivan with 2010 Distinguished Investigator Award

Patrick Sullivan, MD has received a 2010 Distinguished Investigator Award from NARSAD for a comparison of genetics in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

13 May 2010

Research sheds light on prenatal heart formation, chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome

Researchers studying the common genetic disorder chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome have identified key proteins that act together to regulate early embryonic development. One protein is essential to life; in animal studies, embryos without the protein do not survive past the first few days of gestation.

13 May 2010

CTI to conduct phase II study of pixantrone in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) today announced an agreement with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) to conduct a phase II study of pixantrone in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who have tumor progression after at least two, but not more than three, prior chemotherapy regimens.

13 May 2010

Researchers develop new technology to manage prostate cancer treatment

Researchers at Queen's University have developed a new way of performing lab tests that could improve the way doctors manage prostate cancer treatment. It will allow them to identify with unprecedented accuracy losses of a gene called PTEN that is associated with an aggressive group of prostate cancers.

13 May 2010

Bioniche third-quarter consolidated revenues increase 111% to $15.6 million

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced financial results for its Fiscal 2010 third quarter, ended March 31, 2010.

12 May 2010