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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).

Novel multi-analyte approach to develop urine-biomarker based diagnostic assay to be presented

Predictive Biosciences today announced that Company scientists will be presenting a novel multi-analyte approach to the development of a non-invasive, urine-biomarker based diagnostic assay during the 10th Annual Meeting of the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO).

3 Dec 2009

Research study compares genetic make-up of humans and primates

In spite of their genetic similarity to humans, chimpanzees and great apes have maximum lifespans that rarely exceed 50 years. The difference, explains USC Davis School of Gerontology Professor Caleb Finch, is that as humans evolved genes that enabled them to better adjust to levels of infection and inflammation and to the high cholesterol levels of their meat rich diets.

3 Dec 2009

Novel approach to detect flaws in defense against breast cancer earns Era of Hope Scholar Award

A novel approach to detecting and targeting flaws in first line of defense against cancer has earned an Era of Hope Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of Defense for a scientist at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

2 Dec 2009

Fruit flies use same molecular mechanisms as humans for maintaining cholestrol

More importantly, according to two new studies led by a University of Utah human geneticist, fruit flies use the same molecular mechanisms as humans to help maintain proper balances of cholesterol and a key form of stored fat that contributes to obesity. The findings mean that as researchers try to learn more about the genetic and biological processes through which people regulate cholesterol and fat metabolism, the humble fruit fly, also called Drosophila, can teach humans much about themselves.

2 Dec 2009

Patient enrollment complete in Peregrine Pharmaceuticals' Cotara trial

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported completion of patient enrollment in a dose confirmation and dosimetry trial of Cotara® in patients with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the deadliest form of brain cancer. Cotara is a targeted monoclonal antibody linked to a radioisotope being developed as a potential new treatment for GBM.

2 Dec 2009

Genta to supply Ganite for new CF clinical trial

Genta Incorporated announced that the Company will supply Ganite® (gallium nitrate injection) for a new clinical trial that will be initiated in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who may develop serious infections.

2 Dec 2009

FDA approves additional intended use of Roche's cobas TaqScreen MPX Test

Roche announced today that the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved an additional intended use for its licensed nucleic acid test, to screen source plasma in pools comprised of up to 96 individual donations. The test, called the cobas® TaqScreen MPX Test for use on the cobas s 201 system, is a qualitative, in-vitro test for the simultaneous, direct detection of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 Group M RNA, HIV-1 Group O RNA , HIV-2 RNA), hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis B virus DNA in human plasma.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 2 Dec 2009

NuGEN Technologies launches its next generation Ovation RNA-Seq System

NuGEN Technologies, Inc., a pace-setter in genomic sample preparation, enters the next generation sequencing (NGS) market today with its Ovation RNA-Seq System, a revolutionary method of sample preparation that broadens research horizons with a more comprehensive representation of the transcriptome created from samples of a few hundred picograms.

2 Dec 2009

Cancer Genomic Microarray Facility selects febit's Geniom RT Analyzer to advance its biomedical research

The Cancer Genomic Microarray Facility at the Kimmel Cancer Center of the Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, selected febit's Geniom® RT Analyzer to advance its biomedical research by proceeding targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and microRNA (miRNA) analysis.

2 Dec 2009

Study identifies genetic link between vitamin D and heart disease

Previous studies have shown a link between low vitamin D status and heart disease. Now a new study shows that patients with high blood pressure who possess a gene variant that affects an enzyme critical to normal vitamin D activation are twice as likely as those without the variant to have congestive heart failure.

2 Dec 2009

MRI pioneer honored with MRC Millennium Medal

Sir Peter Mansfield, The University of Nottingham's Nobel Laureate for Physiology and Medicine, is to be recognised, once again, for his part in one of the most important breakthroughs in medical science.

2 Dec 2009

Roche's MagNA Pure 96 System for nucleic acid purification evaluated

TriCore Reference Laboratories of Albuquerque, N.M., reported at a recent user meeting results of their research collaboration with Roche Applied Science in which they evaluated Roche´s new MagNA Pure 96 System for use in nucleic acid purification. The evaluation focused on the Roche system’s ability to process specimens for pathogen testing.

1 Dec 2009

New form of pathogen becomes a healthcare challenge in Africa

Research shows how a new, more deadly strain of Salmonella emerged over an 18-month period. Becoming resistant to antibiotics, acquiring the ability to spread from person to person and losing genes along the way, the new strain has become a healthcare challenge in Africa, killing up to one in four patients.

1 Dec 2009

Phase 1 study of preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism completed

A Phase 1 study of a preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism known as electroporation – the use of electrical pulses to increase the immune responses elicited by DNA vaccines – was recently completed in New York City.

1 Dec 2009

Tripep completes phase I clinical study of its ChronVac-C hepatitis C virus DNA vaccine

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that its partner Tripep AB of Sweden has completed its phase I clinical study of its ChronVac-C hepatitis C virus DNA vaccine delivered using Inovio’s electroporation technology.

30 Nov 2009

Gentium announces financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009

Gentium S.p.A. today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

30 Nov 2009

Novel initiative to improve NMR structure determination

In structural biology, the only technique available to predict the three dimensional structure of large complex molecules in solution, such as proteins and DNA, is NMR spectroscopy. To catalyze improvements in the techniques behind these predictions, the "eNMR" project has launched a new initiative. In September's Nature Methods the project issued an invitation to the entire biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance community to participate in a large scale test of modern computing algorithms.

30 Nov 2009

Cell Therapeutics' platinum-based anti-tumor compounds demonstrate stronger anti-tumor potency

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) announced today that its new class of platinum-based anti-tumor compounds, termed bis-platinates, demonstrated a stronger anti-tumor potency and activity compared to currently available platinum-based compounds as well as the ability to overcome cisplatin-resistance in cancer cell lines.

30 Nov 2009

Scientists provide the first comprehensive picture of minimal cell

What are the bare essentials of life, the indispensable ingredients required to produce a cell that can survive on its own? Can we describe the molecular anatomy of a cell, and understand how an entire organism functions as a system? These are just some of the questions that scientists in a partnership between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Centre de Regulacio Genòmica (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain, set out to address.

28 Nov 2009

Researchers devise new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia

Researchers at Uppsala University and University Children's Hospital in Uppsala have devised powerful new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia and for prediction of how children with leukemia will respond to chemotherapy.

28 Nov 2009