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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).

Genta announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009, reduces workforce to cut payroll costs

Genta Incorporated today announced financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The Company also announced a restructuring, reduction in workforce, and re-ordering of clinical development priorities.

16 Nov 2009

Genta announces Phase 3 trial results of Genasense

Genta Incorporated today announced preliminary results from AGENDA, the Company’s Phase 3 trial of Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) Injection in patients with advanced melanoma. AGENDA is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dacarbazine (DTIC) administered with or without Genasense® in patients who have not previously received chemotherapy.

16 Nov 2009

PhotoMedex to host free seminar to fight against psoriasis with XTRAC Excimer Lasers

PhotoMedex, Inc. a leading provider of advanced dermatology, clinical skincare and medical laser products, is hosting a free seminar in Indianapolis, IN on November 17, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

Second Consumer Genetics Conference to be hosted at the Hynes Convention Center

The media spotlight will shine again on Boston from June 2nd – June 4th, 2010 as the Consumer Genetics Conference, (www.consumergeneticsconference.com), hosts its yearly conference at the Hynes Convention Center.

16 Nov 2009

Inovio Biomedical reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

Toray Industries announces award for groundbreaking research that uses DNA microarray analysis

Toray Industries, Inc. (TOKYO:3402) of Japan announces a competition award for groundbreaking research that uses DNA microarray analysis.

16 Nov 2009

Some combination drug therapies are counter-productive

Combination drug therapy has become a staple for treating many infections. For instance, doctors treat extensively drug resistant forms of tuberculosis with one drug that breaks down the pathogen's protective barriers and opens the door for another to deliver the deathblow.

16 Nov 2009

Patent number for Microfluidic Valve Mechanism received

Microfluidic Systems, a privately-held company, announced today that they received patent number 7,607,641, entitled "Microfluidic Valve Mechanism". This patent covers a broad set of claims regarding the integration of a diaphragm membrane into a rigid body of a cartridge functioning as both a fluidic seal and cover of the cartridge, and as a valve mechanism for fluidics control within the cartridge.

16 Nov 2009

Research team identifies five new gene regions that raise the risk of childhood-onset IBD

In the largest, most comprehensive genetic analysis of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), an international research team has identified five new gene regions, including one involved in a biological pathway that helps drive the painful inflammation of the digestive tract that characterizes the disease.

16 Nov 2009

Easy and affordable genetic test from Pathway Genomics

Pathway Genomics™ (www.PATHWAY.com), a privately held, venture-backed company, today announced an exclusive agreement to partner with OptumHealthSM Allies and offer the organization’s 15 million members a 20% discount on Pathway’s Health and Ancestry genetic test.

13 Nov 2009

Scientists to develop a treatment for rare genetic disorder, FOP

An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, is taking the first step in developing a treatment for a rare genetic disorder called fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), in which the body's skeletal muscles and soft connective tissue turns to bone, immobilizing patients over a lifetime with a second skeleton.

13 Nov 2009

New gene therapy may breach the armor of cancerous tumors

The seeming invincibility of cancerous tumors may be crumbling, thanks to a promising new gene therapy that eliminates the ability of certain cells to repair themselves. Researchers at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered that inactivation of a DNA repair gene called Hus1 efficiently kills cells lacking p53 -- a gene mutated in the majority of human cancers.

13 Nov 2009

New findings on human genome may be useful for developing specific AIDS drugs

The AIDS virus inserts its genetic material into the genome of the infected cell. Scientists of the German Cancer Research Center have now shown for the first time that the virus almost entirely spares particular sites in the human genetic material in this process. This finding may be useful for developing new, specific AIDS drugs.

13 Nov 2009

AvidBiotics granted U.S. and European patents concerning its DGR technology platform

AvidBiotics Corp. announced the issuance of foundational patents encompassing a completely novel mechanism for generating massive diversity within precisely targeted sites of protein-encoding DNA sequences. The technology platform is referred to as Diversity Generating Retroelements (DGR) and patents were issued in both the United States (#7,585,957) and in Europe (#1,173,995). UCLA and AvidBiotics Corp are co-assignees of the patents, and AvidBiotics holds exclusive, worldwide rights to the patents from UCLA.

13 Nov 2009

Gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight

Low birth weight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Until recently scientists had attributed this to maternal malnutrition during pregnancy. However, now it seems that genetic background may also play a major role. A research team of Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München has now demonstrated, that gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight.

12 Nov 2009

Co-founders of Signature Genomics recognized with Inland Northwest Catalyst Award

Signature Genomics, which performs diagnostic genetic testing of chromosome abnormalities in individuals with unexplained mental retardation and/or birth defects, today announced company co-founders Dr. Lisa G. Shaffer, Ph.D., and Dr. Bassem A. Bejjani, M.D. have received the 2009 Inland Northwest Catalyst Award for Innovators of the Year.

12 Nov 2009

Novel breakthrough may lead to new methods for sterilizing food and medical equipment

Got food poisoning? The cause might be bacterial spores, en extremely hardy survival form of bacteria, a nightmare for health care and the food industry and an enigma for scientists. Spore-forming bacteria, present almost everywhere in our environment, can also cause serious infectious diseases, such as tetanus, anthrax, and botulism.

12 Nov 2009

Scientists find way to disarm "undruggable" protein; discovery lays foundation for new kind of cancer therapy

Scientists have devised an innovative way to disarm a key protein considered to be "undruggable," meaning that all previous efforts to develop a drug against it have failed. Their discovery, published in the November 12 issue of Nature, lays the foundation for a new kind of therapy aimed directly at a critical human protein — one of a few thousand so-called transcription factors — that could someday be used to treat a variety of diseases, especially multiple types of cancer.

12 Nov 2009

Study: Mouse gene uncovers new strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease

A new study reveals that a previously undiscovered mouse gene reduces the two major pathological perturbations commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The research, published by Cell Press in the November 12 issue of the journal Neuron, finds that the novel gene interacts with a key cellular enzyme previously linked with AD pathology, thereby uncovering a new strategy for treating this devastating disorder.

12 Nov 2009

Researchers identify mouse gene that reduces the accumulation Alzheimer's plaques and tangles

Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) and colleagues have identified a novel mouse gene (Rps23r1) that reduces the accumulation of two toxic proteins that are major players in Alzheimer's disease: amyloid beta and tau. The amyloid and tau lowering functions of this gene were demonstrated in both human and mouse cells.

12 Nov 2009

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Genta announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009, reduces workforce to cut payroll costs

Genta announces Phase 3 trial results of Genasense

PhotoMedex to host free seminar to fight against psoriasis with XTRAC Excimer Lasers

Second Consumer Genetics Conference to be hosted at the Hynes Convention Center

Inovio Biomedical reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Toray Industries announces award for groundbreaking research that uses DNA microarray analysis

Some combination drug therapies are counter-productive

Patent number for Microfluidic Valve Mechanism received

Research team identifies five new gene regions that raise the risk of childhood-onset IBD

Easy and affordable genetic test from Pathway Genomics

Scientists to develop a treatment for rare genetic disorder, FOP

New gene therapy may breach the armor of cancerous tumors

New findings on human genome may be useful for developing specific AIDS drugs

AvidBiotics granted U.S. and European patents concerning its DGR technology platform

Gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight

Co-founders of Signature Genomics recognized with Inland Northwest Catalyst Award

Novel breakthrough may lead to new methods for sterilizing food and medical equipment

Scientists find way to disarm "undruggable" protein; discovery lays foundation for new kind of cancer therapy

Study: Mouse gene uncovers new strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease

Researchers identify mouse gene that reduces the accumulation Alzheimer's plaques and tangles

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