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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).

IMB scientists unravel complex regulatory mechanism involved in brain development

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology in Mainz have unraveled a complex regulatory mechanism that explains how a single gene can drive the formation of brain cells. The research, published in The EMBO Journal, is an important step towards a better understanding of how the brain develops. It also harbors potential for regenerative medicine.

19 Nov 2015

Scientists identify mechanism that may help prostate cancer cells escape effects of cancer drugs

Advanced prostate cancer is a disease notoriously resistant to treatment. New research by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco sheds light on a new mode of drug resistance to emerging therapies in metastatic prostate cancer.

18 Nov 2015

Promising new treatment for sepsis on the horizon

A promising new drug for sepsis is on the horizon thanks to new funding from the British Heart Foundation, which could help take the laboratory discovery into the clinic.

18 Nov 2015

Researchers identify a mechanism that may explain association between obesity and cancer

Researchers have identified a mechanism that allows cancer cells to respond and grow rapidly when levels of sugar in the blood rise. This may help to explain why people who develop conditions in which they have chronically high sugar levels in their blood, such as obesity, also have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.

18 Nov 2015

Johns Hopkins scientists use gene-based tests to distinguish precancerous cysts from harmless cysts

In a "look-back" analysis of data stored on 130 patients with pancreatic cysts, scientists at Johns Hopkins have used gene-based tests and a fixed set of clinical criteria to more accurately distinguish precancerous cysts from those less likely to do harm. The findings may eventually help some patients in real time safely avoid surgery to remove harmless cysts.

18 Nov 2015

TSRI scientists discover first-in-class compounds that target persistent tuberculosis

Tuberculosis has been infecting humans for several millennia, making it one of the most horribly successful diseases in history. Today, it is still a major killer, responsible for some 1.5 million deaths each year.

18 Nov 2015

Researchers use large-scale computer modeling to show effects of confinement on cell macromolecules

Using large-scale computer modeling, researchers have shown the effects of confinement on macromolecules inside cells -- and taken the first steps toward simulating a living cell, a capability that could allow them to ask 'what-if' questions impossible to ask in real organisms.

17 Nov 2015

RNA-based drugs provide many advantages over CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system

In just the past few years, researchers have found a way to use a naturally occurring bacterial system known as CRISPR/Cas9 to inactivate or correct specific genes in any organism. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing activity runs continuously, though, leading to risk of additional editing at unwanted sites. Now, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Ludwig Cancer Research and Isis Pharmaceuticals demonstrate a commercially feasible way to use RNA to turn the CRISPR-Cas9 system on and off as desired -- permanently editing a gene, but only temporarily activating CRISPR-Cas9.

17 Nov 2015

Study reveals why colorectal cancer still returns in some patients after treatment

Cetuximab, marketed as Erbitux, is one of the key therapies for metastatic colorectal cancer. Yet the cancer still returns in some patients, shortening overall survival.

17 Nov 2015

MIPT researchers patent graphene biosensors that may accelerate development of novel drugs

The US Patent Office has recently published the patent application (no. US 2015/0301039), which was filed by the MIPT in May this year and is titled Biological Sensor and a Method of the Production of Biological Sensor. In Russia, this development is already protected by the patent No. 2527699 with a priority date of February 20, 2013. The key feature of the sensor is the use of a linking layer for biomolecule immobilization comprising a thin film of graphene or graphene oxide.

17 Nov 2015

MedUni Vienna researchers discover genetic cause of a rare disease

Researchers at MedUni Vienna have discovered the genetic cause of a rare disease characterized by life-threatening "liver crises" in early childhood and subsequent manifestation of neurological symptoms, such as neuropathy and ataxia (a movement disorder), when they reach school age.

15 Nov 2015

Natera's total revenues decrease 2.9% to $44.9 million in third quarter 2015

Natera, Inc., a leader in non-invasive genetic testing and the analysis of circulating cell-free DNA, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015 and provided an update on recent business progress.

From Natera 13 Nov 2015

Entirely new enzymatic process of DNA synthesis

Cleaver Scientific has supplied a UV Sterilization Cabinet to Touchlight Genetics (Hampton, UK) who had sought a sterile workspace for the preparation of their RNA and DNA samples and templates.

From Cleaver Scientific Ltd 12 Nov 2015

Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories licenses SNP probe technology from OGT

Oxford Gene Technology (OGT), The Molecular Genetics Company, has entered into a deal with Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories (BMGL), licensing the use of OGT’s proprietary single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array probe technology.

From Oxford Gene Technology 12 Nov 2015

Researchers reveal how charged gold nanoparticles influence structure of DNA and RNA

Researchers at North Carolina State University have used computational modelling to shed light on precisely how charged gold nanoparticles influence the structure of DNA and RNA - which may lead to new techniques for manipulating these genetic materials.

12 Nov 2015

Ovarian cancer patients with a history of oral contraceptive use have better outcomes

Patients who develop ovarian cancer appear to have better outcomes if they have a history of oral contraceptive use, according to a study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in the current issue of the journal BMC Cancer.

12 Nov 2015

Discovery could offer clues to how some viruses control expression of genetic material

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Michigan have produced the first image of an important human protein as it binds with ribonucleic acid (RNA), a discovery that could offer clues to how some viruses, including HIV, control expression of their genetic material.

12 Nov 2015

New research examines previously unknown secret to DNA repair

Michael Hendzel knows all too well that there is little that people can do to control the stability of their genetic code. But he hopes his latest research will help impact this elusive and crucial aspect of medicine. Published in Nature Cell Biology, this research explores a previously unknown secret to DNA repair.

12 Nov 2015

Crucial change in single DNA base predisposes children to aggressive form of cancer

Pediatric oncology researchers have pinpointed a crucial change in a single DNA base that both predisposes children to an aggressive form of the childhood cancer neuroblastoma and makes the disease progress once tumors form.

12 Nov 2015

Study shows rare HER2 missense mutations do not spread breast cancer on their own

Results of a new laboratory study by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers suggests that some rare “missense” mutations in the HER2 gene are apparently not — on their own — capable of causing breast cancer growth or spread.

12 Nov 2015

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

IMB scientists unravel complex regulatory mechanism involved in brain development

Scientists identify mechanism that may help prostate cancer cells escape effects of cancer drugs

Promising new treatment for sepsis on the horizon

Researchers identify a mechanism that may explain association between obesity and cancer

Johns Hopkins scientists use gene-based tests to distinguish precancerous cysts from harmless cysts

TSRI scientists discover first-in-class compounds that target persistent tuberculosis

Researchers use large-scale computer modeling to show effects of confinement on cell macromolecules

RNA-based drugs provide many advantages over CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system

Study reveals why colorectal cancer still returns in some patients after treatment

MIPT researchers patent graphene biosensors that may accelerate development of novel drugs

MedUni Vienna researchers discover genetic cause of a rare disease

Natera's total revenues decrease 2.9% to $44.9 million in third quarter 2015

Entirely new enzymatic process of DNA synthesis

Baylor Miraca Genetics Laboratories licenses SNP probe technology from OGT

Researchers reveal how charged gold nanoparticles influence structure of DNA and RNA

Ovarian cancer patients with a history of oral contraceptive use have better outcomes

Discovery could offer clues to how some viruses control expression of genetic material

New research examines previously unknown secret to DNA repair

Crucial change in single DNA base predisposes children to aggressive form of cancer

Study shows rare HER2 missense mutations do not spread breast cancer on their own

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

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