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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).

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

Autopsies of nearly every patient with the lethal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), show pathologists telltale clumps of a protein called TDP-43. Now, working with mouse and human cells, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have discovered the normal role of TDP-43 in cells and why its abnormal accumulation may cause disease.

7 Aug 2015

Investigational topical drug shows promise in patients with early stage cutaneous T cell lymphoma

Results of a phase one trial show that an investigational topical drug, resiquimod gel, causes regression of both treated and untreated tumor lesions and may completely remove cancerous cells from both sites in patients with early stage cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) - a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin.

7 Aug 2015

USC researchers develop yeast model to study gene mutation that disrupts DNA duplication

Researchers at USC have developed a yeast model to study a gene mutation that disrupts the duplication of DNA, causing massive damage to a cell's chromosomes, while somehow allowing the cell to continue dividing.

7 Aug 2015

FAU researchers identify endogenous process that controls reproduction of cardiac muscle cells

Heart failure is the most common cause of death worldwide. The main reason for this is that damage to the human heart causes cardiac muscle cells to die, which in turn leads to reduced heart function and death. However, this is not the case for zebrafish or amphibians. If their hearts become damaged and cardiac muscle cells die, their remaining cardiac muscle cells can reproduce, allowing the heart to regenerate.

7 Aug 2015

Newcastle University awarded £5M for drug development research

Cancer Research UK's Drug Discovery Committee has today (Friday) awarded Newcastle University's Northern Institute of Cancer Research £5M to bring more cancer drugs to clinical trials.

7 Aug 2015

Researchers develop new technology to track DNA-protein binding in live cells

Researchers have developed a new technology that precisely marks where groups of regulatory proteins called transcription factors bind DNA in the nuclei of live cells.

7 Aug 2015

WPI awarded NIH grant to explore ways to turn genetic tables against cancer

Taking aim at the fundamental biology of cancer cells, the National Institutes of Health has awarded $747,000 to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a three-year research project to explore the molecular mechanisms associated with the genetic mutations and chromosome instability observed in all cancer cells.

7 Aug 2015

Celsion reports updated results from HEAT Study of ThermoDox in patients with primary liver cancer

Celsion Corporation, an oncology drug development company, today announced updated results from its retrospective analysis of the Company's 701-patient HEAT Study of ThermoDox, Celsion's proprietary heat-activated liposomal encapsulation of doxorubicin in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in primary liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

6 Aug 2015

Discovery may lead to new ways to diagnose, treat brain cancer

Researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute have uncovered a link between the genomes of cells originating in the neural crest and development of tumors — a discovery that could lead to new ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

6 Aug 2015

Penn researchers identify major genetic factor that keeps moles in non-cancerous, no-growth state

Moles are benign tumors found on the skin of almost every adult. Scientists have known for years that a mutation in the BRAF gene makes them start growing, but until now haven't understood why they stop. Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a major genetic factor that keeps moles in their usual non-cancerous, no-growth state.

6 Aug 2015

Certain genes exposed to harsh environmental factors can increase diabetes risk

Arsenic, which can be present in ground water, modifies an enzyme that alters the secretion of insulin in the pancreas. Physicians, usually, show type II diabetes as a consequence of an exaggerated food intake and lack of exercise; however, there are about 50 genes that cause changes in the DNA, known as polymorphisms, that when combined with harsh environmental factors are at increased risk of developing the disease, mentioned PhD Marta Ostrosky Wegman, director of the Institute for Biomedical Research the National University of Mexico (UNAM).

5 Aug 2015

Findings by Joslin scientists may lead to early detection, treatment of complications in type 1 diabetes

Joslin scientists have advanced understanding of how the cellular repair process is impaired in type 1 diabetes, which can cause cell death and lead to complications. The findings appear in the August issue of Cell Metabolism.

5 Aug 2015

Rice University scientists identify genetic mechanism that allows bacteria to resist antibiotics

Rice University scientists are developing strategies to keep germs from evolving resistance to antibiotics by heading them off at the pass.

5 Aug 2015

New partnership aims to provide high-tech healthcare learning opportunities for pediatric patients

A new partnership between The University of Texas at Arlington Libraries and Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth will mean new high-tech healthcare learning opportunities for pediatric patients.

5 Aug 2015

University of Liverpool study finds that HIV can continue to grow in patients despite treatment

HIV can continue to grow in patients who are thought to be responding well to treatment, according to research by the University of Liverpool.

5 Aug 2015

Baseline HBsAg, platelet count predict spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance

Hepatitis B surface antigen level and platelet count at baseline are significantly associated with spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance in hepatitis B virus carriers and those with chronic infection, research suggests.

4 Aug 2015

Research: Critical aspects of human genome's regulatory program encoded by genomic sequence elements

Since the classical studies of Jacob and Monod in the early 1960s, it has been evident that genome sequences contain not only blueprints for genes and the proteins that they encode, but also the instructions for a coordinated regulatory program that governs when, where and to what extent these genes and proteins are expressed.

4 Aug 2015

SGI-DNA recognized by Frost & Sullivan for BioXp 3200 System

SGI-DNA, a Synthetic Genomics, Inc. company, was recently recognized by Frost & Sullivan for its groundbreaking innovation in genomic technologies for the BioXp 3200 System, an instrument with the capacity to simultaneously build 32 unique, double-stranded DNA fragments to study gene function, pathways, and whole genomes.

4 Aug 2015

European Commission grants orphan drug designation to SGX301 for treatment of CTCL

Soligenix, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing products that address unmet medical needs in the areas of inflammation, oncology and biodefense, announced today that the European Commission, acting on the positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), has granted orphan drug designation to synthetic hypericin (the active pharmaceutical ingredient in SGX301) for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a rare disease and a class of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer of the white blood cells that are an integral part of the immune system.

4 Aug 2015

California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine selects two demonstration projects

Two demonstration projects that aim to yield quick results for patients have been selected by the new California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine, a public-private effort launched by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.

4 Aug 2015

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

Investigational topical drug shows promise in patients with early stage cutaneous T cell lymphoma

USC researchers develop yeast model to study gene mutation that disrupts DNA duplication

FAU researchers identify endogenous process that controls reproduction of cardiac muscle cells

Newcastle University awarded £5M for drug development research

Researchers develop new technology to track DNA-protein binding in live cells

WPI awarded NIH grant to explore ways to turn genetic tables against cancer

Celsion reports updated results from HEAT Study of ThermoDox in patients with primary liver cancer

Discovery may lead to new ways to diagnose, treat brain cancer

Penn researchers identify major genetic factor that keeps moles in non-cancerous, no-growth state

Certain genes exposed to harsh environmental factors can increase diabetes risk

Findings by Joslin scientists may lead to early detection, treatment of complications in type 1 diabetes

Rice University scientists identify genetic mechanism that allows bacteria to resist antibiotics

New partnership aims to provide high-tech healthcare learning opportunities for pediatric patients

University of Liverpool study finds that HIV can continue to grow in patients despite treatment

Baseline HBsAg, platelet count predict spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance

Research: Critical aspects of human genome's regulatory program encoded by genomic sequence elements

SGI-DNA recognized by Frost & Sullivan for BioXp 3200 System

European Commission grants orphan drug designation to SGX301 for treatment of CTCL

California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine selects two demonstration projects

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