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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).

Chemotherapy induces long-lasting epigenetic changes in survivors' blood cells

Many breast cancer survivors experience fatigue and other debilitating symptoms that persist months to years after their course of treatment has ended.

5 Mar 2014

Studies identify gene signals involved with BMI and their connection to: heart disease, diabetes

Two recent genetic studies expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to major Western health problems: heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

5 Mar 2014

Two genetic studies expand list of genes connected to major Western health problems

Two recent genetic studies expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to major Western health problems: heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. One study showed that higher body mass index (BMI) caused harmful effects on the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and inflammation, while another study found gene signals linked to higher levels of body fat metrics, without showing causality.

5 Mar 2014

The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundations donates $3M to support Autism Speaks' Aut10K program

Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced that The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundation and The Gordon & Llura Gund 93 Foundation have donated a combined $3 million to support Autism Speaks' Autism Ten Thousand Genomes (Aut10K) program to sequence the world's largest collection of whole genomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their family members.

5 Mar 2014

Nanomedicine – Past, Present and Future

News-Medical speaks to Frank Boehm about the fundamentals of nanomedicine and the nanotechnologies of the future.

4 Mar 2014

Oxford Gene Technology announces acquisition of Cytocell

Oxford Gene Technology, a provider of innovative genetics research solutions, today announced the acquisition of Cambridge-based Cytocell Limited, a leading provider of DNA technology for the detection of gene rearrangements related to inherited genetic disease and cancer.

From Oxford Gene Technology 4 Mar 2014

Novel scaffold protein regulates mu opioid receptor induced signaling activation

Researchers found initial confirmation that a novel scaffold protein previously unassociated with the mu opioid receptor (MOR) regulates MOR-induced signaling activation.

4 Mar 2014

Arrowhead receives approval to initiate Phase 2a clinical trial of ARC-520 for chronic HBV infection

Arrowhead Research Corporation (NASDAQ: ARWR), a biopharmaceutical company developing targeted RNAi therapeutics, today announced that it received regulatory approval to begin a Phase 2a clinical trial of ARC-520, its RNAi-based drug candidate for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

4 Mar 2014

New theory on the causation of type 2 diabetes

At 85, Nobel laureate James D. Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix structure of DNA, continues to advance intriguing scientific ideas. His latest, a hypothesis on the causation of type 2 diabetes, is to appear 7 pm Thursday US time in the online pages of The Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal.

4 Mar 2014

Research roundup: Medicaid peer support; doctor Jokes; ACA's asset rules for coverage

Since 2009, the eight states (Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin) participating in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Maximizing Enrollment program have worked to streamline and simplify enrollment systems, policies, and processes for children and those eligible for coverage in 2014. ... States [focused] on five key areas: 1) applications, 2) eligibility determinations, 3) renewals and transfers, 4) notices, and 5) business processes.

3 Mar 2014

RainDance Technologies closes $16.5 million Series E financing round

RainDance Technologies, Inc., an innovative genomics tools company making molecular testing of complex diseases more standardized and readily available, today announced that it has closed a $16.5 million Series E financing round extension. New investors include GE Ventures and Northgate Capital; all existing financial investors also participated in this round of financing.

3 Mar 2014

Scientists uncover key mechanism of gene regulation

In the cells of humans and other organisms, only a subset of genes are active at any given time, depending largely on the stage of life and the particular duties of the cell. Cells use different molecular mechanisms to orchestrate the activation and deactivation of genes as needed.

3 Mar 2014

3D structure of enzyme helps defend against bacteria

An essential weapon in the body's fight against infection has come into sharper view. Researchers at Princeton University have discovered the 3D structure of an enzyme that cuts to ribbons the genetic material of viruses and helps defend against bacteria.

3 Mar 2014

Researchers find unusual mutation strongly linked to rare liver cancer that affects teens

In the race for better treatments and possible cures, rare diseases are often left behind. In a collaboration of researchers at The Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Genome Center (NYGC), an unusual mutation has been found that is strongly linked to one such disease: a rare liver cancer that affects teens and young adults.

3 Mar 2014

Max Planck scientists identify new mechanisms in cellular stress response

When an organism is exposed to life-threatening conditions, it sounds the alarm and a cellular emergency program, the heat shock response, is initiated.

3 Mar 2014

Teen diagnosed with liver cancer explores genetic link to rare cancers

A father-daughter scientific collaboration that began after the daughter was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer has led to an important finding and could have broader implications for many other rare cancers. Their story is being published this week in a top tier journal, Science.

3 Mar 2014

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Chemotherapy induces long-lasting epigenetic changes in survivors' blood cells

Studies identify gene signals involved with BMI and their connection to: heart disease, diabetes

Two genetic studies expand list of genes connected to major Western health problems

The Gordon & Llura Gund Foundations donates $3M to support Autism Speaks' Aut10K program

Nanomedicine – Past, Present and Future

Oxford Gene Technology announces acquisition of Cytocell

Novel scaffold protein regulates mu opioid receptor induced signaling activation

Arrowhead receives approval to initiate Phase 2a clinical trial of ARC-520 for chronic HBV infection

New theory on the causation of type 2 diabetes

Research roundup: Medicaid peer support; doctor Jokes; ACA's asset rules for coverage

RainDance Technologies closes $16.5 million Series E financing round

Scientists uncover key mechanism of gene regulation

3D structure of enzyme helps defend against bacteria

Researchers find unusual mutation strongly linked to rare liver cancer that affects teens

Max Planck scientists identify new mechanisms in cellular stress response

Teen diagnosed with liver cancer explores genetic link to rare cancers

Researchers discover novel treatments for psoriasis that are likely to cause fewer side effects

Scientists discover viruses containing genes for antibiotic resistance in fossilized human feces

LMU researchers identify genetic mutations that result in overproduction of cortisol

UCLA develops experimental treatment that eliminates acute type of leukemia in mice

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