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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).

Scientists identify gene linking thickness of grey matter in brain to intelligence

For the first time, scientists at King's College London have identified a gene linking the thickness of the grey matter in the brain to intelligence. The study is published today in Molecular Psychiatry and may help scientists understand biological mechanisms behind some forms of intellectual impairment.

11 Feb 2014

EKF Molecular Diagnostics to exhibit PointMan DNA-enrichment technology at Tri-Con 2014

EKF, announces that its subsidiary company EKF Molecular Diagnostics is exhibiting its ground-breaking PointMan DNA-enrichment tech.

From EKF Diagnostics 11 Feb 2014

Pitt’s CMI funds 6 research groups for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development

The University of Pittsburgh's Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded a total of $82,000 to six research groups through its 2013 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development.

11 Feb 2014

TGen study reveals genetic origins of breast cancer that spreads to brain

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has uncovered possible genetic origins of breast cancer that spreads to the brain, according to a first-of-its-kind study published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

11 Feb 2014

Researchers find biological weakness in the workings of mutated gene involved in human cancers

NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have found a biological weakness in the workings of the most commonly mutated gene involved in human cancers, known as mutant K-Ras, which they say can be exploited by drug chemotherapies to thwart tumor growth.

10 Feb 2014

Rubicon Genomics introduces PicoPLEX DNA-seq Kits for use with Illumina NGS platforms

Rubicon Genomics, Inc. today announced the launch of its PicoPLEX DNA-seq Kits for use with Illumina next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms. PicoPLEX's outstanding robustness and reproducibility have made it the worldwide standard for single-cell DNA amplification for microarray and PCR-based pre-implantation genetic screening and diagnosis. PicoPLEX DNA-seq now enables researchers and clinicians to access PicoPLEX technology for analyses conducted on Illumina NGS systems.

10 Feb 2014

Findings may help physicians choose precise treatments for women with advanced breast cancer

The first large-scale study testing all the DNA—the entire genome—of tumour cells from more than 400 women with advanced breast cancer has identified individuals with a good chance of benefiting from specific treatments already being tested in clinical trials.

10 Feb 2014

New study co-led by scientists sheds light on role of genes, blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

New genetic evidence strengthens the case that one well-known type of cholesterol is a likely suspect in causing heart disease, but also casts further doubt on the causal role played by another type.

10 Feb 2014

Researchers to highlight biomedical breakthroughs, new discoveries at Biophysical Society Meeting

Ask a question about how the human immune system fights a tropical disease, or how viruses like HIV use genetic tricks to resist drugs, or how plant cells capture light, or how Alzheimer's takes hold in the brain, or how we can better fight diseases like cancer, or why some sperm cells are fertile while others are not, and you may have to narrow your gaze to the nanoscale to find answers.

10 Feb 2014

Prions and their shadow proteins: an interview with Dr Jiri Safar, Co-Director of the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center

The prion diseases were originally discovered by Dr Gajdusek and Dr Gibbs. The first disease discovered was Kuru, which was affecting native tribes in the Papua New Guinea highlands in the 1950s.

9 Feb 2014

Study identifies seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes

Seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes have been identified in the largest study to date of the genetic basis of the disease.

9 Feb 2014

Study points to molecular pathway to treat recurring, deadly malignancies

Analyzing the genomes of twin 3-year-old sisters – one healthy and one with aggressive leukemia – led an international team of researchers to identify a novel molecular target that could become a way to treat recurring and deadly malignancies.

9 Feb 2014

Researchers shed light on role of genes and blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

New genetic evidence strengthens the case that one well-known type of cholesterol is a likely suspect in causing heart disease, but also casts further doubt on the causal role played by another type. The findings may guide the search for improved treatments for heart disease.

9 Feb 2014

Rice, UTMB develop diagnostic test for cryptosporidiosis

Bioengineers at Rice University and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston have developed a simple, highly sensitive and efficient test for the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis that could have great impact on global health.

7 Feb 2014

Researchers identify protein that regulates how genetic information transcribed from DNA to mRNA

Molecular biologists from Indiana University are part of a team that has identified a protein that regulates the information present in a large number of messenger ribonucleic acid molecules that are important for carrying genetic information from DNA to protein synthesis.

7 Feb 2014

Studies shed more light on genetic basis of bone marrow failure

The study, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, detected and identified a new disease gene (ERCC6L2). In its normal form, the gene plays a key role in protecting DNA from damaging agents, but when the gene is mutated the cell is not able to protect itself in the normal way.

7 Feb 2014

Combination of etoposide with compounds that interfere with cell division improves therapeutic window for cancer treatments

A large part of the effort dedicated to cancer research is directed towards the search for combinations of existing drugs-many of which have already been introduced into clinical practice-that permit higher overall survival rates and improvements in the quality of life of cancer patients.

7 Feb 2014

Researchers identify histone proteins that may be key to generate induced totipotent stem cells

One major challenge in stem cell research has been to reprogram differentiated cells to a totipotent state. Researchers from RIKEN in Japan have identified a duo of histone proteins that dramatically enhance the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and may be the key to generating induced totipotent stem cells.

7 Feb 2014

Rare and de novo mutations flesh out schizophrenia picture

Two studies in Nature show that rare disruptive and de novo mutations may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

6 Feb 2014

Study offers new avenue to pursue in quest for desperately needed treatments for ALS

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists led a study showing that mutations in a gene responsible for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disrupt the RNA transport system in nerve cells.

6 Feb 2014

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists identify gene linking thickness of grey matter in brain to intelligence

EKF Molecular Diagnostics to exhibit PointMan DNA-enrichment technology at Tri-Con 2014

Pitt’s CMI funds 6 research groups for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development

TGen study reveals genetic origins of breast cancer that spreads to brain

Researchers find biological weakness in the workings of mutated gene involved in human cancers

Rubicon Genomics introduces PicoPLEX DNA-seq Kits for use with Illumina NGS platforms

Findings may help physicians choose precise treatments for women with advanced breast cancer

New study co-led by scientists sheds light on role of genes, blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

Researchers to highlight biomedical breakthroughs, new discoveries at Biophysical Society Meeting

Prions and their shadow proteins: an interview with Dr Jiri Safar, Co-Director of the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center

Study identifies seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes

Study points to molecular pathway to treat recurring, deadly malignancies

Researchers shed light on role of genes and blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

Rice, UTMB develop diagnostic test for cryptosporidiosis

Researchers identify protein that regulates how genetic information transcribed from DNA to mRNA

Studies shed more light on genetic basis of bone marrow failure

Combination of etoposide with compounds that interfere with cell division improves therapeutic window for cancer treatments

Researchers identify histone proteins that may be key to generate induced totipotent stem cells

Rare and de novo mutations flesh out schizophrenia picture

Study offers new avenue to pursue in quest for desperately needed treatments for ALS

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