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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).

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Each cell in our body is unique. Even cells of the same tissue type that look identical under the microscope differ slightly from each other.

24 Jan 2014

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Investigators at Johns Hopkins report they have developed human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice. The stem cells, derived from human umbilical cord-blood and coaxed into an embryonic-like state, were grown without the conventional use of viruses, which can mutate genes and initiate cancers, according to the scientists.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists develop mathematical model to predict tumor behavior and personalized therapies

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have developed a mathematical model to predict how a patient's tumor is likely to behave and which of several possible treatments is most likely to be effective.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists map genetic changes that drive tumors pediatric soft-tissue cancer

Scientists have mapped the genetic changes that drive tumors in rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric soft-tissue cancer, and found that the disease is characterized by two distinct genotypes.

24 Jan 2014

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

Columbia University Medical Center researchers have identified a gene, called matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), that appears to play a major role in motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The findings, made in mice, explain why most but not all motor neurons are affected by the disease and identify a potential therapeutic target for this still-incurable neurodegenerative disease. The study was published today in the online edition of the journal Neuron.

23 Jan 2014

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today unveiled that the company has developed a new DNA-based cytokine immune activator, interleukin -33 (IL-33), that in combination with optimized DNA vaccines delivered by electroporation increased the potency and efficacy of the therapeutic response to the DNA vaccines in a preclinical study.

23 Jan 2014

Rice University-based research develops fast biosensor for pathogens in food

An array of tiny diving boards can perform the Olympian feat of identifying many strains of salmonella at once.

23 Jan 2014

Researchers discover new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy

A European consortium of epilepsy researchers has reported the discovery of a new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy. Using a novel combination of technologies, including trio exome sequencing of patient/parental DNA and genetic studies in the tiny larvae of zebrafish, the EuroEPINOMICS RES consortium found that mutations in the gene CHD2 are responsible for a subset of epilepsy patients with symptoms similar to Dravet syndrome - a severe form of childhood epilepsy that is in many patients resistant to currently available anti-epileptic drugs.

23 Jan 2014

TSRI study shows how aging affects brain's neural circuitry

How aging affects communication between neurons is not well understood, a gap that makes it more difficult to treat a range of disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

23 Jan 2014

Rice University scientists create new technique to widen bottleneck for pharmaceutical, other industries

Rice University scientists have created a way to fine tune a process critical to the pharmaceutical industry that could save a lot of time and money.

23 Jan 2014

NCCC physicians use new gene sequencing equipment for testing abnormal DNA in cancerous tumor cells

Clinical laboratory experts and physicians at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC) achieved 100 percent accuracy in testing for abnormal DNA in cancerous tumor cells with its new gene sequencing equipment and panels.

23 Jan 2014

Researchers find that 20% of women with ovarian cancer had inherited mutations in gene pathway

A new study conservatively estimates that one in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of the disease, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

23 Jan 2014

ICR, Nuevolution and CRT partner to identify novel drug candidates for cancer treatment

The Institute of Cancer Research, London, Cancer Research Technology, London and Nuevolution A/S, Copenhagen have entered into a drug discovery collaboration to identify novel lead candidates for cancer treatment.

23 Jan 2014

Chinese and American researchers introduce new approach to gene therapy

Resistance of tumor cells toward multiple cytostatic drugs is a serious problem in cancer treatment. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a team of Chinese and American researchers has now introduced a new approach to gene therapy that could counter this problem: The gene that codes for resistance is “silenced” through the use of an ingenious nanocomplex.

22 Jan 2014

Blood methylome offers clues to schizophrenia

Researchers show that a methylome-wide association study of the blood can provide a glimpse of past environmental insults that may contribute to the development of schizophrenia.

22 Jan 2014

EKF Diagnostics announces major breakthrough for PointMan DNA enrichment technology

EKF, announces a major breakthrough for its PointMan DNA enrichment technology for potential use in future cancer testing and treatment.

From EKF Diagnostics 22 Jan 2014

European Commission approves ViiV Healthcare's Tivicay for treatment of HIV infected adults

ViiV Healthcare today announced that the European Commission has approved Tivicay (dolutegravir), an integrase inhibitor, for use in combination with other anti-retroviral medicinal products for the treatment of HIV infected adults and adolescents above 12 years of age.

21 Jan 2014

Illumina inks multi-year supply agreement with LabCorp

Illumina, Inc. today announced it has entered into a multi-year supply agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. The agreement gives LabCorp expanded rights to use Illumina next-generation sequencing and microarray equipment and supplies to develop, validate and introduce laboratory-developed tests to clinicians in the United States and Canada.

From Illumina, Inc. 21 Jan 2014

Affymetrix gets FDA clearance to market CytoScan Dx Assay

Affymetrix, Inc. today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its CytoScan Dx Assay. This assay is intended for the postnatal detection of DNA copy number variants in patients referred for chromosomal testing. CytoScan Dx Assay is designed to help physicians diagnose children's developmental and intellectual disabilities more comprehensively by enabling a high-resolution genome-wide analysis of genetic aberrations. High resolution analysis can reveal small aberrations not readily seen using traditional techniques.

21 Jan 2014

Testing for HPV allows for longer time between screening tests

A new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden finds that testing for human papilloma virus (HPV) allows for longer time between screening tests when compared to cytology-based testing. The study is published in the scientific journal British Medical Journal (BMJ).

21 Jan 2014

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Statistical methods improve biological single-cell analyses

Investigators develop human iPSCs capable of repairing damaged retinal vascular tissue in mice

Scientists develop mathematical model to predict tumor behavior and personalized therapies

Scientists map genetic changes that drive tumors pediatric soft-tissue cancer

CUMC researchers identify gene that appears to play major role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS

Inovio Pharmaceuticals unveils new DNA-based cytokine immune activator

Rice University-based research develops fast biosensor for pathogens in food

Researchers discover new gene involved in severe childhood epilepsy

TSRI study shows how aging affects brain's neural circuitry

Rice University scientists create new technique to widen bottleneck for pharmaceutical, other industries

NCCC physicians use new gene sequencing equipment for testing abnormal DNA in cancerous tumor cells

Researchers find that 20% of women with ovarian cancer had inherited mutations in gene pathway

ICR, Nuevolution and CRT partner to identify novel drug candidates for cancer treatment

Chinese and American researchers introduce new approach to gene therapy

Blood methylome offers clues to schizophrenia

EKF Diagnostics announces major breakthrough for PointMan DNA enrichment technology

European Commission approves ViiV Healthcare's Tivicay for treatment of HIV infected adults

Illumina inks multi-year supply agreement with LabCorp

Affymetrix gets FDA clearance to market CytoScan Dx Assay

Testing for HPV allows for longer time between screening tests

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