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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).

Orchid Cellmark executes multi-year contract with U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Orchid Cellmark, a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced it has executed a multi-year contract with the U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), formerly the Child Support Agency (CSA), for the exclusive provision of DNA paternity testing services. Orchid Cellmark delivers its paternity testing services in the U.K. under the Cellmark brand.

18 Jan 2011

Quebec reimburses VIDAZA for treatment of blood cancer

Quebec patients with serious blood cancers (intermediate-2 and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia) now have publicly funded access to a new innovative therapy, VIDAZA® (azacitidine). Following a priority review and subsequent positive recommendation from the Conseil du medicament, patients now have the potential to significantly extend survival.

18 Jan 2011

'Master switch' protein in white blood cells linked to inflammation

Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a "master switch" in certain white blood cells, determining whether they promote or inhibit inflammation. The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, could help researchers look for new treatments for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis that involve excessive inflammation.

18 Jan 2011

Researchers find kidney-specific gene defects may increase risk of heart failure

Scientists have identified the first DNA sequence variant common in the population that is not only associated with an increased risk of heart failure, but appears to play a role in causing it.

18 Jan 2011

Inflammation “master switch” found: Study

According to the latest medical discovery a protein that acts as a “master switch” has been found to determine whether certain white blood cells will boost or dampen inflammation. This may open new avenues in rheumatoid arthritis research. Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is an inflammatory disease that causes severe progressive crippling of the joints.

17 Jan 2011

Smoking harms DNA within minutes: Study

According to the latest research in the US, smoking tobacco damages the body in minutes rather than years. The study was published in the Chemical Research in Toxicology revealed that the chemicals which cause cancer form rapidly after smoking.

16 Jan 2011

MGH researchers discover massive overexpression of DNA sequences in cancer cells

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center researchers have discovered a previously unknown feature of common tumor cells - massive overexpression of certain DNA sequences that do not code for proteins.

14 Jan 2011

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined.

14 Jan 2011

Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

Scientists have for the first time sequenced and reconstructed the genomes of most of the microbes in the gut of a premature newborn and documented how the microbe populations changed over time.

14 Jan 2011

BMJ publishes clinical study of noninvasive, plasma DNA-based approach for prenatally detecting Down's syndrome

Sequenom is very pleased to note the publication in the British Medical Journal of a groundbreaking international study led by our longstanding collaborator, Professor Dennis Lo of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

13 Jan 2011

Epigenomics concludes feasibility phase in development of improved product concept for Epi proColon

Epigenomics AG, the cancer molecular diagnostic company, today announced that it has concluded the feasibility phase in the development of an improved product concept for Epi proColon, the Company's DNA methylation-based blood test for assistance in the detection of individuals with colorectal cancer.

13 Jan 2011

Pan-European comparative genomics project to develop software suite for gene regulation analysis

Today, CLC bio announced to be heading a pan-European comparative genomics project, COGANGS (Comparative Genomics and Next Generation Sequencing), to develop a software suite, where up to one thousand genomes, can be used as knowledge input in gene regulation analysis.

13 Jan 2011

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

Van Andel Research Institute researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions about diseases in infants and children.

13 Jan 2011

DNAVision purchases 4 of Life Technologies' NGS platforms

DNAVision, one of European leading genetic analysis service providers, is pleased to announce the purchase of four next-generation sequencing platforms from Life Technologies, including two latest 5500xl SOLiD™ Systems.

13 Jan 2011

Genomic research could help doctors better target oxaliplatin drug to treat colorectal cancer patients: Study

Genomic research could help doctors better target a drug widely used to treat colorectal cancer patients, according to a study by Genomic Health Inc. and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

13 Jan 2011

New Down syndrome non-invasive test for ‘mums-to-be’ on the horizon

According to experts a simple DNA test for Down syndrome could save nearly all pregnant women from invasive tests like amniocentesis. Usually 3% to 5% of pregnant women in the UK or some 30,000 women have to undergo invasive tests like amniocentesis that increases the risk of miscarriage to 1%. The new DNA blood test could bring this down to 0.1%, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

12 Jan 2011

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases features Inovio’s Chikungunya DNA vaccine

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of novel therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today the publication of a scientific paper highlighting positive results from Inovio's multi-antigen Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) DNA vaccine in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

12 Jan 2011

Study shows delivering cancer drug in hydrophobic nanoparticle is a safe and effective prostate cancer therapy

Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have shown that they can deliver the cancer drug cisplatin much more effectively and safely in a form that has been encapsulated in a nanoparticle targeted to prostate tumor cells and is activated once it reaches its target.

12 Jan 2011

CE mark approves Vitrolife's SpermFreeze Solution

SpermFreeze Solution, which is used for freeze storage of sperm, has obtained a CE mark and is thereby approved for sales within the European Economic Area.

12 Jan 2011

Scientists introduce DNA directly into cell nucleus using protein nanodisks

One of the challenges of gene therapy - a set of methodologies aimed at treating several nucleic acid diseases - is to assure that this material arrives directly to the nucleus of the cell without losing a substantial amount along the way and without producing any undesired side effects. With this aim, scientists experiment with the use of different types of vectors, molecules capable of transporting genetic material to the correct place.

12 Jan 2011

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Orchid Cellmark executes multi-year contract with U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Quebec reimburses VIDAZA for treatment of blood cancer

'Master switch' protein in white blood cells linked to inflammation

Researchers find kidney-specific gene defects may increase risk of heart failure

Inflammation “master switch” found: Study

Smoking harms DNA within minutes: Study

MGH researchers discover massive overexpression of DNA sequences in cancer cells

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

BMJ publishes clinical study of noninvasive, plasma DNA-based approach for prenatally detecting Down's syndrome

Epigenomics concludes feasibility phase in development of improved product concept for Epi proColon

Pan-European comparative genomics project to develop software suite for gene regulation analysis

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

DNAVision purchases 4 of Life Technologies' NGS platforms

Genomic research could help doctors better target oxaliplatin drug to treat colorectal cancer patients: Study

New Down syndrome non-invasive test for ‘mums-to-be’ on the horizon

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases features Inovio’s Chikungunya DNA vaccine

Study shows delivering cancer drug in hydrophobic nanoparticle is a safe and effective prostate cancer therapy

CE mark approves Vitrolife's SpermFreeze Solution

Scientists introduce DNA directly into cell nucleus using protein nanodisks

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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