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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).

Study identifies epigenetic events critical to cancer cell survival

USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center research that identifies specific genes that have to be turned off in order for cancer cells to survive was named one of the top major advances in cancer research this year by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

7 Dec 2012

Disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of ASDs

Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders.

7 Dec 2012

New genetic process could provide novel target for treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders

Researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, have discovered a new genetic process that could one day provide a novel target for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability and autism.

7 Dec 2012

Microarray technology provides comprehensive result during prenatal care of women

A new method for detecting abnormalities in unborn children is providing physicians with more information to analyze the results than conventional, microscopic testing, according to two George Washington University researchers.

7 Dec 2012

Study finds relationships between body size and epigenetic changes

New research in human volunteers has shown that molecular changes to our genes, known as epigenetic marks, are driven mainly by ageing but are also affected by what we eat.

6 Dec 2012

Scientists identify key molecular pathway that leads to depression

Scientists have identified the key molecular pathway leading to depression, revealing potential new targets for drug discovery, according to research led by King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry. The study, published today in Neuropsychopharmacology, reveals for the first time that the 'Hedgehog pathway' regulates how stress hormones, usually elevated during depression, reduce the number of brain cells.

6 Dec 2012

Researchers unlock mechanisms of how the body converts dietary carbohydrates into fat

A gene that helps the body convert that big plate of holiday cookies you just polished off into fat could provide a new target for potential treatments for fatty liver disease, diabetes and obesity.

6 Dec 2012

Viewpoints: Lame duck Congress shouldn't take on entitlement changes; New legal challenge to health law; 'Irrational vote' on disability pact

What we need in order to address this fiscal abyss is a Grand Bargain that addresses the two main drivers of our structural deficits: unsustainable social insurance programs, especially health care programs, and a complex, unfair, uncompetitive and inadequate tax system. But a lame duck Congress cannot and should not tackle comprehensive tax and social insurance reforms.

6 Dec 2012

Study catalogs genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut

Our bodies contain far more microbial genes than human genes. And a new study suggests that just as human DNA varies from person to person, so too does the massive collection of microbial DNA in the intestine.

6 Dec 2012

Scancell announces preliminary results from Part 1 of ImmunoBody vaccine Phase 1/2 MM trial

Scancell Holdings Plc, the developer of therapeutic cancer vaccines, is pleased to announce preliminary results from Part 1 of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its DNA ImmunoBody vaccine in patients with Stage III/IV malignant melanoma.

6 Dec 2012

Combination of PD-991 and letrozole improves survival in patients with HER2- breast cancer

Pfizer Inc. today announced randomized Phase 2 data that showed PD-0332991 (PD-991) in combination with letrozole significantly extended progression free survival (PFS) compared with letrozole alone in post-menopausal patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

6 Dec 2012

Scientists evaluate two different strategies to treat Usher syndrome

After years of basic research, scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) are increasingly able to understand the mechanisms underlying the human Usher syndrome and are coming ever closer to finding a successful treatment approach. The scientists in the Usher research group of Professor Dr. Uwe Wolfrum are evaluating two different strategies. These involve either the repair of mutated genes or the deactivation of the genetic defects using agents.

6 Dec 2012

Biomatrica completes $5 million in private financing

Biomatrica, Inc., a leader in ambient temperature biostability technology, today announced the completion of $5 million in private financing. Biomatrica has developed SampleMatrix technology which has pioneered recent innovations in ambient storage of biological samples, from purified DNA, RNA, and proteins to complex systems such as tissue, cell lines, biopsies and whole blood.

6 Dec 2012

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

The fine arts and the exact sciences may appear an unlikely pair, but creativity is a crucial element in both. Prof. Karen Avraham and PhD candidate Shaked Shivatzki of Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine embraced this truth when creating Hearing and Deafness: Structure and Sequence, their winning submission to the recent American Society of Human Genetics art competition.

6 Dec 2012

New prenatal genetic test results in more clinically relevant information

A large, multi-center clinical trial led by researchers from Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) shows that a new genetic test resulted in significantly more clinically relevant information than the current standard method of prenatal testing.

6 Dec 2012

Copper can prevent horizontal transmission of genes in antibiotic-resistant bacteria

New research from the University of Southampton has shown that copper can prevent horizontal transmission of genes, which has contributed to the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant infections worldwide.

5 Dec 2012

Mutations signaling poor neuroblastoma prognosis identified

Children with neuroblastoma who have mutations in the ARID1A and ARID1B genes in their tumors have a poor prognosis compared with those without these alterations, show study findings.

4 Dec 2012

Data from OncoSec Medical clinical studies to be presented at DNA Vaccines 2012 Conference

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing its advanced-stage ImmunoPulse DNA-based immunotherapy and NeoPulse therapy to treat solid tumor cancers, announced it will be presenting at the DNA Vaccines 2012 Conference at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego, California. OncoSec is a Silver Sponsor of the conference.

4 Dec 2012

Hebrew University researchers pave way for development of new approaches to cure malaria

More than a million people die each year of malaria caused by different strains of the Plasmodium parasite transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The medical world has yet to find an effective vaccine against the deadly parasite, which mainly affects pregnant women and children under the age of five. By figuring out how the most dangerous strain evades the watchful eye of the immune system, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have now paved the way for the development of new approaches to cure this acute infection.

4 Dec 2012

Researchers discover 15 new genetic regions linked with coronary artery disease

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) participated in the largest genetic study of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) to date. Researchers from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium report the identification of 15 genetic regions newly associated with the disease, bringing to 46 the number of regions associated with CAD risk.

3 Dec 2012

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study identifies epigenetic events critical to cancer cell survival

Disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of ASDs

New genetic process could provide novel target for treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders

Microarray technology provides comprehensive result during prenatal care of women

Study finds relationships between body size and epigenetic changes

Scientists identify key molecular pathway that leads to depression

Researchers unlock mechanisms of how the body converts dietary carbohydrates into fat

Viewpoints: Lame duck Congress shouldn't take on entitlement changes; New legal challenge to health law; 'Irrational vote' on disability pact

Study catalogs genetic variation of microbes that live in the gut

Scancell announces preliminary results from Part 1 of ImmunoBody vaccine Phase 1/2 MM trial

Combination of PD-991 and letrozole improves survival in patients with HER2- breast cancer

Scientists evaluate two different strategies to treat Usher syndrome

Biomatrica completes $5 million in private financing

TAU scientists win top prize in American Society of Human Genetics art competition

New prenatal genetic test results in more clinically relevant information

Copper can prevent horizontal transmission of genes in antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Mutations signaling poor neuroblastoma prognosis identified

Data from OncoSec Medical clinical studies to be presented at DNA Vaccines 2012 Conference

Hebrew University researchers pave way for development of new approaches to cure malaria

Researchers discover 15 new genetic regions linked with coronary artery disease

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