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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).

Tregs appears to play an important role in suppressing immune response in advance of sepsis

Following an infection, dysregulation of the immune system can result in a systemic inflammatory response and an often fatal condition called severe sepsis or septic shock. Sepsis is not uncommon, yet its cause and underlying immune dysfunction remain poorly understood.

17 Nov 2012

Study links congenital kidney disease with neurodevelopmental disorders

About 10 percent of kids born with kidney defects have large alterations in their genomes known to be linked with neurodevelopmental delay and mental illness, a new study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers has shown.

16 Nov 2012

New pathway appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have identified a new pathway that appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain. Their research also offers insight into how imbalances in this pathway could contribute to cognitive abnormalities in humans.

16 Nov 2012

Pachytene piRNAs play an essential role in protecting post-meiotic germ cells

Passing one's genes on to the next generation is a mark of evolutionary success. So it makes sense that the body would work to ensure that the genes the next generation inherits are exact replicas of the originals.

16 Nov 2012

Tanshinones protect against sepsis: Study

Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have discovered that tanshinones, which come from the plant Danshen and are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine, protect against the life-threatening condition sepsis. The findings are published in the December issue of Biochemical Pharmacology.

16 Nov 2012

Genetic link between rheumatoid arthritis and the X chromosome

Researchers have pieced together new genetic clues to the arthritis puzzle in a study that brings potential treatments closer to reality and could also provide insights into why more women than men succumb to the disabling condition.

15 Nov 2012

Enrollment complete in Exact Sciences DeeP-C screening trial for colorectal cancer

Exact Sciences Corp. today announced it has completed patient enrollment in its DeeP-C pivotal trial for colorectal cancer screening. The study enrolled more than 12,700 patients at sites in the United States and Canada.

15 Nov 2012

Courtagen, AGBL enter exclusive distribution agreement for clinical tests

Courtagen Life Sciences Inc. announced today they have signed an exclusive strategic distribution agreement with the Alliance Global Group (AGBL) to help clinicians in emerging markets diagnose and manage a number of genetically based disorders.

15 Nov 2012

International research team discovers gene that nearly triples risk of Alzheimer's disease

A gene so powerful it nearly triples the risk of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by an international team including researchers from Mayo Clinic. It is the most potent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's identified in the past 20 years. The findings were reported Wednesday in the online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

15 Nov 2012

Braking mechanism in olfactory neurons helps generate amazing diversity of sensors in the nose

The human nose has millions of olfactory neurons grouped into hundreds of different neuron types. Each of these neuron types expresses only one odorant receptor, and all neurons expressing the same odorant receptor plug into one region in the brain, an organization that allows for specific odors to be sensed.

15 Nov 2012

Researchers discover rare genetic mutation that increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers from Nottingham have played their part in the discovery of a rare genetic mutation that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease, in a study with major implications for understanding the causes of the disease.

15 Nov 2012

Researchers describe structure of active site core of topoisomerase II alpha anti-cancer drug target

A group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have for the first time described the structure of the active site core of topoisomerase II alpha, an important target for anti-cancer drugs.

15 Nov 2012

RainDance's ThunderStorm System for targeted sequencing selected by UCL Cancer Institute

RainDance Technologies, Inc., the Digital Biology Company, today announced that the University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute has adopted its ThunderStorm System as a centralized platform for the validation of genomic and epigenomic targets from clinical and non-clinical studies, including follow-ups for genome-wide and epigenome-wide association studies (GWAS and EWAS), as well as stratified cancer medicine and basic research.

15 Nov 2012

Positive preliminary results from ImmunoPulse Phase II trial in metastatic melanoma

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing its advanced-stage ImmunoPulse DNA-based immunotherapy and NeoPulse therapy to treat solid tumors, announces positive preliminary results from a Phase II trial investigating the use of ImmunoPulse in metastatic melanoma patients at the 6th World Meeting of Interdisciplinary Melanoma Skin Cancer Centres & 8th EADO Congress.

15 Nov 2012

Myasthenia gravis therapies: an interview with Professor Daniel Drachman

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that produces weakness and fatiguability of muscles. It affects between 1 and 7 people per 10,000, according to the best statistics.

15 Nov 2012

UiO researchers discover enzyme critical for spread of cancer

Enzyme hunters at UiO have discovered the function of an enzyme that is important in the spreading of cancer. Cancer researchers now hope to inhibit the enzyme.

15 Nov 2012

MRC funds largest ever study of genetics relating to lung disease

Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham and Leicester are leading the largest ever study of the genetics relating to lung disease.

15 Nov 2012

Potential diagnostic method to identify subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

For the first time, researchers have landed on a potential diagnostic method to identify at least a subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a complex disorder with no known definitive cause or cure.

15 Nov 2012

New gene delivery vehicle opens route to the heart of cells in solid tumors

There are plenty of effective anticancer agents around. The problem is that, very often, they cannot gain access to all the cells in solid tumors. A new gene delivery vehicle may provide a way of making tracks to the heart of the target.

15 Nov 2012

MRSA outbreak tracked and contained using DNA sequencing

Scientists have used DNA sequencing for the first time to effectively track the spread of, and ultimately contain, an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to new research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

14 Nov 2012

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Tregs appears to play an important role in suppressing immune response in advance of sepsis

Study links congenital kidney disease with neurodevelopmental disorders

New pathway appears to play a major role in information processing in the brain

Pachytene piRNAs play an essential role in protecting post-meiotic germ cells

Tanshinones protect against sepsis: Study

Genetic link between rheumatoid arthritis and the X chromosome

Enrollment complete in Exact Sciences DeeP-C screening trial for colorectal cancer

Courtagen, AGBL enter exclusive distribution agreement for clinical tests

International research team discovers gene that nearly triples risk of Alzheimer's disease

Braking mechanism in olfactory neurons helps generate amazing diversity of sensors in the nose

Researchers discover rare genetic mutation that increases risk of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers describe structure of active site core of topoisomerase II alpha anti-cancer drug target

RainDance's ThunderStorm System for targeted sequencing selected by UCL Cancer Institute

Positive preliminary results from ImmunoPulse Phase II trial in metastatic melanoma

Myasthenia gravis therapies: an interview with Professor Daniel Drachman

UiO researchers discover enzyme critical for spread of cancer

MRC funds largest ever study of genetics relating to lung disease

Potential diagnostic method to identify subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

New gene delivery vehicle opens route to the heart of cells in solid tumors

MRSA outbreak tracked and contained using DNA sequencing

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