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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 explains gender-related incidence of liver cancer

Men are four times more likely to develop liver cancer compared to women, a difference attributed to the sex hormones androgen and estrogen. Although this gender difference has been known for a long time, the molecular mechanisms by which estrogens prevent -- and androgens promote -- liver cancer remain unclear.

20 Jan 2012

Georgetown professors explore balance of national security and scientific freedom

The U.S. government's request that the journals Science and Nature withhold scientific information related to the genetically modified H5N1 virus because of biosecurity concerns does not violate the First Amendment, say two Georgetown University professors. They caution, however, that a fair, transparent process undertaken by research organizations is preferable to governmental constraints on disseminating scientific information.

19 Jan 2012

Earlier detection of Fragile X syndrome made possible

Now families children with fragile X syndrome may have a chance of earlier detection and intervention. The Murdoch Children's Research Institute breakthrough could allow newborn screening of the world's most common cause of inherited developmental disability. The research findings were published in the journal Clinical Chemistry.

19 Jan 2012

STSI to present fifth annual educational conference on genomic medicine

Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) will present its fifth annual educational conference exploring the latest achievements and challenges in the use of genomics to diagnose and treat disease and medical conditions on March 1-2, 2012, in San Diego.

19 Jan 2012

New colorectal cancer screening test is highly accurate and more sensitive: Study

Results of two studies suggest that a new, investigational colorectal cancer screening test developed in a collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Exact Sciences Inc. of Madison, Wis., is highly accurate and significantly more sensitive than other noninvasive tests at detecting precancerous tumors (adenomas) and early-stage cancer.

19 Jan 2012

Exposure to metformin may decrease risk of cancer

In 2005, news first broke that researchers in Scotland found unexpectedly low rates of cancer among diabetics taking metformin, a drug commonly prescribed to patients with Type II diabetes. Many follow-up studies reported similar findings, some suggesting as much as a 50-per-cent reduction in risk.

19 Jan 2012

Study identifies mechanism that AML cells use to evade chemotherapy

A study published this week in the journal Leukemia identifies a mechanism that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells use to evade chemotherapy - and details how to close this escape route.

19 Jan 2012

Rexahn receives approval to initiate RX-3117 Phase I trial in solid tumors

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing oncology and CNS therapeutics, today announced that it has secured Hungarian Regulatory Authority and Ethics Committee approval for Rexahn's initial Clinical Trial Application.

19 Jan 2012

Novel technique accurately maps gene-regulation proteins

A novel technique has been developed and demonstrated at Penn State University to map the proteins that read and regulate chromosomes -- the string-like structures inside cells that carry genes.

19 Jan 2012

GSA honors researchers, educators for distinguished service in the field of genetics

The Genetics Society of America (GSA) is pleased to announce the 2012 recipients of its five awards for distinguished service in the field of genetics. The recipients of these awards were nominated and selected by their colleagues.

19 Jan 2012

Book outlines digital future of medicine

The inventions of cell phones, personal computers, and the Internet ushered in the digital revolution and altered our existence in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago. But the most precious part of our existence-our health-has so far been largely unaffected and insulated from these innovations.

19 Jan 2012

LabCorp announces nationwide availability of Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings announced today the nationwide availability of a new FDA cleared risk stratification tool (ROMA, Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm) that combines the results for Fujirebio HE4, Abbott's ARCHITECT CA 125 II, and menopausal status into a numerical score that, along with clinical and radiological evaluation, can aid in evaluating whether a woman over the age of 18 who presents with an ovarian mass and for whom surgery is planned is at high or low likelihood of finding malignancy on surgery.

19 Jan 2012

USPTO issues new patent to PBL's RNAi technology

Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL) is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued out US Patent No. 8,097,710 with fundamental claims directed to methods of inducing gene silencing using short RNA molecules, or DNA constructs encoding short RNA molecules, in a wide range of organisms, including in plants and humans.

19 Jan 2012

Promega announces beta launch of Find My Gene

Promega announces the beta launch of the online gene exploration tool Find My Gene. Find My Gene integrates a number of robust functionalities to help researchers better understand their gene's function.

19 Jan 2012

Courtagen announces acquisition of Medicinal Genomics

Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.

From Beckman Coulter Life Sciences - Automation and Genomics 18 Jan 2012

RaNA Therapeutics completes $20.7 million round of financing

RaNA Therapeutics, Inc. today announced it has completed a $20.7 million round of financing co-led by Atlas Venture, SR One, and Monsanto, with participation of Partners Innovation Fund. The company is developing a technology platform to enable selective activation of target genes and expression of therapeutic factors by targeting a type of regulatory RNA called long non-coding RNA.

18 Jan 2012

New combination treatment more effective in treating cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma

Promising findings on a novel combination treatment approach for a chronic type of skin lymphoma are being published in JAMA's Archives of Dermatology by clinical researchers from Seidman Cancer Center at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

18 Jan 2012

Scientists use gold-filled silicon wafers to target and burn breast cancer cells

By shining infrared light on specially designed, gold-filled silicon wafers, scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute have successfully targeted and burned breast cancer cells. If the technology is shown to work in human clinical trials, it could provide patients a non-invasive alternative to surgical ablation, and could be used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, to make those treatments more effective.

18 Jan 2012

LEITAT, JPT and IUCT partner to develop enhanced anticancer therapy

JPT Peptide Technologies GmbH (JPT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BioNTech AG, IUCT and LEITAT announced today their collaboration on the joint development of an enhanced anticancer therapy based on the biofocused targeting of nucleoside analogs linked to small cyclic peptidomimetics.

18 Jan 2012

Almac, MGB Biopharma partner to manufacture MGB-BP3 gram positive antibacterial compound

MGB Biopharma and Almac's Sciences Business Unit have entered into a collaboration where Almac will manufacture the production of their lead gram positive antibacterial compound MGB-BP3.

17 Jan 2012