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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).

NFAT protein plays a part in development of acute pancreatitis

It is likely that the protein is also highly significant for other inflammatory diseases. The research results have been published in the American journal Gastroenterology.

1 Sep 2012

Concentration increase of HUWE1 protein leads to intellectual disability

2 to 3 % of the children are born with an intellectual disability. Possibly by a genetic defect, but in 80% of these cases, we do not know - yet - which genes are responsible. VIB researchers at KU Leuven show that increased production of the HUWE1 protein is the cause in some patients.

31 Aug 2012

Well-known protein plays central role in development of acute pancreatitis

There is now a clear target for the treatment of acute pancreatitis, according to researchers at Lund University in Sweden, who have discovered that a well-known protein plays a central role in the development of the disease. It is likely that the protein is also highly significant for other inflammatory diseases.

31 Aug 2012

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

African Americans have higher blood levels of a protein associated with increased heart-disease risk than European Americans, despite higher "good" HDL cholesterol and lower "bad" triglyceride levels. This contradictory observation now may be explained, in part, by a genetic variant identified in the first large-scale, genome-wide association study of this protein involving 12,000 African American and Hispanic American women.

31 Aug 2012

Scientists establish genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency

Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular menstrual cycles and reduced fertility, and early exposure to estrogen deficiency.

31 Aug 2012

Impulsive and compulsive personality traits linked with traumatic upbringing during childhood

Previous research has shown that personality traits such as impulsivity or compulsiveness are indicators of an increased risk of addiction. Now, new research from the University of Cambridge suggests that these impulsive and compulsive personality traits are also associated with a traumatic upbringing during childhood.

31 Aug 2012

Study explains how FPGS increases effectiveness of pemetrexed in mesothelioma patients

Previous studies have hypothesized that low levels of the enzyme thymidylate synthase (TS) likely mark patients who will benefit from the drug pemetrexed - but results have been inconclusive at best and at times contradictory. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study recently published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology provides an explanation why: only in combination with high levels of a second enzyme, FPGS, does low TS predict response to pemetrexed in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

31 Aug 2012

DNA synthesis in the 3’ and 5’ direction possible using new template-directed method

When a cell divides, it passes on genetic information by producing copies of its DNA. Chemists have also learned to copy DNA. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a German team has now introduced a new copying technique that uses a single strand of DNA as the “master copy”, like a cell, but does not require enzymes.

30 Aug 2012

Johns Hopkins team creates synthetic protein that can help locate tumors

Johns Hopkins researchers have created a synthetic protein that, when activated by ultraviolet light, can guide doctors to places within the body where cancer, arthritis and other serious medical disorders can be detected.

30 Aug 2012

U.S. District Court rules in favor of Illumina over Helicos lawsuit

Illumina, Inc. announced today that District Judge Sue L. Robinson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware granted Illumina's motion for summary judgment of invalidity of U.S. Patent No. 7,593,109, a patent asserted by Helicos BioSciences Corporation in a lawsuit filed against Illumina in October 2010. Judge Robinson ruled that the '109 patent was invalid for inadequate written description.

From Illumina, Inc. 30 Aug 2012

PrecisionMed announces enrollment of first donor into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry

PrecisionMed Inc., the world's leading supplier of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), today announced enrollment of the first donor into the PrecisionMed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry.

30 Aug 2012

CNIO team generates transgenic mouse model for aplastic anaemia associated with short telomeres

Aplastic anaemia is characterised by a reduction in the number of the bone marrow cells that go on to form the different cell types present in blood (essentially red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets). In most cases, the causes of the disorder are hard to determine, but some patients have been found to have genetic alterations leading to a shortening of their telomeres (the end regions of chromosomes that protect and stabilise DNA).

30 Aug 2012

Study shows molecular mechanism behind type 3c pancreatic diabetes

Mice develop pancreatic diabetes (type 3c) when they lack certain genes in the E2F group, and to understand how this happens, Olatz Zenarruzabeitia has focussed on the molecular mechanism behind it.

29 Aug 2012

New method simplifies pharmaceutical production of proteins

Engineering researchers at the University of Arkansas have developed a method to simplify the pharmaceutical production of proteins used in drugs that treat a variety of diseases and health conditions, including diabetes, cancer, arthritis and macular degeneration.

29 Aug 2012

Genetic investigation of tribes may explain why East Asians have lower skin cancer rates

Genetic investigation of a Malaysian tribe may tell scientists why East Asians have light skin but lower skin cancer rates than Europeans, according to a team of international researchers. Understanding the differences could lead to a better way to protect people from skin cancer.

29 Aug 2012

MAOA gene appears to make women happy

A new study has found a gene that appears to make women happy, but it doesn't work for men. The finding may help explain why women are often happier than men, the research team said.

29 Aug 2012

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Special Focus provides critical view on cancer vaccines

In one of the most comprehensive peer-reviewed discussions on cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutics, a Special Focus in the journal Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics provides a critical view on cancer vaccines and a discussion on best approaches for the future.

28 Aug 2012

$Fetal fraction of cfDNA does not vary significantly among pregnant women regardless of trisomy risk$

Fetal fraction of cfDNA does not vary significantly among pregnant women regardless of trisomy risk

A study published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine demonstrates that the fraction of fetal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal blood is unaffected by the mother's presumed risk for trisomy, offering support for the use of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for detecting genetic conditions such as Down syndrome in a broad patient population.

28 Aug 2012

Bode launches Rapid DNA Service to provide near real-time analysis

The Bode Technology Group, Inc. (Bode), a leading provider of innovative forensic DNA services, announced today the launch of their Rapid DNA Service to provide near real-time DNA analysis.

27 Aug 2012

Healthy intake of micronutrients may boost sperm DNA quality in older men

A new study led by scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that a healthy intake of micronutrients is strongly associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men.

27 Aug 2012

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

NFAT protein plays a part in development of acute pancreatitis

Concentration increase of HUWE1 protein leads to intellectual disability

Well-known protein plays central role in development of acute pancreatitis

Researchers identify several genetic factors linked to C-reactive protein

Scientists establish genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency

Impulsive and compulsive personality traits linked with traumatic upbringing during childhood

Study explains how FPGS increases effectiveness of pemetrexed in mesothelioma patients

DNA synthesis in the 3’ and 5’ direction possible using new template-directed method

Johns Hopkins team creates synthetic protein that can help locate tumors

U.S. District Court rules in favor of Illumina over Helicos lawsuit

PrecisionMed announces enrollment of first donor into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Registry

CNIO team generates transgenic mouse model for aplastic anaemia associated with short telomeres

Study shows molecular mechanism behind type 3c pancreatic diabetes

New method simplifies pharmaceutical production of proteins

Genetic investigation of tribes may explain why East Asians have lower skin cancer rates

MAOA gene appears to make women happy

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Special Focus provides critical view on cancer vaccines

Fetal fraction of cfDNA does not vary significantly among pregnant women regardless of trisomy risk

Bode launches Rapid DNA Service to provide near real-time analysis

Healthy intake of micronutrients may boost sperm DNA quality in older men

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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