DNA News and Research

RSS

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).

New research explores role of genes, environment in post-natal depression

New research involving the University of York explores the interplay between genes and environment when determining whether a mother is at high or low risk for post-natal depression.

21 May 2011

New research contributes to basic biological understanding of how retinas develop

New research at UC Santa Barbara is contributing to the basic biological understanding of how retinas develop. The study is part of the campus's expanding vision research.

21 May 2011

Researchers uncover new details of unusual biological mechanism in brains of diverse species

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have uncovered new details of an unusual biological mechanism in the brains of diverse species that not only helps regulate how their brains develop, but also how they function later in life. The discovery could lead to new biomarkers for specific neurological diseases in humans and, possibly, the development of drugs to cure them.

21 May 2011

Researchers develop cheap, reliable diagnostic test for HLRCC

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a cheap and reliable diagnostic test for a rare form of cancer. The test involves screening tumour samples for a particular molecular fingerprint unique to this type of cancer.

21 May 2011

Multiple toxic mechanisms link elevated iron, copper levels in the brain and extensive DNA damage

No one knows the cause of most cases of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders. But researchers have found that certain factors are consistently associated with these debilitating conditions.

21 May 2011

Stopping prostate cancer cells from 'bulking up' with nutrients blocks spread of disease

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered that stopping prostate cancer cells from 'bulking up' with nutrients reduces the spread of the disease and tumour size, according to research published today in EMBO Journal.

21 May 2011

Bitter cumin contains high levels of antioxidants and protects against DNA damage

Bitter cumin is used extensively in traditional medicine to treat a range of diseases from vitiligo to hyperglycemia. It is considered to be antiparasitic and antimicrobial and science has backed up claims of its use to reduce fever or as a painkiller. New research published in BioMedCentral's open access journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows that this humble spice also contains high levels of antioxidants.

20 May 2011

Berkeley Lab scientists reveal how protein-making machine bends without breaking

It sounds like hype from a late-night infomercial: It can twist and bend without breaking! And wait, there's more: It could someday help you fend off disease!

20 May 2011

GIS discovery could help generate stem cells more efficiently for biomedical applications

A team of scientists from Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have shown how proteins involved in controlling genes work together to carry out their functions in stem cells and demonstrated for the very first time, how they can change interaction partners to make other types of cells.

20 May 2011

Mitomics enters licensing agreement with QDx Pathology Services for QPredict Prostate Mitomic Test

Mitomics, world leader in the research and development of mitochondrial genome-based products, today announced it has entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with QDx Pathology Services to develop, market and process the QPredict™ Prostate Mitomic Test.

19 May 2011

AstraZeneca announces encouraging results from olaparib phase II study in serous ovarian cancer

AstraZeneca announced today encouraging results from a phase II study in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer (SOC) who had received maintenance treatment with the investigational drug olaparib, after the completion of chemotherapy.

19 May 2011

XTRAC Excimer Laser treatment offers new hope for patients with psoriasis

With XTRAC® Excimer Laser treatments, psoriasis patients can say goodbye to the red, dry patches of scaly, thickened skin they have been covering up all winter. Developed by PhotoMedex, Inc., an innovator of medical devices, the XTRAC laser offers new hope to the 7.5 million Americans suffering from this embarrassing and socially isolating disease.

19 May 2011

Two genes linked to worst cases of esophageal cancer

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers have pinpointed two genes that are amplified in the worst cases of esophageal cancer, providing data to support a new investigational treatment that targets those same genes.

19 May 2011

New breast cancer biomarker may help identify women's response to tamoxifen

Cancer researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson and an international team of collaborators have discovered a biomarker in breast cancer that may help identify which women will respond to anti-estrogen therapy.

19 May 2011

Children exposed to maternal smoking in utero have increased DNA methylation in AXL gene

Children whose mothers or grandmothers smoked during pregnancy are at increased risk of asthma in childhood, but the underlying causes of this are not well understood. Now a new study indicates changes in a process called DNA methylation that occurs before birth may be a root cause.

19 May 2011

Goat milk has nutritional characteristics beneficial to human health

Researchers at the University of Granada have found that goat milk has nutritional characteristics beneficial to health. They have determined that goat milk has many nutrients that make it similar to human milk.

19 May 2011

A new gene expression analysis technique on a single molecule sequencer

A new gene expression technique adapted for single molecule sequencing has enabled researchers at the RIKEN Omics Science Center (OSC) to accurately and quantitatively measure gene expression levels using only 100 nanograms of total RNA. The technique, which pairs RIKEN's Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE) protocol with the Helicos(R) Genetic Analysis System developed by Helicos BioSciences Corporation, opens the door to the detailed analysis of gene expression networks and rare cell populations. In recent years, next-generation DNA sequencers have produced an increasingly detailed picture of how genes are expressed at the molecular level. The transcriptional output of these genes - the RNA copies produced from DNA - has revealed a richness of complexity in transcript structure and function, providing insights into the molecular-level properties of cancers and other diseases.

19 May 2011

Abbott RealTime PCR assay for measuring HCV viral load receives FDA marketing approval

Abbott announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its RealTime PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for measuring the viral load of hepatitis C (HCV), the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States.

19 May 2011

Mayo Clinic develops new screening procedure for Lynch syndrome detection

Mayo Clinic has developed a screening procedure that could dramatically increase testing for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary genetic disorder that raises cancer risk, particularly for colorectal cancer.

19 May 2011

'Gatekeeper' protein plays a key role in skin-cancer prevention

New research from North Carolina State University shows that a "gatekeeper" protein plays an important role in skin-cancer prevention in humans and lab mice.

19 May 2011

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

New research explores role of genes, environment in post-natal depression

New research contributes to basic biological understanding of how retinas develop

Researchers uncover new details of unusual biological mechanism in brains of diverse species

Researchers develop cheap, reliable diagnostic test for HLRCC

Multiple toxic mechanisms link elevated iron, copper levels in the brain and extensive DNA damage

Stopping prostate cancer cells from 'bulking up' with nutrients blocks spread of disease

Bitter cumin contains high levels of antioxidants and protects against DNA damage

Berkeley Lab scientists reveal how protein-making machine bends without breaking

GIS discovery could help generate stem cells more efficiently for biomedical applications

Mitomics enters licensing agreement with QDx Pathology Services for QPredict Prostate Mitomic Test

AstraZeneca announces encouraging results from olaparib phase II study in serous ovarian cancer

XTRAC Excimer Laser treatment offers new hope for patients with psoriasis

Two genes linked to worst cases of esophageal cancer

New breast cancer biomarker may help identify women's response to tamoxifen

Children exposed to maternal smoking in utero have increased DNA methylation in AXL gene

Goat milk has nutritional characteristics beneficial to human health

A new gene expression analysis technique on a single molecule sequencer

Abbott RealTime PCR assay for measuring HCV viral load receives FDA marketing approval

Mayo Clinic develops new screening procedure for Lynch syndrome detection

'Gatekeeper' protein plays a key role in skin-cancer prevention

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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

Latest Life Science News