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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).

First evidence of human DNA fragment in bacterial genome

If a human cell and a bacterial cell met at a speed-dating event, they would never be expected to exchange phone numbers, much less genetic material. In more scientific terms, a direct transfer of DNA has never been recorded from humans to bacteria.

14 Feb 2011

FDA approves Hologic's 3-D digital mammography system to diagnose breast cancer

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced the Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Selenia Dimensions digital breast tomosynthesis system.

From Hologic, Inc. 14 Feb 2011

Gene-transfer system may control mosquito-borne diseases without pesticides

Scientists have modeled a system that may be used to control mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit, without the use of pesticides. In the proposed system, mosquitoes are engineered to carry two genes. The first gene causes males to transmit a toxin to females through their semen. The second gene, when expressed in females, makes them immune to this toxin.

14 Feb 2011

Researchers discover mechanism for normalizing blood sugar without insulin need

Diabetes can result from either a deficiency of insulin or decreased sensitivity to insulin. Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have discovered a mechanism for normalizing blood sugar that doesn't involve insulin and could offer a new therapeutic approach to both kinds of diabetes.

14 Feb 2011

Study sheds new light on riboswitch that turns genes on or off in response to cell's energy needs

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have shed new light on a molecular switch that turns genes on or off in response to a cell's energy needs.

13 Feb 2011

Genetic tests find skeletons like incest in the family: Study

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston have developed sophisticated DNA analyses that can detect disabilities as birth defects, epilepsy or developmental delays. They note that about 25 percent of genetic material inherited from their mother was the same as material inherited from their father. This denoted incest. This has triggered ethical debates over how these inadvertent findings should be handled.

13 Feb 2011

Genetic map for prostate cancer

Researchers have managed to uncover the whole genetic sequence in prostate cancer. This complete map, hope researchers, will eventually lead to the development of more targeted drugs and a better understanding of which prostate cancers are likely to spread, one of the biggest challenges for physicians and patients.

13 Feb 2011

Genes for prostate cancer mapped for the first time

A genetic blue print that uncovers many of the mutations and genetic damage that drives prostate cancer and could lead to new treatments and better diagnosis has been found. This would mean earlier detection and new breeds of drugs to reverse the damage. Also each patient could have his own “cancer chart” made so that his treatment is personalized. The study, conducted by researchers from the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College, appears in the Feb. 10 issue of Nature.

13 Feb 2011

More research needed to determine link between folic acid and breast cancer

NIH awards Geospiza phase II SBIR grant to develop new DNA variant application for GeneSifter platform

Geospiza, Inc. the market leading developer of the GeneSifter® software platform for genetic analysis, today announced that the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health has awarded the company a phase II SBIR grant to collaborate with researchers at Weil Cornell Medical College, Mayo Clinic to develop a new application that quickly identifies and visualizes DNA sequence variations found when comparing normal and cancer tissues using Geospiza's GeneSifter cloud computing platform.

11 Feb 2011

Scientists develop novel treatment strategy for multiple myeloma

Scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have developed a novel treatment strategy for multiple myeloma that pairs two targeted agents to kill cancer cells. The study's findings, published in today's edition of the journal "Blood," are the first to demonstrate the synergistic, anti-myeloma effects of this combination regimen both in vitro and in vivo.

11 Feb 2011

Presence of jumping genes, amplified oncogenes may be key to tumor progression: Researchers

The Massachusetts General Hospital research team that first discovered tumor-associated RNA in tiny membrane-enclosed sacs released into the bloodstream by cancer cells has now found that these microvesicles also contain segments of tumor DNA, including retrotransposons - also called "jumping genes" - that copy and insert themselves into other areas of the genome.

10 Feb 2011

Genta initiates new Phase 2 clinical trial of tesetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer

Genta Incorporated today announced that the Company has initiated a new Phase 2 clinical trial of tesetaxel in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Tesetaxel, the leading oral taxane in clinical development, will be evaluated for its use as both first- and second-line chemotherapy.

10 Feb 2011

Full genetic blueprint of multiple prostate tumors laid bare

For the first time, researchers have laid bare the full genetic blueprint of multiple prostate tumors, uncovering alterations that have never before been detected and offering a deep view of the genetic missteps that underlie the disease. The study, made possible by key advances in whole genome sequencing and analysis, points to several new prostate cancer genes and a critical category of genomic changes as important drivers of prostate cancer growth.

10 Feb 2011

Vical 2010 net loss increases to $30.4 million

Vical Incorporated today reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2010. Vical had cash and investments of approximately $61 million at year-end 2010. The company received approximately $37 million of net proceeds from the sale of equity securities during 2010.

10 Feb 2011

Women with high folic acid levels may impact child's risk of developing asthma

Recent Norwegian research suggests that there may be a connection between high levels of folic acid in pregnant mothers and the development of asthma in their children. However, the researchers stress that pregnant women should continue to take folic acid supplements.

10 Feb 2011

DNA sequencing of maternal blood plasma can accurately detect trisomy 21

In a study published online today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers from the Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine confirmed that DNA sequencing of maternal blood plasma could accurately detect trisomy 21.

10 Feb 2011

Scientists develop novel approach to detect long-distance chromosomal interactions for CAD

The discovery that a "gene desert" on chromosome 9 was a hotspot for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk was among the highlights of findings produced recently by genome-wide association studies, which compare the genomes of many people for genetic variations and have been broadly used in the past few years to study hundreds of diseases and complex traits. Gene deserts are large genomic segments devoid of genes.

10 Feb 2011

Akonni signs license agreement with USAMRIID to develop multiplex testing products for bio-security applications

Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics (MDx) company that develops rapid, low-cost and highly scalable solutions for infectious disease testing, today announced it has signed a license agreement with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

10 Feb 2011

GeoVax opens second HIV clinical trial site at Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic

GeoVax Labs, Inc., a biotechnology company that creates, develops and tests innovative HIV/AIDS vaccines, announced today the opening of a second clinical trial site at the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic (AVRC) of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to expand the company's HIV therapeutic vaccine trial.

9 Feb 2011