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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).

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

Elan and Boehringer Ingelheim enter global collaboration for antibody-based therapeutics

Elan plc and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced that they have entered into a global technical development and manufacturing agreement for antibody-based therapeutics.

9 Feb 2011

Vical announces issuance of US patent for HSV-2 vaccine

Vical Incorporated announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,879,339, assigned to Vical and the University of Washington, covering DNA vaccines for herpes simplex virus type 2.

9 Feb 2011

Study finds link between sleep duration and colorectal adenomas

An inadequate amount of sleep has been associated with higher risks of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and death. Now colon cancer can be added to the list.

9 Feb 2011

CLC bio, Omixon release SOLiD Alignment plug-in for high-throughput sequencing data analysis

Today, CLC bio and Omixon announced the release of the Omixon Gapped SOLiD Alignment plug-in for full integration into CLC Genomics Workbench.

8 Feb 2011

International research team receives AACR award for innovative, meritorious science

The Fifth Annual AACR Team Science Award will be given to a team of internationally renowned molecular biologists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians and clinicians from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington who have worked together on human papillomavirus for more than 20 years.

8 Feb 2011

How cocoa in chocolate reduces risk of heart disease

In time for the chocolate-giving and chocolate-noshing fest on Valentine's Day, scientists are reporting discovery of how this treat boosts the body's production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) - the "good" form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease.

8 Feb 2011

Breakthrough in Thermal Gradient's fast PCR technology for molecular diagnostics

Thermal Gradient, a Rochester, NY biotech company, announces a breakthrough in its fast PCR technology for molecular diagnostics. PCR is the preferred critical step in virtually all forms of DNA testing.

8 Feb 2011

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Defects in the genome are the cause of many diseases. Gene therapy - direct replacement of mutant genes by intact DNA copies - offers a means of correcting such defects. Now a research team based at the Medical Center of the University of Munich, and led by Privatdozent Dr. Carsten Rudolph, has taken a new approach that avoids DNA delivery.

8 Feb 2011

Researchers identify CHK1 protein may serve as treatment target for neuroblastoma

After analyzing hundreds of proteins produced by the DNA of tumor cells, researchers have identified one protein that may be central to a new treatment for the often-fatal childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Oncologists hope to translate the finding into pediatric clinical trials of a drug that blocks the protein's activity.

7 Feb 2011

Human Vaccines journal publishes paper on Inovio's new DNA vaccine delivery technology

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that its new generation DNA vaccine delivery technology, which provides the powerful enabling capabilities of electroporation without contacting the skin, is highlighted in a paper published in the scientific journal Human Vaccines.

7 Feb 2011

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

The first genome-wide study to demonstrate an inherited genetic basis for racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival linked Native American ancestry with an increased risk of relapse in young leukemia patients. The work was done by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Children's Oncology Group.

6 Feb 2011

Researchers discover molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy

A team of researchers, led by University of Kentucky ophthalmologist Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, has discovered a molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy, the major cause of untreatable blindness in the industrialized world.

6 Feb 2011

Wood smoke may create adverse health effects in humans

With millions of people warding off winter's chill with blazing fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, scientists are raising red flags about the potential health effects of the smoke released from burning wood. Their study, published in the American Chemical Society's journal, Chemical Research in Toxicology, found that the invisible particles inhaled into the lungs from wood smoke may have several adverse health effects.

6 Feb 2011

MetaMorphix announces sale under Chapter 11

MetaMorphix, Inc., an animal biotechnology company, announced its intention to sell all, or substantially all, of its assets as part of its reorganization under a sale in Chapter 11 pursuant to section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Company also announced that American MedTech Advisors has been retained to assist in the sale of the Company.

5 Feb 2011

Researchers find RIPs remain active, continue to produce new insertions in human genome

An ambitious hunt by Johns Hopkins scientists for actively "jumping genes" in humans has yielded compelling new evidence that the genome, anything but static, contains numerous pesky mobile elements that may help to explain why people have such a variety of physical traits and disease risks.

5 Feb 2011

Roche launches cobas TaqScreen DPX Test for parvovirus B19 and hepatitis A virus

Roche announced today that the cobas® TaqScreen DPX Test for use on the cobas s 201 system is now available in the US. It is the first commercial test to quantify parvovirus B19 and detect hepatitis A virus (HAV) simultaneously in one assay in human plasma.

5 Feb 2011

Partek signs distribution agreement with Life Technologies

Partek Incorporated, a global leader in bioinformatics software, announced today the signing of a distribution agreement with Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of next-generation DNA sequencing technology. The agreement makes Partek Genomics Suite available through Life Technologies as a featured solution for analyzing data generated by Life Technologies' next-generation sequencing devices.

5 Feb 2011

Hologic receives FDA approval for hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection

Hologic, a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Hologic's pharmaceutical named Makena, formerly known as Gestiva.

From Hologic, Inc. 4 Feb 2011

Method to comprehensively characterize human embryonic stem cell lines and iPS cell lines

Ever since researchers devised a recipe for turning adult cells into cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells, there has been lingering doubt in the field about just how close to embryonic stem cells each of those cell lines really is at a molecular and functional level. Now, researchers reporting in the February 4th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, have developed a systematic way to lay those doubts about quality to rest.

4 Feb 2011

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

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

Elan and Boehringer Ingelheim enter global collaboration for antibody-based therapeutics

Vical announces issuance of US patent for HSV-2 vaccine

Study finds link between sleep duration and colorectal adenomas

CLC bio, Omixon release SOLiD Alignment plug-in for high-throughput sequencing data analysis

International research team receives AACR award for innovative, meritorious science

How cocoa in chocolate reduces risk of heart disease

Breakthrough in Thermal Gradient's fast PCR technology for molecular diagnostics

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Researchers identify CHK1 protein may serve as treatment target for neuroblastoma

Human Vaccines journal publishes paper on Inovio's new DNA vaccine delivery technology

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

Researchers discover molecular mechanism implicated in geographic atrophy

Wood smoke may create adverse health effects in humans

MetaMorphix announces sale under Chapter 11

Researchers find RIPs remain active, continue to produce new insertions in human genome

Roche launches cobas TaqScreen DPX Test for parvovirus B19 and hepatitis A virus

Partek signs distribution agreement with Life Technologies

Hologic receives FDA approval for hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection

Method to comprehensively characterize human embryonic stem cell lines and iPS cell lines

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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