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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).

New patented technique offers unprecedented view of DNA damage

New technology providing the first view of DNA damage throughout the entire human genome developed by Cardiff University scientists could offer a valuable new insight into the development and treatment of conditions like cancer.

19 Jan 2011

Cancer cells brought back under normal control

Scientists at The University of Nottingham have brought cancer cells back under normal control — by reactivating their cancer suppressor genes. The discovery could form a powerful new technology platform for the treatment of cancer of the breast and other cancers.

19 Jan 2011

Common genetic risk factor for heart failure in Caucasians also linked to kidney function

Nearly five million Americans live with heart failure, with as many as 700,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In addition to lifestyle factors, scientists have shown that heart failure has a strong heritable component, but identifying the responsible genes has been a major challenge. Now, new research has identified a common genetic risk factor for heart failure in Caucasians that is also linked to kidney function.

19 Jan 2011

Scripps Research receives NIH grant to develop therapies for circadian rhythm disorders

The Scripps Research Institute has been awarded $3.17 million over four years to develop compounds that will counteract disruptions of the human biological clock - the circadian rhythm that regulates our patterns of activity and rest over a 24-hour daily cycle.

19 Jan 2011

Positive results from PLX4032 Phase 3 Trial in patients with metastatic melanoma

Plexxikon today announced positive data from an interim analysis of the BRIM3 trial, a large multi-center Phase 3 clinical study of PLX4032 in patients with previously untreated metastatic melanoma with the BRAF mutation. Patients treated with PLX4032 had an improved overall survival compared to patients treated with dacarbazine, the current standard of care.

19 Jan 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim to acquire Amgen's Fremont California development and manufacturing facility

Amgen Inc. and Boehringer Ingelheim today announced they have signed an agreement under which Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire Amgen's rights in and substantially all assets at Amgen's Fremont California development and manufacturing facility.

19 Jan 2011

Orchid Cellmark executes multi-year contract with U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Orchid Cellmark, a leading worldwide provider of identity DNA testing services, today announced it has executed a multi-year contract with the U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), formerly the Child Support Agency (CSA), for the exclusive provision of DNA paternity testing services. Orchid Cellmark delivers its paternity testing services in the U.K. under the Cellmark brand.

18 Jan 2011

Quebec reimburses VIDAZA for treatment of blood cancer

Quebec patients with serious blood cancers (intermediate-2 and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia) now have publicly funded access to a new innovative therapy, VIDAZA® (azacitidine). Following a priority review and subsequent positive recommendation from the Conseil du medicament, patients now have the potential to significantly extend survival.

18 Jan 2011

'Master switch' protein in white blood cells linked to inflammation

Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a "master switch" in certain white blood cells, determining whether they promote or inhibit inflammation. The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, could help researchers look for new treatments for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis that involve excessive inflammation.

18 Jan 2011

Researchers find kidney-specific gene defects may increase risk of heart failure

Scientists have identified the first DNA sequence variant common in the population that is not only associated with an increased risk of heart failure, but appears to play a role in causing it.

18 Jan 2011

Inflammation “master switch” found: Study

According to the latest medical discovery a protein that acts as a “master switch” has been found to determine whether certain white blood cells will boost or dampen inflammation. This may open new avenues in rheumatoid arthritis research. Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is an inflammatory disease that causes severe progressive crippling of the joints.

17 Jan 2011

Smoking harms DNA within minutes: Study

According to the latest research in the US, smoking tobacco damages the body in minutes rather than years. The study was published in the Chemical Research in Toxicology revealed that the chemicals which cause cancer form rapidly after smoking.

16 Jan 2011

MGH researchers discover massive overexpression of DNA sequences in cancer cells

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center researchers have discovered a previously unknown feature of common tumor cells - massive overexpression of certain DNA sequences that do not code for proteins.

14 Jan 2011

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

If you are looking to lose weight in the coming year, you may need help from an unexpected place: the bacteria in your gut. That's because scientists have discovered that the bacteria living in your intestines may play a far more significant role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems than ever imagined.

14 Jan 2011

Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

Scientists have for the first time sequenced and reconstructed the genomes of most of the microbes in the gut of a premature newborn and documented how the microbe populations changed over time.

14 Jan 2011

BMJ publishes clinical study of noninvasive, plasma DNA-based approach for prenatally detecting Down's syndrome

Sequenom is very pleased to note the publication in the British Medical Journal of a groundbreaking international study led by our longstanding collaborator, Professor Dennis Lo of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

13 Jan 2011

Epigenomics concludes feasibility phase in development of improved product concept for Epi proColon

Epigenomics AG, the cancer molecular diagnostic company, today announced that it has concluded the feasibility phase in the development of an improved product concept for Epi proColon, the Company's DNA methylation-based blood test for assistance in the detection of individuals with colorectal cancer.

13 Jan 2011

Pan-European comparative genomics project to develop software suite for gene regulation analysis

Today, CLC bio announced to be heading a pan-European comparative genomics project, COGANGS (Comparative Genomics and Next Generation Sequencing), to develop a software suite, where up to one thousand genomes, can be used as knowledge input in gene regulation analysis.

13 Jan 2011

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

Van Andel Research Institute researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions about diseases in infants and children.

13 Jan 2011

DNAVision purchases 4 of Life Technologies' NGS platforms

DNAVision, one of European leading genetic analysis service providers, is pleased to announce the purchase of four next-generation sequencing platforms from Life Technologies, including two latest 5500xl SOLiD™ Systems.

13 Jan 2011

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

New patented technique offers unprecedented view of DNA damage

Cancer cells brought back under normal control

Common genetic risk factor for heart failure in Caucasians also linked to kidney function

Scripps Research receives NIH grant to develop therapies for circadian rhythm disorders

Positive results from PLX4032 Phase 3 Trial in patients with metastatic melanoma

Boehringer Ingelheim to acquire Amgen's Fremont California development and manufacturing facility

Orchid Cellmark executes multi-year contract with U.K. Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

Quebec reimburses VIDAZA for treatment of blood cancer

'Master switch' protein in white blood cells linked to inflammation

Researchers find kidney-specific gene defects may increase risk of heart failure

Inflammation “master switch” found: Study

Smoking harms DNA within minutes: Study

MGH researchers discover massive overexpression of DNA sequences in cancer cells

Gut bacteria may play a role in weight loss and gastrointestinal problems: New research

Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

BMJ publishes clinical study of noninvasive, plasma DNA-based approach for prenatally detecting Down's syndrome

Epigenomics concludes feasibility phase in development of improved product concept for Epi proColon

Pan-European comparative genomics project to develop software suite for gene regulation analysis

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

DNAVision purchases 4 of Life Technologies' NGS platforms

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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