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).

Genomic research could help doctors better target oxaliplatin drug to treat colorectal cancer patients: Study

Genomic research could help doctors better target a drug widely used to treat colorectal cancer patients, according to a study by Genomic Health Inc. and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

13 Jan 2011

New Down syndrome non-invasive test for ‘mums-to-be’ on the horizon

According to experts a simple DNA test for Down syndrome could save nearly all pregnant women from invasive tests like amniocentesis. Usually 3% to 5% of pregnant women in the UK or some 30,000 women have to undergo invasive tests like amniocentesis that increases the risk of miscarriage to 1%. The new DNA blood test could bring this down to 0.1%, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

12 Jan 2011

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases features Inovio’s Chikungunya DNA vaccine

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of novel therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today the publication of a scientific paper highlighting positive results from Inovio's multi-antigen Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) DNA vaccine in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

12 Jan 2011

Study shows delivering cancer drug in hydrophobic nanoparticle is a safe and effective prostate cancer therapy

Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital have shown that they can deliver the cancer drug cisplatin much more effectively and safely in a form that has been encapsulated in a nanoparticle targeted to prostate tumor cells and is activated once it reaches its target.

12 Jan 2011

CE mark approves Vitrolife's SpermFreeze Solution

SpermFreeze Solution, which is used for freeze storage of sperm, has obtained a CE mark and is thereby approved for sales within the European Economic Area.

12 Jan 2011

Scientists introduce DNA directly into cell nucleus using protein nanodisks

One of the challenges of gene therapy - a set of methodologies aimed at treating several nucleic acid diseases - is to assure that this material arrives directly to the nucleus of the cell without losing a substantial amount along the way and without producing any undesired side effects. With this aim, scientists experiment with the use of different types of vectors, molecules capable of transporting genetic material to the correct place.

12 Jan 2011

DNA blood test can help rule out Down's syndrome among high risk pregnancies

The blood test could mean that 98% of invasive procedures could be avoided, say the authors. The test uses the latest DNA technology to analyse genetic components in the mother's blood that indicate whether the foetus has Down's.

12 Jan 2011

Illumina announces acquisition of Epicentre Biotechnologies

Illumina, today announced that it has acquired Epicentre Biotechnologies, a leading provider of nucleic acid sample preparation reagents and specialty enzymes used in sequencing and microarray applications.

From Illumina, Inc. 12 Jan 2011

Genethon deploys Atempo Digital Archive to optimize biotherapy research data storage resources

Atempo, a leading provider of cross-platform data protection and archiving solutions, announced today that Genethon, a French non-profit biotherapy research center, has deployed Atempo Digital Archive, Atempo's advanced file archiving platform, to optimize its storage resources.

12 Jan 2011

New database provides easy access to information about genes and biological functions

The human genome sequence, initially completed in draft form nearly a decade ago, has revolutionized biological research. But most research findings are buried in the scientific literature, and linking basic biological processes to genomic information can be difficult without substantial effort or training. A new resource that provides easy access to information about genes and their biological functions was just released by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.

12 Jan 2011

Life Technologies announces new DNA sequencing portfolio for lab research

Life Technologies Corporation today announced a series of new product innovations across the company's DNA sequencing portfolio. To date, most sequencing technologies have primarily addressed the needs of researchers in the highest throughput laboratories, limiting widespread accessibility of these powerful next-generation sequencing technologies.

12 Jan 2011

CAMH scientists receive NARSAD's Young Investigator grant awards for brain and behavior research

Seven scientists at Canada's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health have been awarded Young Investigator grant awards by the U.S.-based NARSAD: The Brain and Behavior Research Fund.

12 Jan 2011

FDA accepts Merck's JANUMET extended-release formulation NDA for type 2 diabetes

Merck today announced that the New Drug Application (NDA) for the Company's investigational extended-release formulation of JANUMET for type 2 diabetes has been accepted for standard review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Company is also moving forward as planned with regulatory filings in countries outside the United States.

12 Jan 2011

Cyclacel opens enrollment of sapacitabine Phase 3 trial for AML

Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that it has opened enrollment of the SEAMLESS pivotal Phase 3 trial for the Company's sapacitabine oral capsules as a front-line treatment of elderly patients aged 70 years or older with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are not candidates for intensive induction chemotherapy.

11 Jan 2011

Positive results from Allovectin-7 Phase 3 trial in patients with metastatic melanoma

Vical Incorporated today announced a new publication summarizing results from the company's completed trials of Allovectin-7 including systemic responses and an excellent safety profile in patients with metastatic melanoma.

11 Jan 2011

Survey reveals rise in Americans' concern over privacy of genetic information

A report just released by Cogent Research, in partnership with CAHG, reveals that Americans are more concerned than ever about the privacy of their genetic information. Furthermore, this concern is increasingly inhibiting the likelihood that they will consider having a molecular diagnostic test. These and other findings are explored in more detail in the 5th edition of the Cogent Genomics, Attitudes & Trends study (CGAT 2010).

11 Jan 2011

Inhibiting miR-193a decreases tumor growth in SCC

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a common type of skin cancer. In this paper, Leif Ellisen and colleagues at Mass General Hospital investigated the p53-related proteins p63 and p73 in SCC cells, and discovered a feedback loop between p63, microRNAs (miRs), and p73. In a model of SCC, they found that inhibiting one of these miRs decreased tumor growth and made the cells more sensitive to chemotherapy, highlighting a new potential therapeutic target.

11 Jan 2011

QIAGEN to acquire minority stake in Alacris Theranostics

QIAGEN has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a strategic stake in Alacris Theranostics GmbH, a German start-up company using novel technologies to develop individualized cancer treatment strategies based upon a patient's genomic profile, and for the acquisition of an exclusive option to access all biomarkers emerging from this discovery program.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 11 Jan 2011

Silicon microdevices may provide new way to screen metastatic breast cancer cells

Research by engineers and cancer biologists at Virginia Tech indicate that using specific silicon microdevices might provide a new way to screen breast cancer cells' ability to metastasize.

11 Jan 2011

Nationwide Children's Hospital receives $11.5 million NCI grant for Biospecimen banking

Nationwide Children's Hospital was awarded $11.5 million from the National Cancer Institute late last year to continue its role as one of two Biospecimen Core Resources for The Cancer Genome Atlas.

11 Jan 2011

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Genomic research could help doctors better target oxaliplatin drug to treat colorectal cancer patients: Study

New Down syndrome non-invasive test for ‘mums-to-be’ on the horizon

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases features Inovio’s Chikungunya DNA vaccine

Study shows delivering cancer drug in hydrophobic nanoparticle is a safe and effective prostate cancer therapy

CE mark approves Vitrolife's SpermFreeze Solution

Scientists introduce DNA directly into cell nucleus using protein nanodisks

DNA blood test can help rule out Down's syndrome among high risk pregnancies

Illumina announces acquisition of Epicentre Biotechnologies

Genethon deploys Atempo Digital Archive to optimize biotherapy research data storage resources

New database provides easy access to information about genes and biological functions

Life Technologies announces new DNA sequencing portfolio for lab research

CAMH scientists receive NARSAD's Young Investigator grant awards for brain and behavior research

FDA accepts Merck's JANUMET extended-release formulation NDA for type 2 diabetes

Cyclacel opens enrollment of sapacitabine Phase 3 trial for AML

Positive results from Allovectin-7 Phase 3 trial in patients with metastatic melanoma

Survey reveals rise in Americans' concern over privacy of genetic information

Inhibiting miR-193a decreases tumor growth in SCC

QIAGEN to acquire minority stake in Alacris Theranostics

Silicon microdevices may provide new way to screen metastatic breast cancer cells

Nationwide Children's Hospital receives $11.5 million NCI grant for Biospecimen banking

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest Life Science News