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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).

Scientists discover MSMB protein in urine can predict prostate cancer risk

British scientists have identified a protein in urine that can help indicate which patients are at an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Research Institute and The Institute of Cancer Research found that the level of MSMB protein in urine could provide a fast and accurate prostate cancer diagnosis for doctors and patients, potentially replacing the currently painful and more costly approach a blood sample.

27 Oct 2010

Scripps Florida scientist receives grant from Landenberger Foundation for HIV research

A scientist on the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute has received funding from the Philadelphia-based Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation.

27 Oct 2010

PCT technology improves DNA extraction method in forensic evidentiary samples

Pressure BioSciences, Inc. today announced that two scientific presentations at the 21st International Symposium on Human Identification have provided further evidence that pressure cycling technology offers an improved method for the extraction of DNA in the analysis of forensic evidentiary samples.

27 Oct 2010

Evotec, Apeiron Biologics enter collaboration

Evotec AG today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Apeiron Biologics AG, to initially identify small molecule modulators of DREAM (Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonistic Modulator), a novel target involved in perception of various pain mechanisms. Further projects will be evaluated to potentially expand this cooperation in due course.

27 Oct 2010

Study: lncRNA are involved in host response to viral infection

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time that a certain class of RNA (known as long non-protein-coding RNA [lncRNA]) are involved in the host response to viral infection. These findings, published today in the online journal mBio-, could greatly change the way scientists look at the body's response to viral infection.

27 Oct 2010

Endocrine disrupting chemicals may affect human reproductive system: Research

New research has provided the first evidence that 'gender bending' chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK Rivers.

27 Oct 2010

Illumina announces single flow cell version of HiSeq 2000 sequencing system

Illumina, Inc. today announced HiSeq 1000, a single flow cell version of the company's HiSeq 2000 sequencing system. HiSeq 1000 is designed for researchers who want the ease of use, industry-leading cost per gigabase (Gb) and data rate of the HiSeq 2000 but do not currently require its throughput. As their research scales, users will be able to upgrade their system to the HiSeq 2000 and double their output.

From Illumina, Inc. 27 Oct 2010

Pacific Biosciences prices initial public offering of common stock

Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. developer of single molecule, real-time (SMRT) technology for biological analysis, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 12,500,000 shares of its common stock at $16.00 per share. All shares are being sold by the company.

27 Oct 2010

Long non-protein coding RNAs respond to SARS virus infection, says study

For the first time, scientists have discovered that a poorly understood class of RNA produced in a mammal's cells during a respiratory virus attack may affect the outcome of the infection. Their findings are reported today in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

27 Oct 2010

Illumina 2010 third quarter revenue increases 50% to $237.3 million

Illumina, Inc. today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

From Illumina, Inc. 27 Oct 2010

MDI and Westburg enter exclusive distribution agreement for Detect-Ready MRSA panel in Benelux region

Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a company developing Detect-Ready™ tests designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, and life sciences and diagnostics distributor Westburg BV today announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for distribution of MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA panel in the Benelux region.

26 Oct 2010

Techulon signs exclusive license with Virginia Tech to market new theranostic transfection reagent

Techulon™ Inc., an early stage life sciences company based in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, has signed an exclusive license with Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc. to market a new theranostic transfection reagent. This new traceable reagent complements Techulon's currently marketed Glyocofect™ transfection platform and expands the company's offering in an $800 million market that is steadily growing at 15% annually.

26 Oct 2010

Viral microRNA allows EBV to hide within cells and evade immune system

While most commonly associated with mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been linked to many diseases that affect people long after the initial infection takes place, including some forms of cancer. In the current issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, scientists at The Wistar Institute describe how viral microRNA - small segments of RNA that suppress the effects of gene activity - allows EBV to hide within cells and evade the immune system.

26 Oct 2010

Cancer researcher to receive 2010 AACR Award of excellence

John D. Groopman, Ph.D., has been selected to receive the 2010 American Association for Cancer Research-Prevent Cancer Foundation Award for Excellence in Cancer Prevention Research

26 Oct 2010

Examining genetic material of egg cells may inform about embryos health

Fertility procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) require a couple and the doctor to place the risky bet that the multiple eggs they choose to fertilize will produce an embryo that will thrive in the uterus. Researchers cannot biopsy eggs directly because that would destroy them, but a new discovery by professors at Brown University and Women & Infants Hospital could lead to new insights about how eggs develop and ultimately inform judgments about how the embryos they produce will fare. The idea is to examine the genetic material the egg cells discarded when they were first forming, to see which genes they were expressing.

26 Oct 2010

TRACON to present data on TRC105, TRC102 cancer therapies at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium

TRACON Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company that develops targeted therapies for oncology and related diseases, announced today that new data on TRC105 and TRC102 will be presented at the 22nd Annual EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Berlin, Germany.

26 Oct 2010

SNP array's snapshot of Anopheles gambiae genome can help eliminate malaria

The development and first use of a high-density SNP array for the malaria vector mosquito have established 400,000 genetic markers capable of revealing new insights into how the insect adapts to outsmart insecticides and other preventive measures, according to findings published in the current edition of the journal Science.

26 Oct 2010

Study reveals two enzymes help immune cells deploy pathogen-killing traps

A new study reveals that two enzymes help immune cells deploy pathogen-killing traps by unraveling and using the chromatin (DNA and its associated proteins) contained in the cells' nuclei to form defensive webs. The study appears online on October 25 in The Journal of Cell Biology.

26 Oct 2010

Helicos names Illumina and Life Technologies as additional defendants in lawsuit against Pacific Biosciences

Helicos BioSciences Corporation announced today that it has amended its lawsuit against Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. for patent infringement by naming Illumina, Inc. and Life Technologies Corporation as additional defendants.

From Illumina, Inc. 25 Oct 2010

Inovio announces publication of minimally-invasive intradermal device in journal Gene Therapy

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that a peer-reviewed research article describing the development of a new intradermal, minimally-invasive DNA vaccine delivery device was published in the prestigious journal Gene Therapy.

25 Oct 2010