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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 genetic analysis technique isolates culprit gene in families with inherited single-gene kidney diseases

A University of Michigan-led research team has identified a gene responsible in some families for a devastating inherited kidney disorder, thanks to a new, faster method of genetic analysis not available even two years ago. The success offers hope that scientists can speed the painstaking search for the genes responsible for many rare diseases and test drugs to treat them.

17 Sep 2010

Simian immunodeficiency virus is at least 32,000 to 75,000 years old

An ancestor of HIV that infects monkeys is thousands of years older than previously thought, suggesting that HIV, which causes AIDS, is not likely to stop killing humans anytime soon, finds a study by University of Arizona and Tulane University researchers.

17 Sep 2010

Myrexis to present poster on cancer metabolism inhibitor program

Myrexis, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for cancer, today announced it will present a poster at the Cancer and Metabolism: Pathways to the Future meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as two additional posters at the 22nd European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), National Cancer Institute (NCI) and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Symposium on "Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics" November 16-19, 2010, in Berlin, Germany.

17 Sep 2010

Researchers decode key DNA in evolution of aging, development and fertility

UC Irvine researchers have deciphered how lowly fruit flies bred to rapidly develop and reproduce actually evolve over time. The findings, reported in the Sept. 15 online issue of Nature, contradict the long-held belief that sexual beings evolve the same way simpler organisms do and could fundamentally alter the direction of genetic research for new pharmaceuticals and other products.

17 Sep 2010

Generex presents Ii-Key hybrids product development at Gene based Vaccines conference

Generex Biotechnology Corporation today announced presentations in respect of the technologies and development products of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Antigen Express, Inc. The presentations were made at the conference Gene based Vaccines: Optimizing Development and Delivery 2010 held September 13 and 14, 2010 in Vienna, Austria and at the Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Summit held in Cambridge, MA from August 17-19, 2010.

17 Sep 2010

Scripps Research Institute receives grant to develop DNA sequencing technology

Scripps Research Institute Professor Reza Ghadiri, Ph.D., has been awarded a four-year, $5.1 million grant as part of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative to spur the development of the next generation of DNA sequencing technologies, which could enable biomedical researchers and health care workers to routinely sequence a person's DNA.

17 Sep 2010

Researcher discover enzyme for brain tumor malignancy

Tom Wurdinger, a Dutch researcher who is connected to Harvard (Boston) and the VUmc Cancer Center in Amsterdam, has discovered the enzyme playing a very important role in the return of malign brain tumor after surgery and radiation. By making this enzyme inactive, the cancer cell can become disorganized and blow itself up.

17 Sep 2010

Devil genome sequenced: Hope for endangered Tasmanian Devils

Tasmanian Devil Salem died at age seven but made a difference to her endangered species. Only 50 micrograms of her tissue was taken and processed by Australian genetic scientist Elizabeth Murchison, using new US technology, to produce the first devil genome sequence. As a result, the fight against devil facial tumor disease now has a draft DNA reference map. This was presented at a genetic conference in Hobart yesterday.

16 Sep 2010

NHLBI selects NuGEN to provide automated reagent solutions for expression profiling

NuGEN Technologies, the provider of innovative RNA and DNA amplification and sample preparation technologies for genomic analysis, today announced it has been selected by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to provide automated reagent solutions for expression profiling of approximately 6,000 blood samples from the Framingham Heart Study.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers to conduct gene analysis for ankylosing spondylitis

A new study designed to test suspected links between genes and two immune disorders could open the door to better ways to diagnose and treat the conditions that affect a combined total of approximately 2.5 million people in the United States, report scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

16 Sep 2010

Wistar Institute scientists publish detailed report on structure, function of Cdc13 domain in protein

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have published the first detailed report on the structure and function of a crucial domain in the protein known as Cdc13, which sustains telomeres by clamping to DNA and recruiting replicating enzymes to the area.

16 Sep 2010

Scientists discover 13 genes linked to human body mass

Johns Hopkins scientists who specialize in unconventional hunts for genetic information outside nuclear DNA sequences have bagged a weighty quarry 13 genes linked to human body mass. The experiments screened the so called epigenome for key information that cells remember other than the DNA code itself and may have serious implications for preventing and treating obesity, the investigators say.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers find clue behind ASD affecting males than females

New research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), both in Toronto, Canada provides further clues as to why Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects four times more males than females. The scientists discovered that males who carry specific alterations of DNA on the sole X-chromosome they carry are at high risk of developing ASD. The research is published in the September 15 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

16 Sep 2010

NEB receives SBIR funding to develop novel enzymatic reagents for epigenetic studies

New England Biolabs (NEB) has announced that it has received fast track SBIR funding of $1.22 million to fund the research and development of novel enzymatic reagents for epigenetic studies.

From New England Biolabs 16 Sep 2010

Chimerix presents promising clinical data for CMX001 in late-breaker poster session at 50th ICAAC

Chimerix, Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today presented promising clinical data for CMX001 in a late-breaker poster session at the 50th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

16 Sep 2010

Gene network behind hardening of arteries, coronary heart disease identified

A gene network behind hardening of the arteries and coronary heart disease has been identified by a team of scientists from Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom. Their findings expose potential targets for the treatment of heart disease.

16 Sep 2010

Spirogen, Celtic Therapeutics announces initiation of Phase II ovarian cancer trial with SG2000

Spirogen Limited and Celtic Therapeutics Holdings LP announced today the commencement of a Phase II clinical trial of SG2000 in ovarian cancer. The trial is being sponsored by the National Cancer Institute of the USA, and is now actively recruiting patients for treatment.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers win $4.1M NIH grant to develop low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing method

A team led by Boston University biomedical engineering researchers has won a $4.1 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to refine its nanoscale, low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing method that could lead to individual genome sequencing for less than $1,000.

16 Sep 2010

Scientists reveal techniques to extend organ transplant life

Experts from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Transplantation at King's College London, based at Guy's Hospital, have revealed exciting new scientific developments for people with an organ transplant, intended to help prevent rejection of the new organ and extend its life.

16 Sep 2010

Johns Hopkins offers sources who can answer queries on prostrate cancer

September 19-25 is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. If you are planning a story on prostate cancer, a disease that's diagnosed in more than 200,000 American men each year, please consider calling on experts from the Johns Hopkins Brady Urological Institute.

16 Sep 2010

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

New genetic analysis technique isolates culprit gene in families with inherited single-gene kidney diseases

Simian immunodeficiency virus is at least 32,000 to 75,000 years old

Myrexis to present poster on cancer metabolism inhibitor program

Researchers decode key DNA in evolution of aging, development and fertility

Generex presents Ii-Key hybrids product development at Gene based Vaccines conference

Scripps Research Institute receives grant to develop DNA sequencing technology

Researcher discover enzyme for brain tumor malignancy

Devil genome sequenced: Hope for endangered Tasmanian Devils

NHLBI selects NuGEN to provide automated reagent solutions for expression profiling

Researchers to conduct gene analysis for ankylosing spondylitis

Wistar Institute scientists publish detailed report on structure, function of Cdc13 domain in protein

Scientists discover 13 genes linked to human body mass

Researchers find clue behind ASD affecting males than females

NEB receives SBIR funding to develop novel enzymatic reagents for epigenetic studies

Chimerix presents promising clinical data for CMX001 in late-breaker poster session at 50th ICAAC

Gene network behind hardening of arteries, coronary heart disease identified

Spirogen, Celtic Therapeutics announces initiation of Phase II ovarian cancer trial with SG2000

Researchers win $4.1M NIH grant to develop low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing method

Scientists reveal techniques to extend organ transplant life

Johns Hopkins offers sources who can answer queries on prostrate cancer

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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