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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).

Court rules certain claims covering isolated DNA sequences in patents covering BRACAnalysis as invalid

Myriad Genetics, Inc. today announced that Judge Robert W. Sweet of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that certain claims covering isolated DNA sequences in seven of the 23 patents covering BRACAnalysis® are invalid. Myriad will appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and will continue to vigorously defend this litigation.

30 Mar 2010

Appeals court ruling clears way for Enzo Biochem to pursue claim for substantial damages against Applera

Enzo Biochem Inc. said today that a decision released Friday by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversing a district court's summary judgment will enable the Company to pursue a claim for substantial damages against Applera Corporation, now Life Technologies Corporation. The Court of Appeals vacated the lower court's judgments of invalidity on United States Patent Nos. 5,328,824 and 5,449,767.

30 Mar 2010

New DNA test to detect Lyme disease spirochete infection

Many of the more than 30,000 people a year in the United States with suspected cases of Lyme disease spirochete (bacterial) infection can now take a DNA test developed by a Connecticut scientist/physician and his team that can quickly determine if they test positive for Lyme spirochetes in their blood.

30 Mar 2010

GenVec announces discontinuation of TNFerade PACT trial for pancreatic cancer

GenVec, Inc. announced today that it is discontinuing its Phase 3 clinical trial of TNFerade™ in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer based on results of an interim analysis. This interim analysis of overall survival, conducted after the 184th death (two-thirds of total expected events), was designed to determine whether the study should continue.

30 Mar 2010

Interim data comparing Cervista HPV HR to Hybrid Capture 2 presented at 4th Biennial Meeting of AOGIN

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced that interim data from the first large-scale independent evaluation of clinical performance of Cervista® HPV HR compared to Hybrid Capture 2 (hc2), were presented at the 4th Biennial Meeting of AOGIN (Asia-Oceanic Research Organization in Genital Infection and Neoplasia) in New Delhi, India on March 26-28, 2010.

29 Mar 2010

Genta reports net loss of $11.7M for fourth-quarter 2009

Genta Incorporated today reported results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. The Company also provided an overview of recent corporate highlights and anticipated milestones.

29 Mar 2010

Inovio Biomedical's total revenue increased to $2.6M for quarter ended December 31, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

29 Mar 2010

DNA evidence often overwhelms jurors to convict wrongly says research

According to new reports from The Australian Institute of Criminology Research jurors are often not confident enough in their knowledge of DNA based evidence and this may often go against the accused as they may return with the guilty verdict. This is known as “the white coat syndrome” meaning laymen are often overwhelmed by the presence of an expert and as jurors may place more importance to these DNA evidence than necessary.

29 Mar 2010

New insights on events that lead to immortalized cells

Researchers at Umeå University can now show that cells that grow forever get this capacity through gradual changes in the expression of genes that govern the repair of DNA damage and regulate growth and cell death. The research also shows that activation of the enzyme complex telomerase, which is necessary for unlimited growth, occurs late in this process.

29 Mar 2010

Pathway Genomics Genetic Health Report helps make more informed health and lifestyle decisions

You may not suffer from any form of heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, but you could have a predisposition for these conditions based on more than just your lifestyle or diet. A family history of diabetes, gout, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol can increase one’s risk regardless of lifestyle.

27 Mar 2010

LabCorp offers 21-marker genetic analysis for testing parentage/relationship

Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings announced today that it is the first national laboratory to offer customers a 21-marker genetic analysis in combination with a double-blind process for parentage/relationship testing on every sample. The testing utilizes two kits developed for LabCorp by Promega Corporation of Madison, Wisconsin.

27 Mar 2010

Presence of PARP protein in tumours can help predict their response to chemotherapy

The presence of the protein poly polymerase in tumours can help predict their response to chemotherapy, a German scientist will tell the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference in Barcelona tomorrow (Saturday 27 March).

27 Mar 2010

Genome sequencing of tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer

Tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer are having their genomes sequenced in an attempt to develop a DNA profile that one day may identify ahead of time the patients who will most likely respond to chemotherapy with an aromatase inhibitor. Aromatase inhibitors are a class of chemotherapeutic agents that block the production of estrogen in postmenopausal women.

27 Mar 2010

Genetic instability in people with Fanconi anemia: New proteins in FA DNA repair pathway may help explain

Identification of two new proteins in the Fanconi anemia DNA repair pathway may help explain genetic instability in people with Fanconi anemia and how otherwise healthy people are susceptible to cancer from environmentally triggered DNA damage.

26 Mar 2010

Inverness Medical Deutschland to distribute MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA assay in key European markets

Molecular Detection Inc. (MDI), a company developing Detect-Ready™ assays designed to increase the speed and accuracy of infectious disease diagnosis, and Inverness Medical Deutschland GmbH today announced that they have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA assay in the key European markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

26 Mar 2010

Researchers develop new self-organizing neural networks for application in remote sensing field

Research developed at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid's School of Computing has brought us a big step closer to the application of self-organizing neural networks in the remote sensing field.

26 Mar 2010

Presence of protein PARP in tumours may help predict response to chemotherapy

The presence of the protein poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in tumours can help predict their response to chemotherapy, a German scientist will tell the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) in Barcelona tomorrow (Saturday 27 March). Professor Gunter von Minckwitz, from the German Breast Group Forschungs GmBH, Neu-Isenburg, says that, contrary to current belief that PARP is associated with a limited number of tumours, he and his team found for the first time that PARP expression exists across all breast cancer subtypes, and that such tumours were highly sensitive to chemotherapy.

26 Mar 2010

Abnormality on chromosome 17 helps detect breast cancer tumour's response to anthracyclines

British researchers have discovered a new way of detecting which breast cancer patients are going to respond best to chemotherapy that includes anthracycline antibiotics. The study has found that an abnormality on chromosome 17, called CEP17, is not only associated with a worse outcome for patients, but also that its presence is a highly significant indicator that the tumour will respond to anthracyclines. The research will be presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) Thursday 25th March.

26 Mar 2010

Common beliefs on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases may not apply to HPV: Study

A small new study suggests that some common beliefs about the spread of sexually transmitted diseases may not apply to human papillomavirus, also known as HPV.

26 Mar 2010

IMDx 2009 Influenza A H1N1 Real-Time RT-PCR Assay granted EUA from FDA

IMDx announced today that its IMDx 2009 Influenza A H1N1 Real-Time RT-PCR Assay has been granted Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

26 Mar 2010

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Court rules certain claims covering isolated DNA sequences in patents covering BRACAnalysis as invalid

Appeals court ruling clears way for Enzo Biochem to pursue claim for substantial damages against Applera

New DNA test to detect Lyme disease spirochete infection

GenVec announces discontinuation of TNFerade PACT trial for pancreatic cancer

Interim data comparing Cervista HPV HR to Hybrid Capture 2 presented at 4th Biennial Meeting of AOGIN

Genta reports net loss of $11.7M for fourth-quarter 2009

Inovio Biomedical's total revenue increased to $2.6M for quarter ended December 31, 2009

DNA evidence often overwhelms jurors to convict wrongly says research

New insights on events that lead to immortalized cells

Pathway Genomics Genetic Health Report helps make more informed health and lifestyle decisions

LabCorp offers 21-marker genetic analysis for testing parentage/relationship

Presence of PARP protein in tumours can help predict their response to chemotherapy

Genome sequencing of tumors biopsied from women with invasive breast cancer

Genetic instability in people with Fanconi anemia: New proteins in FA DNA repair pathway may help explain

Inverness Medical Deutschland to distribute MDI's Detect-Ready MRSA assay in key European markets

Researchers develop new self-organizing neural networks for application in remote sensing field

Presence of protein PARP in tumours may help predict response to chemotherapy

Abnormality on chromosome 17 helps detect breast cancer tumour's response to anthracyclines

Common beliefs on the spread of sexually transmitted diseases may not apply to HPV: Study

IMDx 2009 Influenza A H1N1 Real-Time RT-PCR Assay granted EUA from FDA

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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