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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).

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today that it has completed a preliminary study with a leading pharmaceutical company that validates the use of its licensed COLD-PCR technology to detect colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutations that determine efficacy of recently developed therapies. These were detected in plasma samples in which the mutation levels were too low for detection by standard DNA analysis methodologies such as Sanger sequencing.

9 Feb 2010

Boston researchers identify new mechanism that inhibit tumor growth in mice

A team of researchers, led by Pier Paolo Pandolfi, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, has identified a new type of cellular senescence (i.e., irreversible arrest of cell growth) and determined a way to enhance it to suppress prostate tumor development and growth in mice.

9 Feb 2010

GeoVax Labs provides updates on HIV-1 vaccine trials

GeoVax Labs, Inc., an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, today provided an update on its vaccine trials progress.

9 Feb 2010

Genta commences Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel on first subject

Genta Incorporated announced that the Company has initiated treatment of the first subject in a new Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel in advanced melanoma. Tesetaxel is the Company’s newest clinical-stage small molecule. As a late Phase 2 oncology product, tesetaxel is the leading oral taxane currently in clinical development. The new trial builds on more than ten years of Genta’s experience in melanoma clinical research.

9 Feb 2010

QIAGEN acquires global licence for PI3K gene to develop real-time-PCR and endpoint PCR assays

QIAGEN today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary DxS has acquired the global and exclusive licence for biomarker PI3K from Johns Hopkins University to develop real-time-PCR and endpoint PCR assays.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 8 Feb 2010

Inovio Biomedical announces additional immunogenicity data from therapeutic cervical cancer vaccine trial

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today additional interim safety and immunogenicity data from its therapeutic cervical cancer vaccine (VGX-3100) trial. VGX-3100 is a DNA vaccine targeting the E6 and E7 proteins of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 and is delivered via in vivo electroporation.

8 Feb 2010

Stanford researchers use DNA minicircles to induce pluripotency in stem cells from human fat

Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Unlike other commonly used techniques, the method, which is based on standard molecular biology practices, does not use viruses to introduce genes into the cells or permanently alter a cell's genome.

8 Feb 2010

Renova Life moves into Mtech TAP incubator

Renova Life Inc., a company developing research and testing models for human cardiovascular disease, has joined the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator, institute officials announce today.

6 Feb 2010

Breakthrough research could lead to new potential treatments for malaria

Groundbreaking research done at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) School of Biological Sciences (SBS) could lead to the development of more potent drugs or a vaccine for malaria, which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and kills up to three million people each year.

6 Feb 2010

Breakthrough discovery could help in developing a broad spectrum of antiviral drugs

Within a virus's tiny exterior is a store of energy waiting to be unleashed. When the virus encounters a host cell, this pent-up energy is released, propelling the viral DNA into the cell and turning it into a virus factory.

6 Feb 2010

Biochemists identify a critical piece in the evolutionary puzzle

Monash University biochemists have found a critical piece in the evolutionary puzzle that explains how life on Earth evolved millions of centuries ago.

6 Feb 2010

Personalized risk assessment tools can help improve smoking cessation

Giving smokers information about their own individual risk of serious illness helps motivate them to quit smoking, according to a paper published in the current issue of Postgraduate Medical Journal.

5 Feb 2010

New England Biolabs to supply Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute next-generation sequencing library construction reagents

As an important supplier to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, New England Biolabs is pleased to announce that the Sanger Institute will use New England Biolabs as one of its suppliers for next-generation sequencing library construction reagents.

From New England Biolabs 5 Feb 2010

Sequenom CMM launches SensiGene Fetal RHD Genotyping test for pregnant RhD negative women

Sequenom, Inc. today announced the launch of the SensiGene™ Fetal RHD Genotyping test by Sequenom's CAP accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM).

5 Feb 2010

Arrayit's VIP DNA testing technology receives patent protection in Israel

Arrayit Corporation, a life sciences and healthcare technology leader, announced today that the Company has received patent protection in the State of Israel for its proprietary Variation Identification Platform™ (VIP™) DNA testing technology. The Israeli patent extends Arrayit's current patent portfolio, which includes VIP patents in the United States, Singapore, New Zealand, China, South Korea, and the European Union.

5 Feb 2010

BioMarin Pharmaceutical signs stock purchase agreement to acquire LEAD Therapeutics

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today that it has entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire LEAD Therapeutics, Inc. (LEAD), a small private drug discovery and early stage development company with key compound LT-673, an orally available poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor for the treatment of patients with rare, genetically defined cancers.

4 Feb 2010

CTD seeks small molecule drug discovery and therapeutic antibody targets from academic researchers

A major centre created by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and MRC Technology (MRCT) in order to fast-track the discovery and development of novel drugs, opens its first call for targets today.

4 Feb 2010

Around seven in every thousand morbidly obese people are missing part of their DNA

A small but significant proportion of morbidly obese people are missing a section of their DNA, according to research published today in Nature. The authors of the study, from Imperial College London and ten other European Centres, say that missing DNA such as that identified in this research may be having a dramatic effect on some people's weight.

4 Feb 2010

Defective chromosome cause of severe obesity

A new cause of obesity due to a defect on chromosome 16 has just been discovered. It is thought to explain close to 1% of obesity cases. For carriers of the defect, the risk of becoming overweight is 50 times higher. This research is the result of close cooperation between the team of Professor Froguel, a CNRS researcher, in Lille, and colleagues at Imperial College in London and Vaudois University Hospital in Lausanne, with the support of ten other European research groups. The findings of the study are to be published in Nature on February 4, 2010.

4 Feb 2010

Mapping of human genome modification during embryonic development

Scientists at The Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) led an international effort to build a map that shows in detail how the human genome is modified during embryonic development.

4 Feb 2010

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Boston researchers identify new mechanism that inhibit tumor growth in mice

GeoVax Labs provides updates on HIV-1 vaccine trials

Genta commences Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel on first subject

QIAGEN acquires global licence for PI3K gene to develop real-time-PCR and endpoint PCR assays

Inovio Biomedical announces additional immunogenicity data from therapeutic cervical cancer vaccine trial

Stanford researchers use DNA minicircles to induce pluripotency in stem cells from human fat

Renova Life moves into Mtech TAP incubator

Breakthrough research could lead to new potential treatments for malaria

Breakthrough discovery could help in developing a broad spectrum of antiviral drugs

Biochemists identify a critical piece in the evolutionary puzzle

Personalized risk assessment tools can help improve smoking cessation

New England Biolabs to supply Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute next-generation sequencing library construction reagents

Sequenom CMM launches SensiGene Fetal RHD Genotyping test for pregnant RhD negative women

Arrayit's VIP DNA testing technology receives patent protection in Israel

BioMarin Pharmaceutical signs stock purchase agreement to acquire LEAD Therapeutics

CTD seeks small molecule drug discovery and therapeutic antibody targets from academic researchers

Around seven in every thousand morbidly obese people are missing part of their DNA

Defective chromosome cause of severe obesity

Mapping of human genome modification during embryonic development

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

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