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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).

Helicos BioSciences adds new sequencing kits and run configurations for its Genetic Analysis System

Helicos BioSciences Corporation announced today the introduction of a series of new single molecule sequencing kits and run configurations for the Helicos® Genetic Analysis System that will expand its versatility for customers. These new products and configurations, available without any System hardware upgrades, offer customers the ability to tailor parameters of the System to the specific application and number of samples under study.

27 Jan 2010

Genome study could help prevent devastating epidemics in the future

A team of collaborating scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston, the Broad Institute in Boston, Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) have sequenced almost 100 full genomes from three successive epidemics of flesh-eating bacteria.

27 Jan 2010

Update on Cardium Therapeutics' plans for commercial development of Generx

Cardium Therapeutics reported today that its Cardium Biologics division provided an update on plans for the continuing commercial development of Generx™ (alferminogene tadenovec, Ad5FGF-4), a DNA-based angiogenic therapy product candidate for patients with coronary artery disease.

27 Jan 2010

Applied Biosystems signs cross-licensing agreement with Idaho Technology

Applied Biosystems LLC, part of Life Technologies Corporation, and Idaho Technology, Inc. have signed a cross-licensing agreement which covers a broad range of products including hardware, software and reagents.

27 Jan 2010

ZIOPHARM receives Notice of Allowance for palifosfamide from U.S. patent office

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. announced today that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for Application Serial No. 11/257,766 entitled “Salts of Isophosphoramide mustard and analogs thereof as anti-tumor agents” with claims directed to compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and lyophilisates. These claims cover the Company’s proprietary palifosfamide composition (ZIO-201 or ZymafosTM). The Company has recently reported positive randomized Phase II sarcoma interim data for intravenous palifosfamide at the Annual Meeting of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) on November 6, 2009 and expects, following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, to initiate a registration trial the first half of 2010.

27 Jan 2010

Findings may yield novel therapeutic strategies for late-stage breast cancer

Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have determined how the TGFβ-Smad signaling pathway, which is over activated in late-stage cancers, is responsible for the "epigenetic memory" that maintains unique patterns of regulatory DNA hypermethylation causing silencing of critical genes that facilitate breast cancer progression.

25 Jan 2010

World’s largest repository of correlated genetic genealogical information under creation in Mali

The Utah Arts Council today announced it has selected Faces of Mali, an exhibit of photographs of village life in western Africa, for its 2010 traveling art program. The show, sponsored by Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation (SMGF) and Mali Rising—two Utah-based non-profit organizations—and the Embassy of Mali, opens a window for viewers into a region with a 600-year history as a center for scholarship and trade. The first traveling exhibit is scheduled for Canyon Community Center in Springdale beginning Feb. 4.

25 Jan 2010

Researchers identify new gene signature that predicts cancer recurrence in certain breast tumors

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a gene activity signature that predicts a high risk of cancer recurrence in certain breast tumors that have been treated with commonly used chemotherapy drugs.

24 Jan 2010

Loss of key proteins may account for molecular abnormalities associated with myotonic dystrophy

Research on the genetic defect that causes myotonic muscular dystrophy has revealed that the mutation disrupts an array of metabolic pathways in muscle cells through its effects on two key proteins.

24 Jan 2010

New technology may allow scientists to monitor real time activity of protein network

A new assay capable of examining hundreds of proteins at once and enabling new experiments that could dramatically change our understanding of cancer and other diseases has been invented by a team of University of Chicago scientists.

24 Jan 2010

Kalorama report predicts double-digit growth in SNP market

A setback in the scientific basis for SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) analysis may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for makers of genotyping equipment, reagents and software, according to Kalorama Information.

23 Jan 2010

Study: Warburg effect promotes rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth

A team of scientists led by Professor Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has discovered molecular factors in cancer cells that boost the production of an enzyme that helps alter the cells' glucose metabolism. The altered metabolic state, called the Warburg effect, promotes extremely rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth. Adrian Krainer, Ph.D.

23 Jan 2010

Scientists map origin of MRSA, technology could help understanding of other diseases

"Scientists have found a way to track minutely-differing strains of the 'superbug' MRSA [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] as they spread between people and across the globe, a finding that could aid efforts to control the deadly bacteria," Reuters/ABC News reports (Kelland, 1/21).

23 Jan 2010

Complete Genomics receives 2009 Red Herring Global 100 award

Complete Genomics Inc., a third-generation human genome sequencing company, today announced that it has been selected as a 2009 Red Herring Global 100 award winner. The company was also recognized as a 2009 Red Herring North America 100 award winner earlier last year.

23 Jan 2010

Benefits of DNA testing

Does the term “genetic testing” conjure up thoughts of cloned, robot-like human beings and malevolent plots to rule the world? If so, you’ve been reading too much science fiction! The truth is, DNA testing has been put to very beneficial use for decades, primarily in the medical, law enforcement, and legal fields.

22 Jan 2010

Sexual reproduction leads to lesser accumulation of harmful DNA mutations than asexual reproduction

Living organisms have good reason for engaging in sexual, rather than asexual, reproduction according to Maurine Neiman, assistant professor of biology in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and researcher in the Roy J. Carver Center for Genomics.

22 Jan 2010

Postdoctoral scientists receive prestigious award; grants totaling $1.54 million will help in funding innovative projects

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting exceptional early career researchers and innovative cancer research, named 11 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its November 2009 Fellowship Award Committee review.

22 Jan 2010

Researchers show how MRSA transmission can be tracked in hospital settings

For the first time, researchers have shown how transmission of MRSA from one person to another can be precisely tracked in a hospital setting. The team have developed a remarkable new method that can 'zoom' from large-scale inter-continental transmission events to the much finer detail of person-to-person infection of MRSA within a single hospital.

22 Jan 2010

Researchers discover genetic variations that predict clinical outcomes in patients with stomach cancer

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) have, for the first time, identified specific genetic variations that predict clinical outcomes in patients with gastric (stomach) cancer.

22 Jan 2010

Understanding mechanism of SIRT6 activity may help treat diabetes and cancer

A study investigating how a cellular enzyme affects blood glucose levels in mice provides clues to pathways that may be involved in processes including the regulation of longevity and the proliferation of tumor cells.

22 Jan 2010

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Helicos BioSciences adds new sequencing kits and run configurations for its Genetic Analysis System

Genome study could help prevent devastating epidemics in the future

Update on Cardium Therapeutics' plans for commercial development of Generx

Applied Biosystems signs cross-licensing agreement with Idaho Technology

ZIOPHARM receives Notice of Allowance for palifosfamide from U.S. patent office

Findings may yield novel therapeutic strategies for late-stage breast cancer

World’s largest repository of correlated genetic genealogical information under creation in Mali

Researchers identify new gene signature that predicts cancer recurrence in certain breast tumors

Loss of key proteins may account for molecular abnormalities associated with myotonic dystrophy

New technology may allow scientists to monitor real time activity of protein network

Kalorama report predicts double-digit growth in SNP market

Study: Warburg effect promotes rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth

Scientists map origin of MRSA, technology could help understanding of other diseases

Complete Genomics receives 2009 Red Herring Global 100 award

Benefits of DNA testing

Sexual reproduction leads to lesser accumulation of harmful DNA mutations than asexual reproduction

Postdoctoral scientists receive prestigious award; grants totaling $1.54 million will help in funding innovative projects

Researchers show how MRSA transmission can be tracked in hospital settings

Researchers discover genetic variations that predict clinical outcomes in patients with stomach cancer

Understanding mechanism of SIRT6 activity may help treat diabetes and cancer

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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