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Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a biologically important type of molecule that consists of a long chain of nucleotide units. Each nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate.

Study: Children with Crohn's disease have enterovirus in their intestines

A new study reveals that all children with Crohn's disease that were examined had a commonly occurring virus - an enterovirus - in their intestines. This link has previously not been shown for this chronic inflammatory intestinal disorder. The findings are being published today in the latest issue of the international journal Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology.

28 Jun 2013

TSRI scientists identify small molecules to control genetic defect responsible for muscular dystrophy

For the first time, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have identified small molecules that allow for complete control over a genetic defect responsible for the most common adult onset form of muscular dystrophy.

28 Jun 2013

Genetic elements from plants entering into eater's bloodstream turn out to be 'false positive'

In 2011 and 2012, research from China's Nanjing University made international headlines with reports that after mice ate, bits of genetic material from the plants they'd ingested could make it into their bloodstreams intact and turn the animals' own genes off.

27 Jun 2013

Scientists compare DNA sequences, genes of domestic and wild tomatoes

You say tomato, I say comparative transcriptomics. Researchers in the U.S., Europe and Japan have produced the first comparison of both the DNA sequences and which genes are active, or being transcribed, between the domestic tomato and its wild cousins.

27 Jun 2013

New study explains how the brain maintains zinc balance during embryonic development

A new study helps explain how parts of the brain maintain their delicate balance of zinc, an element required in minute but crucial doses, particularly during embryonic development.

27 Jun 2013

Prader-Willi syndrome results in dysregulation of circadian and metabolic genes

Researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute and Agilent Laboratories have found that Prader-Willi syndrome - a genetic disorder best known for causing an insatiable appetite that can lead to morbid obesity - is associated with the loss of non-coding RNAs, resulting in the dysregulation of circadian and metabolic genes, accelerated energy expenditure and metabolic differences during sleep.

26 Jun 2013

UW receives $10 million to develop paper-based pathogen identification test

The University of Washington has received nearly $10 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue a project aimed at building a small, paper-based device that could test for infectious diseases on-demand in areas where diagnostic capabilities are limited.

26 Jun 2013

Study suggests new ways to maximize delivery of RNA strands

Nanoparticles that deliver short strands of RNA offer a way to treat cancer and other diseases by shutting off malfunctioning genes. Although this approach has shown some promise, scientists are still not sure exactly what happens to the nanoparticles once they get inside their target cells.

25 Jun 2013

Researchers find RNA molecule that interferes with lipoprotein production, reduces hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia, a condition with high levels of fats circulating in the bloodstream, is a known risk factor for various cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. While the Western diet often contributes to high levels of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides, over-production of the body's own lipoproteins can lead to hyperlipidemia, independent of food intake.

25 Jun 2013

Alnylam presents new pre-clinical data of ALN-CC5 for treatment of complement-mediated diseases

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has presented new pre-clinical data with ALN-CC5, an RNAi therapeutic targeting complement component C5.

21 Jun 2013

New blood test finds cancer-related microRNA in blood before tumor development

A new blood test developed in the Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Lab at Baylor Research Institute is showing very promising results for finding cancer-related microRNA in the blood before a tumor develops in the colon.

19 Jun 2013

New technique offers potential to screen patients for viruses

In research published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, Saint Louis University researchers describe a technology that can detect new, previously unknown viruses. The technique offers the potential to screen patients for viruses even when doctors have not identified a particular virus as the likely source of an infection.

18 Jun 2013

New study identifies possible treatment to block deposition of calcium in arterial wall

HGPS is a rare genetic disease that affects one in every 4-8 million births. The disease is caused by a spontaneous mutation in one of the two copies (alleles) of the gene LMNA, which codes for lamin A, a protein important for the integrity and function of the envelope surrounding the cell nucleus. The mutation causes incorrect processing of the messenger RNA for lamin proteins, resulting in the synthesis of an anomalous protein, called progerin.

18 Jun 2013

Researchers produce first genome-wide investigation of cap-independent translation

Because of their central importance to biology, proteins have been the focus of intense research, particularly the manner in which they are produced from genetically coded templates-a process commonly known as translation. While the general mechanism of translation has been understood for some time, protein synthesis can initiate by more than one mechanism. One of the least well understood mechanisms is known as cap-independent translation.

17 Jun 2013

Scientists develop new tool for analyzing and characterizing aspects of the brain's neural circuitry

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have developed a novel transgenic system which allows them to remotely activate individual brain cells in the model organism Drosophila using ambient temperature.

17 Jun 2013

Mayo researchers find rheumatic condition gout may be due to flare-ups in other joints

The painful rheumatic condition gout is often associated with the big toe, but it turns out that patients at highest risk of further flare-ups are those whose gout first involved other joints, such as a knee or elbow, Mayo Clinic has found.

15 Jun 2013

HandsFree system helps analyze next generation sequencing data

In the early 1990s, an international effort was launched by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health to sequence the human genome. The project took 13 years, involved many scientists in several countries, and cost $2.7 billion (in FY 1991) dollars.

15 Jun 2013

Study offers hope for development of novel treatments for stroke, neurological diseases

A specific MicroRNA, a short set of RNA (ribonuclease) sequences, naturally packaged into minute (50 nanometers) lipid containers called exosomes, are released by stem cells after a stroke and contribute to better neurological recovery according to a new animal study by Henry Ford Hospital researchers.

14 Jun 2013

Pew funds 10 Latin American scientists to conduct research on world's most troubling health problems

Ten scientists were named Pew Latin American Fellows in the Biomedical Sciences by The Pew Charitable Trusts today. The fellowship provides support to advance grantees' research, enables them to study with prominent U.S. scientists, and invests seed capital to help them establish laboratories in their home countries.

14 Jun 2013

Depression, antidepressant use may increase risk for diabetes and CVD in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women who use antidepressant medication or suffer from depression might be more likely to have a higher body mass index, larger waist circumference and inflammation-all associated with increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, according to a study led by University of Massachusetts Medical School investigator Yunsheng Ma, PhD, MD, MPH, and published in the June 13 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

14 Jun 2013

RNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study: Children with Crohn's disease have enterovirus in their intestines

TSRI scientists identify small molecules to control genetic defect responsible for muscular dystrophy

Genetic elements from plants entering into eater's bloodstream turn out to be 'false positive'

Scientists compare DNA sequences, genes of domestic and wild tomatoes

New study explains how the brain maintains zinc balance during embryonic development

Prader-Willi syndrome results in dysregulation of circadian and metabolic genes

UW receives $10 million to develop paper-based pathogen identification test

Study suggests new ways to maximize delivery of RNA strands

Researchers find RNA molecule that interferes with lipoprotein production, reduces hyperlipidemia

Alnylam presents new pre-clinical data of ALN-CC5 for treatment of complement-mediated diseases

New blood test finds cancer-related microRNA in blood before tumor development

New technique offers potential to screen patients for viruses

New study identifies possible treatment to block deposition of calcium in arterial wall

Researchers produce first genome-wide investigation of cap-independent translation

Scientists develop new tool for analyzing and characterizing aspects of the brain's neural circuitry

Mayo researchers find rheumatic condition gout may be due to flare-ups in other joints

HandsFree system helps analyze next generation sequencing data

Study offers hope for development of novel treatments for stroke, neurological diseases

Pew funds 10 Latin American scientists to conduct research on world's most troubling health problems

Depression, antidepressant use may increase risk for diabetes and CVD in postmenopausal women

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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