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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.

Affymetrix commercializes 18 new array designs for whole-transcriptome analysis

Affymetrix, Inc. today announced commercialization of 18 new array designs for whole-transcriptome analysis of model and applied research organisms that will allow scientists to obtain a more complete gene expression view than traditional 3' biased arrays.

7 Oct 2011

Illumina, UNTHSC enter next-generation sequencing collaboration in forensic DNA analysis

Illumina, Inc. today announced it has entered into a wide-ranging collaborative research agreement with the Institute of Applied Genetics and the Department of Forensic and Investigative Genetics at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). Illumina and UNTHSC will collaborate on several visionary projects in forensics using Illumina's next-generation sequencing technologies.

From Illumina, Inc. 4 Oct 2011

Life Technologies, CHEO researcher partner to co-develop microbial detection tests

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute is pleased to announce that one of its principal investigators in infectious disease has signed a contract with Life Technologies, an internationally renowned biotech tools company headquartered in Carlsbad, California, to share information that will help to develop tests that uniquely amplify and detect the DNA coding for infectious diseases.

4 Oct 2011

Lipomannan on TB bacterium's outer cell surface can block TNF production

The bacterium that causes tuberculosis has a unique molecule on its outer cell surface that blocks a key part of the body's defense. New research suggests this represents a novel mechanism in the microbe's evolving efforts to remain hidden from the human immune system.

4 Oct 2011

CSHL publishes 'The Mammary Gland as an Experimental Model' book

Studies of mammary gland biology are essential in the fight against breast cancer. Moreover, the mammary gland represents an excellent model system for investigation of physiological and pathological processes that occur throughout the body.

4 Oct 2011

Santaris Pharma to report new clinical data from miravirsen Phase 2a study on HCV

Santaris Pharma A/S, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of microRNA and mRNA-targeted therapies, today announced the Company will report new clinical data results from the miravirsen Phase 2a proof-of-concept study to treat patients infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a late-breaking oral presentation session at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2011 annual meeting.

4 Oct 2011

Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael W. Young and Michael Rosbash to receive 2011 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize

Columbia University will award the 2011 Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young for their work on the molecular basis of circadian rhythms, the first demonstration of a molecular mechanism for behavior.

1 Oct 2011

Third Annual Cape Cod Walk 'n' Roll for FSH Muscular Dystrophy on October 1

Tomorrow, October 1, 2011, FSHD patients and their friends, advocates, and families will join in the Third Annual Cape Cod Walk 'n' Roll for FSHD.

1 Oct 2011

Novel bipartite gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa

In a paper published in the October 2011 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, a team of researchers at Columbia University Medical Center led by Stephen Tsang, MD, Ph.D have achieved temporary functional preservation of photoreceptors in a mouse model for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using novel bipartite gene therapy.

1 Oct 2011

New analyses from Phase III studies of VICTRELIS to be presented at AASLD 2011

Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced today that several new analyses from Phase III studies of VICTRELIS (boceprevir), the company's first-in-class, oral hepatitis C virus NS3/4A protease inhibitor will be presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

1 Oct 2011

Researchers determine structure of RIG-I protein linked with viral infections

Researchers at Rutgers and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have determined the structure of a protein that is the first line of defense in fighting viral infections including influenza, hepatitis C, West Nile, rabies, and measles.

30 Sep 2011

New technique helps identify how RNA molecules control gene expression

A new technique developed by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine allows researchers to identify the exact DNA sequences and locations bound by regulatory RNAs. This information is necessary to understand how the recently identified RNA molecules control the expression of neighboring and distant genes.

30 Sep 2011

Lin28/let-7 pathway plays an unexpected key role in type 2 diabetes

A pathway activated in cancer plays an unexpected key role in metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, according to a study by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston. Evidence that the Lin28/let-7 pathway influences the cellular response to glucose provides a unifying theme to perplexing data that associates human genetic variation with diabetes risk.

30 Sep 2011

X-chromosome related microRNA may impact immunity and cancer

As anyone familiar with the phrase 'man-flu' will know women consider themselves to be the more robust side of the species when it comes to health and illness. Now new research, published in BioEssays, seems to support the idea. The research focuses on the role of MicroRNAs encoded on the X chromosome to explain why women have stronger immune systems to men and are less likely to develop cancer.

28 Sep 2011

Close link between SF3B1 mutation and specific feature of myelodysplastic syndromes

Geneticists have discovered that a gene involved in the modification of ribonucleic acid (RNA) is mutated in a significant proportion of people with a collection of blood cancers called myelodysplastic syndromes.

27 Sep 2011

Researchers identify frequent SF3B1 gene mutation in myelodysplasia

A genomic study of chronic blood cancer - a precursor to leukaemia - has discovered gene mutations that could enable diagnosis using only a blood test, avoiding the need for an invasive and painful bone marrow biopsy.

27 Sep 2011

Asuragen announces data from Signature LTx v2.0 clinical study on leukemia

Asuragen, Inc. announced today that data from a study evaluating its Signature LTx v2.0, a CE-marked IVD test, for the multiplex detection of fusion transcripts associated with ALL, AML and CML leukemia, will be presented at the upcoming Planet XMAP Europe being held September 28 - 29, 2011 in Vienna, Austria.

27 Sep 2011

Alnylam commences ALN-PCS Phase I trial in severe hypercholesterolemia

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has initiated dosing in its Phase I clinical trial with ALN-PCS, an RNAi therapeutic targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, or PCSK9, for the treatment of severe hypercholesterolemia.

27 Sep 2011

Duplication of RPS6KA3 gene produces limited family intellectual disability

The financial contributions made some years ago by individuals and public administration bodies in the telemarathon solidarity events on the Basque Public Broadcasting Corporation (EiTB) and subsequently channelled through the Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research (BIOEF), has resulted in undertaking successful innovative research at the Cruces Hospital near Bilbao in the Basque province of Bizkaia, describing a new syndrome of limited family intellectual disability.

26 Sep 2011

Researchers identify micro-RNA that regulates learning processes, Alzheimer's

Proteins are the molecular machines of the cell. They transport materials, cleave products or transmit signals - and for a long time, they have been a main focus of attention in molecular biology research. In the last two decades, however, another class of critically important molecules has emerged: small RNA molecules, including micro-RNAs. It is now well established that micro-RNAs play a key role in the regulation of cell function."A micro-RNA regulates the production of an estimated 300-400 proteins.

26 Sep 2011