RNA News and Research

RSS

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.

Scientists devise new strategy to prevent spread of drug-resistant bacteria

A team of scientists from the University of Oxford, U.K. have taken lessons from Adam Smith and Charles Darwin to devise a new strategy that could one day slow, possibly even prevent, the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. In a new research report published in the March 2011 issue of GENETICS, the scientists show that bacterial gene mutations that lead to drug resistance come at a biological cost not borne by nonresistant strains.

19 Mar 2011

Modified mRNA raises hope for safe and effective cancer drugs

Modern gene therapies raise hopes of combating many diseases until now considered terminal. Nowadays, however, the methods are expensive and carry a risk of severe complications.

18 Mar 2011

Alnylam to defend against Tekmira complaint

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, is reporting the filing of a complaint by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the Business Litigation Session (BLS) of the Massachusetts Superior Court. The complaint alleges misappropriation and misuse of information, amongst other allegations.

18 Mar 2011

Vitamin A may play key role in sperm cell formation and development of central nervous system

In a recently-published study mapping the structure and function of the so-called "orphan" nuclear receptor TR4, Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) investigators suggest that Vitamin A may play a more direct role than was previously known in certain physiological functions including sperm cell formation and the development of the central nervous system.

18 Mar 2011

Bacteria more likely to adopt 'loner' genes

A new study of more than three dozen bacteria species - including the microbes responsible for pneumonia, meningitis, stomach ulcers and plague - settles a longstanding debate about why bacteria are more likely to steal some genes than others.

17 Mar 2011

Oxford Nanopore selects Accelrys Pipeline Pilot NGS Collection as preferred analysis platform

Accelrys, Inc., a leading scientific enterprise R&D software and services company, today announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. Under the terms of the partnership, Accelrys and Oxford Nanopore will develop software to enable complex, real-time analyses of experimental data produced by the Oxford Nanopore single molecule analysis system.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 16 Mar 2011

Global settlement agreement reached in Tuschl patents litigation

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced the signing of a global settlement agreement among Alnylam, Max Planck Society ("Max Planck"), the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research ("Whitehead") and the University of Massachusetts ("UMass") resolving their ongoing litigation regarding the Tuschl patents.

16 Mar 2011

Ingenuity announces new features to support RNA-Seq workflows, microRNA research in IPA

Ingenuity Systems, a leading provider of information and analytics solutions for life science researchers, today announced new features to support RNA-Sequencing workflows and microRNA research in IPA.

15 Mar 2011

Elevated p21 expression may block key steps in viral life cycle

Elevated levels of p21, a protein best known as a cancer fighter, may be involved in the ability of a few individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone.

15 Mar 2011

ExonHit receives CE mark approval for AclarusDx to diagnose AD

ExonHit Therapeutics announces today CE marking of AclarusDx, its blood-based test intended to help in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This gives AclarusDx the status of In Vitro Diagnostic.

15 Mar 2011

Covidien to present new data on hernia, abdominal wall repair products at San Francisco

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced that new data on its hernia and abdominal wall repair products will be presented at Hernia Repair 2011, the 14th Annual Meeting & Scientific Program of the American Hernia Society.

15 Mar 2011

Scientists identify strategy for targeted molecular therapy in liver cancer

In a research study appearing in the journal Cancer Cell on March 14, scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and four other institutions have identified a strategy for targeted molecular therapy in liver cancer, which currently has limited treatment options and one of the worst one-year survival rates of any cancer type.

15 Mar 2011

Inhibitex fourth quarter net loss increases to $7.0 million

Inhibitex, Inc. today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010, and provided an update on recent clinical and corporate developments.

11 Mar 2011

New technique may find 'hidden' receptors in nerve cells

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and University of Pennsylvania have found a way to uncover potential drug targets that have so far remained hidden from researchers' view.

11 Mar 2011

Genetic variant contributes to higher risk of lung cancer, increases tendency to smoke more

Norwegian researchers have discovered genes that increase not only one's risk of lung cancer, but perhaps one's urge to smoke as well. Now these researchers are working on developing a blood test for lung cancer.

11 Mar 2011

Harvard, Oxford Nanopore enter exclusive agreement for graphene DNA sequencing

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd today announced an exclusive agreement with Harvard University's Office of Technology Development for the development of graphene for DNA sequencing.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 11 Mar 2011

Idera reports $6.0 million net loss for fourth quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

10 Mar 2011

Merck to present VICTRELIS phase III study data against HCV at EASL annual meeting

Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced that several new data analyses from Phase III studies of VICTRELIS, its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, will be presented at The International Liver CongressTM / 46th European Association for the Study of the Liver annual meeting.

9 Mar 2011

Scientists develop new method that uncovers combined effects of genes

Scientists at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the German Cancer Research Centre, both in Heidelberg, Germany, have developed a new method that uncovers the combined effects of genes.

8 Mar 2011

Scientists detail role of TDP-43 in ALS pathology

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as ALS or more popularly, Lou Gehrig's disease, is a notorious neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive deterioration of brain and spinal cord neurons, resulting in the gradual but catastrophic loss of muscle control and ultimately, death.

5 Mar 2011