Genomics

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DNA-sensing mechanism of innate immune system controls cellular senescence

Cells in the body or in cultures eventually stop replicating. This phenomenon is called "senescence" and is triggered by shortening of telomeres, oxidative stress or genetic damage to the cells, either acute or simply due to the cell growing "old".

31 Jul 2017

Physiology-driven genetic changes have positive influence on brain development

SCIENTISTS in the UK and India have discovered more evidence that positive stimuli in early childhood can benefit the infant brain.

31 Jul 2017

Bringing highly potent cell therapy products to market

There are two main challenges and both relate to manufacturing. The first one is to make sure you can manufacture therapies with reasonable costs and the second one is to make sure that you can balance the capacity you need with the demands.

31 Jul 2017

DNA-protein structure more diverse and flexible chain than previously thought, study reveals

How can six and half feet of DNA be folded into the tiny nucleus of a cell? Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a new imaging method that visualizes a very different DNA structure, featuring small folds of DNA in close proximity.

27 Jul 2017

Gene editing technology shines light on rare dyskeratosis congenita

Using the gene editing technology CRISPR, scientists have shed light on a rare, sometimes fatal syndrome that causes children to gradually lose the ability to manufacture vital blood cells.

27 Jul 2017

Researchers uncover 16 genetic markers linked to decreased lifespan

The answer to how long each of us will live is partly encoded in our genome. Researchers have identified 16 genetic markers associated with a decreased lifespan, including 14 new to science. This is the largest set of markers of lifespan uncovered to date.

27 Jul 2017

US scientists make advances in modifying human embryos

American Scientists have managed to edit and improve the DNA of human embryos in an effort to correct the gene defects that cause inherited diseases.

27 Jul 2017

Genetic test that predicts prognosis could benefit early-stage colon cancer patients

Early-stage colon cancer patients could benefit in the future from specific genetic tests that forecast their prognosis and help them make the right decision regarding chemotherapy.

26 Jul 2017

Study provides fresh insights into how the body detects early signs of cancer

Fresh insights into how cells detect damage to their DNA - a hallmark of cancer - could help explain how the body keeps disease in check.

26 Jul 2017

People with family history of bipolar disorder may 'age' more quickly than others

New King's College London research suggests that people with a family history of bipolar disorder may 'age' more rapidly than those without a history of the disease.

26 Jul 2017

Scientists build DNA from scratch using yeast

Researchers are rewriting the yeast genome from scratch as part of a controversial project aiming to create custom-made chunks of DNA codes. One goal of the project is to create codes that can be inserted into cells to alter their function or even improve drug development.

26 Jul 2017

Genetic test to predict IBD severity in children

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with abdominal pain and diarrhea being the most common symptoms. It can be challenging to diagnose as gastrointestinal complaints mimicking IBD are common.

26 Jul 2017

Gene's position on chromosome influences mutations, study shows

Genes do not exist in isolation. Like beads on a string, they sit next to each other on long DNA molecules called chromosomes.

25 Jul 2017

African-American patients have increased gene mutations in tobacco-related tumors, study finds

African-Americans typically have worse outcomes from smoking-related cancers than Caucasians, but the reasons for this remain elusive. However, scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have taken a big step toward solving this puzzle.

25 Jul 2017

Counsyl unveils significant enhancements to expanded carrier screening panel

Counsyl, a DNA testing and genetic counseling company, today unveiled significant enhancements to its flagship expanded carrier screening product, Counsyl Foresight Carrier Screen, which uses next-generation sequencing technology to assess whether couples are at-risk for passing down serious genetic conditions to their children.

25 Jul 2017

Researchers present novel gene-editing technique to prevent retinal angiogenesis

A research team from the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear has successfully prevented mice from developing angiogenesis of the retina--the sensory tissue at the back of the eye--using gene-editing techniques with CRISPR-Cas9.

25 Jul 2017

New map may be first step to developing treatments for complex brain disorders

Just as parents are not the root of all their children's problems, a single gene mutation can't be blamed for complex brain disorders like autism, according to a Keck School of Medicine of USC neuroscientist.

25 Jul 2017

Cellectis wins European patent for CRISPR use in T-cells

Cellectis, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing immunotherapies based on gene-edited CAR T-cells (UCART), today announced the grant by the European Patent Office of patent No. EP3004337 for the invention of using RNA-guided endonucleases, such as Cas9 or Cpf1 for the genetic engineering of T-cells.

24 Jul 2017

Scientists gain better understanding of genetics behind lean body mass

Scientists from the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, along with several other research institutions are making great strides in understanding the genetics behind lean body mass, which is largely made up of muscle mass.

24 Jul 2017

Diagnosing prostate cancer through a £225 urine test

This test, which we have branded SelectMDx for Prostate Cancer, came with the acquisition of a company in the Netherlands called NovioGendix. They developed a prototype assay, so they did most of the heavy lifting in terms of discovering the two specific biomarkers that are currently in the product. These biomarkers are tuned towards the detection of what I call clinically significant prostate cancer.

24 Jul 2017