Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UBC researchers identify gene that could be important cause of obesity

Scientists at the University of British Columbia have discovered a gene that could be an important cause of obesity.

11 Aug 2015

Researchers report role of two gene-regulating molecules in Parkinson's disease

As Parkinson's disease progresses in patients, a puzzling dichotomy plays out in their brains. One set of neurons degenerates, while a similar population nearby is spared the same degree of damage. Why the difference? An answer to this question could clear the way for preventions and treatments for this disease, which impairs movement.

11 Aug 2015

PrediXcan method improves detection of genes linked to complex diseases, biological traits of interest

A new computational method developed by scientists from the University of Chicago improves the detection of genes that are likely to be causal for complex diseases and biological traits. The method, PrediXcan, estimates gene expression levels across the whole genome - a better measure of biological action than single mutations - and integrates it with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.

11 Aug 2015

Researchers identify first gene that causes common form of mitral valve prolapse

An international research collaboration led by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators has identified the first gene in which mutations cause the common form of mitral valve prolapse (MVP), a heart valve disorder that affects almost 2.5 percent of the population.

11 Aug 2015

DISC-1: schizophrenia's "Rosetta Stone" gene? An interview with Professor Kevin Fox

The DISC-1 gene has been studied intensively over the years because people with mutations in DISC1 have a high likelihood of mental illness. DISC-1 was known to be associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major clinical depression and autism.

10 Aug 2015

Deerfield provides $20 million financing to Editas Medicine

Deerfield Management Company, L.P.'s venture capital fund, Deerfield Healthcare Innovations Fund, L.P., today announced its first therapeutics-based investment by participating, along with Deerfield Private Design Fund III, in providing financing to Editas Medicine. In total, Deerfield invested $20 million in this early-stage institutional financing.

10 Aug 2015

GenVec reports net loss of $1.9 million for second quarter 2015

GenVec, Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015. For the three months ended June 30, 2015, GenVec reported a net loss of $1.9 million, or $0.11 per share, on revenues of $0.1 million, compared with a net loss of $1.7 million, or $0.10 per share, on revenues of $0.1 million, for the same period in the prior year.

7 Aug 2015

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

Autopsies of nearly every patient with the lethal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), show pathologists telltale clumps of a protein called TDP-43. Now, working with mouse and human cells, Johns Hopkins researchers report they have discovered the normal role of TDP-43 in cells and why its abnormal accumulation may cause disease.

7 Aug 2015

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' revenues decrease to $0.4 million in second quarter 2015

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 and provided an overview of key milestones for the company's lead drug candidates.

7 Aug 2015

Leading public health scholars argue that increasing national focus on precision medicine misguided

The increasing national focus on personalized or 'precision' medicine is misguided, distracting from broader investments to reduce health inequities and address the social factors that affect population health, two leading public health scholars argue in the New England Journal of Medicine.

7 Aug 2015

Researchers identify genome-organizing mechanism that transmits vital genetic materials during mitosis

Chromosomes are responsible for carrying our genes and essentially protecting the information that helps ensure normal, healthy growth, with vital instructions being passed on from cell to cell by a process known as mitosis. While this copying mechanism has been well understood for decades, scientists have been unable to describe exactly how genetic information is protected and properly segregated as mitosis is happening.

7 Aug 2015

UNC researchers show how a genetic mutation disables molecular switch and causes autism

Last December, researchers identified more than 1,000 gene mutations in individuals with autism, but how these mutations increased risk for autism was unclear. Now, UNC School of Medicine researchers are the first to show how one of these mutations disables a molecular switch in one of these genes and causes autism.

7 Aug 2015

Experimental Ebola virus vaccine protects cynomolgus macaques against current EBOV outbreak strain

National Institutes of Health scientists report that a single dose of an experimental Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine completely protects cynomolgus macaques against the current EBOV outbreak strain, EBOV-Makona, when given at least seven days before exposure, and partially protects them if given three days prior.

7 Aug 2015

USC researchers develop yeast model to study gene mutation that disrupts DNA duplication

Researchers at USC have developed a yeast model to study a gene mutation that disrupts the duplication of DNA, causing massive damage to a cell's chromosomes, while somehow allowing the cell to continue dividing.

7 Aug 2015

Researchers develop new technology to track DNA-protein binding in live cells

Researchers have developed a new technology that precisely marks where groups of regulatory proteins called transcription factors bind DNA in the nuclei of live cells.

7 Aug 2015

NFIX protein drives NSC differentiation toward oligodendrocytes

An international team of researchers has shown that NFIX, a protein that regulates neuronal stem cell activity (NSC), also has a role in driving NSC differentiation toward oligodendrocytes, a type of glial cell. These cells produce the myelin that surrounds and protects neurons.

7 Aug 2015

Lund University researchers discovered 'main switch' that regulates cell invaginations

Lack of microinvaginations in the cell membrane, caveolae, can cause serious diseases such as lipodystrophy and muscular dystrophy. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now discovered a "main switch" that regulates the formation of these invaginations.

7 Aug 2015

University of Zurich professor recognized with 2015 Vallee Young Investigator Award

Martin Jinek, a professor at the University of Zurich's Department of Biochemistry, was presented with the 2015 Vallee Young Investigator Award. The international prize is awarded to young researchers for outstanding achievements in biomedicine and carries USD 250,000 in prize money.

6 Aug 2015

Penn researchers identify major genetic factor that keeps moles in non-cancerous, no-growth state

Moles are benign tumors found on the skin of almost every adult. Scientists have known for years that a mutation in the BRAF gene makes them start growing, but until now haven't understood why they stop. Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a major genetic factor that keeps moles in their usual non-cancerous, no-growth state.

6 Aug 2015

Genetic test may help identify better treatment option for HER2-positive breast cancer patients

A genetic test for PIK3CA mutations may help to identify patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who are less likely to benefit from combination anti-HER2 therapy, according to a study published in The Oncologist on August 5, 2015.

6 Aug 2015

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UBC researchers identify gene that could be important cause of obesity

Researchers report role of two gene-regulating molecules in Parkinson's disease

PrediXcan method improves detection of genes linked to complex diseases, biological traits of interest

Researchers identify first gene that causes common form of mitral valve prolapse

DISC-1: schizophrenia's "Rosetta Stone" gene? An interview with Professor Kevin Fox

Deerfield provides $20 million financing to Editas Medicine

GenVec reports net loss of $1.9 million for second quarter 2015

Johns Hopkins researchers discover role of TDP-43 protein in autopsy brain cells of patients with ALS

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals' revenues decrease to $0.4 million in second quarter 2015

Leading public health scholars argue that increasing national focus on precision medicine misguided

Researchers identify genome-organizing mechanism that transmits vital genetic materials during mitosis

UNC researchers show how a genetic mutation disables molecular switch and causes autism

Experimental Ebola virus vaccine protects cynomolgus macaques against current EBOV outbreak strain

USC researchers develop yeast model to study gene mutation that disrupts DNA duplication

Researchers develop new technology to track DNA-protein binding in live cells

NFIX protein drives NSC differentiation toward oligodendrocytes

Lund University researchers discovered 'main switch' that regulates cell invaginations

University of Zurich professor recognized with 2015 Vallee Young Investigator Award

Penn researchers identify major genetic factor that keeps moles in non-cancerous, no-growth state

Genetic test may help identify better treatment option for HER2-positive breast cancer patients

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