Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UC Davis researchers settle long-standing controversy surrounding Canavan disease

UC Davis investigators have settled a long-standing controversy surrounding the molecular basis of an inherited disorder that historically affected Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe but now also arises in other populations of Semitic descent, particularly families from Saudi Arabia.

28 Apr 2015

Gas naturally produced within our bodies reduces severity of RSV infection, UTMB study finds

A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston is the first to show that hydrogen sulfide, a gas produced naturally within our bodies, reduces the severity of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

28 Apr 2015

New T1D Prevention Initiative launched to identify pathways to prevent type 1 diabetes

As the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) rises worldwide, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust today announced the launch of an ambitious new T1D Prevention Initiative to investigate the early stages of development of the disease and identify new pathways to prevent it.

28 Apr 2015

WCH researchers identify new breast cancer gene

A new breast cancer gene has been identified in a study led by Women's College Hospital researcher Dr. Mohammad Akbari, who is also an assistant professor with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.

28 Apr 2015

Study suggests that inhibiting FOXO1 protein could speed diabetic wound healing

A protein that normally fosters tissue repair instead acts to inhibit healing when sugar levels are high, according to a study in The Journal of Cell Biology. The role reversal helps explain why wounds heal slowly in people with diabetes.

28 Apr 2015

Yale researchers successfully correct gene mutation that causes cystic fibrosis

Yale researchers successfully corrected the most common mutation in the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, a lethal genetic disorder. The study was published April 27 in Nature Communications.

28 Apr 2015

ISSCR calls for moratorium on human germline genome editing attempts in clinical practice

In response to an article published by Chinese scientists describing research that used gene editing technologies in human embryos, the International Society for Stem Cell Research has again called for a moratorium on attempts at human clinical germline genome editing while extensive scientific analysis of the potential risks is conducted, along with broad public discussion of the societal and ethical implications.

27 Apr 2015

Researchers show potential of stem cell-based therapy in treating brain-metastatic breast cancer

Investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have developed an imageable mouse model of brain-metastatic breast cancer and shown the potential of a stem-cell-based therapy to eliminate metastatic cells from the brain and prolong survival.

27 Apr 2015

Therapeutic candidate BLU-554 has significant anti-tumor activity in HCC models

Blueprint Medicines today announced new preclinical data demonstrating that BLU-554, a selective and potent inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), has significant anti-tumor activity in models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that are dependent on FGFR4 signaling.

25 Apr 2015

Researchers identify potential treatment target for fragile X carriers

Fragile X syndrome, an inherited cause of autism and intellectual disability, can have consequences even for carriers of the disorder who don't have full-blown symptoms.

25 Apr 2015

Study explores innovative approach to identifying successful treatment for HER2+ breast cancer

Ahmad M. Khalil, PhD, knew the odds were against him -- as in thousands upon thousands to one. Yet he and his team never wavered from their quest to identify the parts of the body responsible for revving up one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, HER2+. This month in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Khalil and his colleagues at Case Western Reserve University proved the power of persistence; from a pool of more than 30,000 possibilities, they found 38 genes and molecules that most likely trigger HER2+ cancer cells to spread.

25 Apr 2015

New method could help scientists spot source of disease-causing mutations in enhancers

A new technique that identifies how genes are controlled could help scientists spot errors in the genetic code which trigger disease, a study suggests.

25 Apr 2015

Study identifies BLU-554 as potential treatment option for HCC patients

Findings were presented today at The International Liver CongressTM 2015 on a novel therapeutic candidate for a genomically defined subset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with an aberrant fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) pathway.

25 Apr 2015

Fruit fly study shows that extra sleep helps the brain overcome neurological defects

Many studies have linked more sleep to better memory, but new research in fruit flies demonstrates that extra sleep helps the brain overcome catastrophic neurological defects that otherwise would block memory formation, report scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

24 Apr 2015

Oncologists publish review of advanced clinical treatments for pancreatic cancer

The oncologists Manuel Hidalgo, Director of the Clinical Research Programme of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, and Ignacio Garrido-Laguna, member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute of the University of Utah (USA), have recently published a review of state-of-the-art clinical treatments for pancreatic cancer -- including the most current therapies and innovative research -- in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.

24 Apr 2015

Study points to TMPRSS2 gene as culprit for aggressive forms of androgen-fuelled cancers

A new study led by University of Toronto researcher Dr. David Lam has discovered the trigger behind the most severe forms of cancer pain. Released in top journal Pain this month, the study points to TMPRSS2 as the culprit: a gene that is also responsible for some of the most aggressive forms of androgen-fuelled cancers.

24 Apr 2015

Penn researchers find molecular bond between DNA damage, cellular senescence and premature aging

Like a beloved pair of jeans, human DNA accumulates damage over time, and older people's bodies can't repair it as well. Many scientists believe a build up of damage can cause cells to enter an irreversible dormant state known as senescence. Cellular senescence is believed to be responsible for some of the telltale signs of aging, such as weakened bones, less resilient skin and slow-downs in organ function.

24 Apr 2015

Scientists identify possible new genes that could change benign skin growths into fatal melanomas

A Houston Methodist-led team of international scientists has identified hundreds of possible new genes in mice that could transform benign skin growths into deadly melanomas.

24 Apr 2015

EMD Millipore launches Magna ChIRP RNA Interactome Kits for analyzing chromatin-associated RNAs

EMD Millipore, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, today introduced Magna ChIRP™ RNA Interactome Kits, which allow researchers to more easily identify, recover and analyze regions of chromatin that interact with chromatin-associated RNAs such as long non-coding RNA (lncRNA).

23 Apr 2015

Epigenetic processes influence children's later ability to learn and cognitive performance

Although it is now widely recognised that a poor start to life has long-term effects on a child's later ability to learn, the mechanisms by which the environment in early life affects later life chances are poorly understood.

23 Apr 2015

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

UC Davis researchers settle long-standing controversy surrounding Canavan disease

Gas naturally produced within our bodies reduces severity of RSV infection, UTMB study finds

New T1D Prevention Initiative launched to identify pathways to prevent type 1 diabetes

WCH researchers identify new breast cancer gene

Study suggests that inhibiting FOXO1 protein could speed diabetic wound healing

Yale researchers successfully correct gene mutation that causes cystic fibrosis

ISSCR calls for moratorium on human germline genome editing attempts in clinical practice

Researchers show potential of stem cell-based therapy in treating brain-metastatic breast cancer

Therapeutic candidate BLU-554 has significant anti-tumor activity in HCC models

Researchers identify potential treatment target for fragile X carriers

Study explores innovative approach to identifying successful treatment for HER2+ breast cancer

New method could help scientists spot source of disease-causing mutations in enhancers

Study identifies BLU-554 as potential treatment option for HCC patients

Fruit fly study shows that extra sleep helps the brain overcome neurological defects

Oncologists publish review of advanced clinical treatments for pancreatic cancer

Study points to TMPRSS2 gene as culprit for aggressive forms of androgen-fuelled cancers

Penn researchers find molecular bond between DNA damage, cellular senescence and premature aging

Scientists identify possible new genes that could change benign skin growths into fatal melanomas

EMD Millipore launches Magna ChIRP RNA Interactome Kits for analyzing chromatin-associated RNAs

Epigenetic processes influence children's later ability to learn and cognitive performance

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich