Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Single mutation in beta-catenin gene can lead to infertility

Scientists from the RIKEN BioResource Center in Tsukuba, Japan, have discovered that a single mutation in the beta-catenin gene, which codes a protein known to be deeply involved in a number of developmental and homeostatic processes, can lead to infertility not through a disruption of the production of egg or sperm cells, but rather by leading to abnormalities in the morphology of the sexual organs, making natural reproduction impossible.

7 Nov 2014

Zinc supplements more beneficial for some people with diabetes

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and elsewhere have found that genetic differences may account for why zinc supplements are more beneficial to some people than to others for the prevention and control of diabetes. The results of their pilot study of a population of Old Order Amish is believed to be the first to point out the relevance of small genetic differences in response to zinc supplementation at play in diabetes management.

7 Nov 2014

Salk Institute researchers heal injured hearts of living mice

Researchers at the Salk Institute have healed injured hearts of living mice by reactivating long dormant molecular machinery found in the animals' cells, a finding that could help pave the way to new therapies for heart disorders in humans.

7 Nov 2014

Olaparib shows promise for advanced cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

Olaparib, an experimental twice-daily oral cancer drug, produces an overall tumor response rate of 26 percent in several advanced cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, according to new research co-led by the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

7 Nov 2014

Scientists awarded grant to investigate new drug-based treatment for NF2

Scientists from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry have been awarded a grant from young person's cancer charity The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust to investigate a new drug-based treatment for a multi-tumour brain and nervous system cancer which affects teenagers and young adults.

6 Nov 2014

Researchers develop 'smart bomb' to attack B-lineage ALL

Fatih Uckun, Jianjun Cheng and their colleagues have taken the first steps towards developing a so-called "smart bomb" to attack the most common and deadly form of childhood cancer — called B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

6 Nov 2014

MMRF initiative aims to speed up evaluation of new investigational drugs for multiple myeloma

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation today announced an initiative designed to accelerate the evaluation of new investigational therapies for multiple myeloma (MM).

6 Nov 2014

NIH boosts funding for first large-scale clinical trial aimed at identifying drugs for Alzheimer's

The National Institutes of Health has boosted funding for the first large-scale clinical trial aimed at identifying drugs to stop or slow Alzheimer's disease in people destined to get the debilitating illness.

6 Nov 2014

Joslin researcher identifies molecular pathway that causes neural tube defects in diabetic pregnancies

Mary R. Loeken, Ph.D., Investigator in the Section on Islet Cell and Regenerative Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, has discovered a molecular pathway responsible for neural tube defects in diabetic pregnancies. Her latest research findings in this pathway were published in the October issue of Diabetes.

6 Nov 2014

EKF Molecular Diagnostics to present at AMP annual meeting

EKF, announces that senior executives from EKF Molecular Diagnostics including CEO, Andrew Webb, will be present at the Association for Molecular Pathology.

From EKF Diagnostics 6 Nov 2014

OGT workshop to focus on using latest genomic technologies for accelerating cancer research

Oxford Gene Technology, The Molecular Genetics Company, will present a workshop titled ‘An Integrated Genomic Approach to Tumor Profiling’ at the Association for Molecular Pathology annual meeting on the 12-15th November at National Harbor, MD.

From Oxford Gene Technology 6 Nov 2014

Murdoch University researchers receive NHMRC grant to develop genetic drugs for rare diseases

Murdoch University researchers from the Centre for Comparative Genomics have received almost $800,000 in funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to develop genetic drugs to treat rare diseases.

6 Nov 2014

New study finds link between conflict and reinforcement learning

We celebrate our triumphs over adversity, but let's face it: We'd rather not experience difficulty at all. A new study ties that behavioral inclination to learning: When researchers added a bit of conflict to make a learning task more difficult, that additional conflict biased learning by reducing the influence of reward and increasing the influence of aversion to punishment.

6 Nov 2014

Researchers develop mouse model that reproduces most typical features of Noonan syndrome

Noonan syndrome is a rare disease that is characterised by a set of pathologies, including heart, facial and skeletal alterations, pulmonary stenosis, short stature, and a greater incidence of haematological problems (mainly juvenile myeloid leukaemia, or childhood leukaemia).

6 Nov 2014

Effects of unhealthy lifestyle persist even after atherosclerosis treatment

Almost everyone knows that improving your eating habits will most likely improve your health. What most people may not know, however, is that the effects of poor eating habits persist long after dietary habits are improved. In a new report appearing in the November 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, scientists use mice to show that even after successful treatment of atherosclerosis (including lowering of blood cholesterol and a change in dietary habits) the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle still affect the way the immune system functions.

6 Nov 2014

Study measures effects of high-fat maternal diet on the cognitive functioning of offspring

New research suggests that a high-fat maternal diet during pregnancy and while breastfeeding could have significant and lasting detrimental effects on the brain function and behavior of children.

5 Nov 2014

ProstaCaid dietary supplement supports prostate health

A recent presentation at an international cancer research conference in Greece reviewed the body of data on ProstaCaid, a dietary supplement compound for prostate health. A number of published studies demonstrate the formula's effects in supporting prostate health against specific prostate cancer cell lines and prostate urinary symptoms.

5 Nov 2014

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) appear to have a lot in common. They share risk factors such as obesity and they often occur together. If they also share the same genetic underpinings, then doctors could devise a way to treat them together too.

4 Nov 2014

Researchers identify genetic markers that play role in alcoholism recovery

In an international study, Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have identified genetic markers that may help in identifying individuals who could benefit from the alcoholism treatment drug acamprosate. The findings, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, show that patients carrying these genetic variants have longer periods of abstinence during the first three months of acamprosate treatment.

4 Nov 2014

Gefitinib drug boosts oesophageal cancer patients' survival by up to six months

Patients with a specific type of oesophageal cancer survived longer when they were given the latest lung cancer drug, according to trial results being presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference today (Wednesday).

4 Nov 2014

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Single mutation in beta-catenin gene can lead to infertility

Zinc supplements more beneficial for some people with diabetes

Salk Institute researchers heal injured hearts of living mice

Olaparib shows promise for advanced cancers associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

Scientists awarded grant to investigate new drug-based treatment for NF2

Researchers develop 'smart bomb' to attack B-lineage ALL

MMRF initiative aims to speed up evaluation of new investigational drugs for multiple myeloma

NIH boosts funding for first large-scale clinical trial aimed at identifying drugs for Alzheimer's

Joslin researcher identifies molecular pathway that causes neural tube defects in diabetic pregnancies

EKF Molecular Diagnostics to present at AMP annual meeting

OGT workshop to focus on using latest genomic technologies for accelerating cancer research

Murdoch University researchers receive NHMRC grant to develop genetic drugs for rare diseases

New study finds link between conflict and reinforcement learning

Researchers develop mouse model that reproduces most typical features of Noonan syndrome

Effects of unhealthy lifestyle persist even after atherosclerosis treatment

Study measures effects of high-fat maternal diet on the cognitive functioning of offspring

ProstaCaid dietary supplement supports prostate health

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors

Researchers identify genetic markers that play role in alcoholism recovery

Gefitinib drug boosts oesophageal cancer patients' survival by up to six months

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