Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Leptin polymorphism combinations influence BMI in Chinese

The presence of genetic variants in both the leptin gene and the gene for its receptor may predispose Chinese individuals to obesity, report researchers.

7 Aug 2012

Schizophrenia may be linked to immune function

New Australian research shows that the brains of people with schizophrenia may be under attack by the immune system, providing the strongest evidence to date of a link between immune function and schizophrenia.

7 Aug 2012

Researchers discover genetic cause of type VII mucopolysaccharidosis in Brazilian Terriers

The genetics research group led by Professor Hannes Lohi, based at the University of Helsinki and the Folkh-lsan Research Center, has, in collaboration with Adjunct Professor Kirsi Sainio's research group, discovered the cause of a life-threatening skeletal disorder affecting Brazilian Terriers. The disease is caused by a mutation in the GUSB gene.

7 Aug 2012

Children of U.S.-born Latina women more likely to develop retinoblastoma

In a large epidemiologic study, researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center found that the children of U.S.-born Latina women are at higher risk of having retinoblastoma, a malignant tumor of the retina which typically occurs in children under six.

7 Aug 2012

Scientists discover biological marker that may help identify patients’ response to antidepressants

Scientists have discovered a biological marker that may help to identify which depressed patients will respond to an experimental, rapid-acting antidepressant. The brain signal, detectable by noninvasive imaging, also holds clues to the agent's underlying mechanism, which are vital for drug development, say National Institutes of Health researchers.

7 Aug 2012

Studies in mice reveal how mood-altering drugs may affect brain stem cells

Working with mice, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have figured out how stem cells found in a part of the brain responsible for learning, memory and mood regulation decide to remain dormant or create new brain cells. Apparently, the stem cells "listen in" on the chemical communication among nearby neurons to get an idea about what is stressing the system and when they need to act.

7 Aug 2012

Changes in monocytes are biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) are the first to discover that changes in monocytes (a type of white blood cell) are a biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease. This finding also brings the medical community a step closer toward a new treatment for the debilitating neurological disease that affects approximately 30,000 Americans.

7 Aug 2012

Fainting appears to have strong genetic predisposition

Fainting has a strong genetic predisposition, according to new research published in the August 7, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Fainting, also called vasovagal syncope, is a brief loss of consciousness when your body reacts to certain triggers, such as emotional distress or the sight of blood.

7 Aug 2012

Mutations in Ras gene alone may not cause tumours

Despite a huge amount of research effort, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the transition from a "normal" cell to a cancerous cell are only poorly understood. After the discovery of the first cancer-causing genes or oncogenes and the finding that they are mutated forms of normal cellular genes, it was widely believed that a single mutation was enough to cause cancer.

6 Aug 2012

Potential drug targets and prognostic markers for prostate cancer

Two proteins that act in opposing directions - one that promotes cancer and one that suppresses cancer - regulate the same set of genes in prostate cancer, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers have found.

6 Aug 2012

New research center to expedite study of gene transfer approach

In an alliance aimed at bringing a new, personalized immunotherapy approach to patients with a wide variety of cancers, the University of Pennsylvania and Novartis announced today an exclusive global research and licensing agreement to further study and commercialize novel cellular immunotherapies using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technologies.

6 Aug 2012

NeoGenomics introduces new molecular assay that detects SF3B1 gene mutations

NeoGenomics, Inc., a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services, announced today that it has validated and launched the first molecular assay for clinical use in the United States that detects mutations in the SF3B1 gene (splicing factor 3b, subunit 1).

6 Aug 2012

Novartis, Penn partner to study and commercialize novel cellular immunotherapies for cancer

6 Aug 2012

Similar molecular pathways involved in intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes

Intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes involves similar molecular pathways report researchers in The EMBO Journal. The two disorders share disturbances in the molecular events that regulate the way nerve cells develop dendritic spines, the small extensions found on the surface of nerve cells that are crucial for communication in the brain.

3 Aug 2012

New role for oncogenic signaling pathway in embryonic stem cell self-renewal

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the University of Manchester, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center have found a new role for an oncogenic signaling pathway in embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and in reprogramming adult cells into an ESC-state, which will aid in the development of future cancer therapies.

3 Aug 2012

Depression in kidney cancer patients associated with survival and inflammatory gene regulation

Research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found that symptoms of depression in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic kidney cancer are associated with survival and inflammatory gene regulation may explain this link.

3 Aug 2012

HSF1 increases expression of chaperones and supports cancer metastasis

Whitehead Institute researchers have found that increased expression of a specific set of genes is strongly associated with metastasis and death in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers.

3 Aug 2012

Researchers discover surprising and unexpected plasticity in the embryonic endothelium

UCLA stem cell researchers have found for the first time a surprising and unexpected plasticity in the embryonic endothelium, the place where blood stem cells are made in early development.

3 Aug 2012

Researchers uncover 9 new genes associated with bone health

Researchers have uncovered 9 new genes associated with bone health. This collaborative study found clues to the cause of bone disorders such as osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and high bone density syndromes by investigating the bone mineral content, strength and flexibility.

3 Aug 2012

Affymetrix announces availability of SensationPlus FFPE Amplification and 3' IVT Labeling Kit

Affymetrix, Inc. announced today the availability of SensationPlus FFPE Amplification and 3' IVT Labeling Kit (SensationPlus FFPE Reagent Kit), consisting of RNA amplification and labeling modules, to enable gene expression profiling of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples on GeneChip 3' IVT arrays and Almac XcelTM Array for disease clinical research and retrospective studies.

3 Aug 2012

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Leptin polymorphism combinations influence BMI in Chinese

Schizophrenia may be linked to immune function

Researchers discover genetic cause of type VII mucopolysaccharidosis in Brazilian Terriers

Children of U.S.-born Latina women more likely to develop retinoblastoma

Scientists discover biological marker that may help identify patients’ response to antidepressants

Studies in mice reveal how mood-altering drugs may affect brain stem cells

Changes in monocytes are biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Fainting appears to have strong genetic predisposition

Mutations in Ras gene alone may not cause tumours

Potential drug targets and prognostic markers for prostate cancer

New research center to expedite study of gene transfer approach

NeoGenomics introduces new molecular assay that detects SF3B1 gene mutations

Novartis, Penn partner to study and commercialize novel cellular immunotherapies for cancer

Similar molecular pathways involved in intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes

New role for oncogenic signaling pathway in embryonic stem cell self-renewal

Depression in kidney cancer patients associated with survival and inflammatory gene regulation

HSF1 increases expression of chaperones and supports cancer metastasis

Researchers discover surprising and unexpected plasticity in the embryonic endothelium

Researchers uncover 9 new genes associated with bone health

Affymetrix announces availability of SensationPlus FFPE Amplification and 3' IVT Labeling Kit

Industry focus eBook - Cell and gene therapy (2nd edition) eBook

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems