Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers describe the complete genome of Daphnia

From an environmental perspective, Daphnia pulex -- the waterflea - is the best-studied organism on the planet. Scientists know how this species responds to pollution, predators, day and night, making it an important model for ecological and evolutionary research. Its genome, however, remained elusive, limiting understanding of how the environment and genes interact.

5 Feb 2011

Researchers find RIPs remain active, continue to produce new insertions in human genome

An ambitious hunt by Johns Hopkins scientists for actively "jumping genes" in humans has yielded compelling new evidence that the genome, anything but static, contains numerous pesky mobile elements that may help to explain why people have such a variety of physical traits and disease risks.

5 Feb 2011

Partek signs distribution agreement with Life Technologies

Partek Incorporated, a global leader in bioinformatics software, announced today the signing of a distribution agreement with Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of next-generation DNA sequencing technology. The agreement makes Partek Genomics Suite available through Life Technologies as a featured solution for analyzing data generated by Life Technologies' next-generation sequencing devices.

5 Feb 2011

Lack of DOT1L enzyme could lead to some types of heart disease: Study

Everyone knows chocolate is critical to a happy Valentine's Day. Now scientists are one step closer to knowing what makes a heart happy the rest of the year.

5 Feb 2011

Scientists discover how stressed cells boost thrombin production

In our not-so-distant evolutionary past, stress often meant imminent danger, and the risk of blood loss, so part of our body's stress response is to stock-pile blood-clotting factors. Scientists in the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, a collaboration between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, and the University of Heidelberg Medical Centre, have discovered how stressed cells boost the production of the key blood-clotting factor, thrombin.

4 Feb 2011

Study: 7% biodiesel blended in regular diesel does not cause greater health risks than pure fossil diesel

Up to seven per cent biodiesel blended in regular diesel will presumably not cause greater health risks for the population than the use of pure fossil diesel. This is the main conclusion in a memorandum from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Climate and Pollution Control Agency (formerly SFT) to the Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Ministry of the Environment in Norway.

4 Feb 2011

Lampreys may have dual immune defense system similar to that of humans

Biologists have discovered that primitive, predatory lampreys have structures within their gills that play the same role as the thymus, the organ where immune cells called T cells develop in mammals, birds and fish.

4 Feb 2011

Scientists discover how stressed cells boost production of key blood-clotting factor, thrombin

Scientists in a collaboration between EMBL Heidelberg and the University of Heidelberg Medical Centre have discovered how stressed cells boost the production of the key blood-clotting factor, thrombin. Their work, published today in Molecular Cell, shows how cancer cells may be taking advantage of this process, and opens new possibilities for fighting back against cancer and septicaemia.

4 Feb 2011

Method to comprehensively characterize human embryonic stem cell lines and iPS cell lines

Ever since researchers devised a recipe for turning adult cells into cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells, there has been lingering doubt in the field about just how close to embryonic stem cells each of those cell lines really is at a molecular and functional level. Now, researchers reporting in the February 4th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication, have developed a systematic way to lay those doubts about quality to rest.

4 Feb 2011

Research unmasks long sought stem cell origin of carcinoma

A constellation of different stem cell populations within our skin help it to cope with normal wear and tear. By constantly proliferating, the stem cells allow skin to replenish itself, allowing each cell to be replaced by a new one about once a month. But the normal cycle of division and death within one or more of these stem cell types can sometimes be derailed by genetic mishaps. Such events are believed to spawn carcinomas and other deadly skin cancers, which are the mostly frequently diagnosed cancers in the United States.

4 Feb 2011

More needs to be done globally to fight cancer

WHILE cancer statistics for the last 10 years make encouraging reading, more needs to be done globally to fight the killer disease.

4 Feb 2011

Digna Biotech, CIMA receive EU grant for development of gene therapy product for Acute Intermittent Porphyria

Digna Biotech and the Centro de Investigacion Medica Aplicada (CIMA) de la Universidad de Navarra announced today that the European Union (EU) has finalized a EUR 3.3 million grant to AIPGENE consortium. Digna Biotech and CIMA will receive, as members of the consortium, EUR 0.5 and EUR 0.8 million respectively for the clinical development of a gene therapy product for Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP).

4 Feb 2011

UM researchers find genetic cause of retinitis pigmentosa

Researchers led by geneticists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have identified a new gene that causes retinitis pigmentosa, a form of blindness, ending one South Florida family's nearly 20-year search for what caused three of their four children to lose their sight.

4 Feb 2011

Cell signaling hormone boosts immune response to clear HIV-like infection

Australian scientists have successfully cleared a HIV-like infection from mice by boosting the function of cells vital to the immune response.

4 Feb 2011

New study provides insight into mechanism behind breast cancer mutation

A new study sheds light on why individuals who inherit a particular family of mutations have a high risk of developing a very aggressive form of breast cancer. The research, published by Cell Press on February 4th in the journal Cell Stem Cell, shows that breast tissue cells from these individuals make abnormal cell-fate decisions even before cancer develops and provides exciting new insights into the mechanisms behind one of the most lethal types of breast cancer.

4 Feb 2011

More careful regulation of FDA's Humanitarian Device Exemption in psychiatric patients needed

Warning that patients could be at risk, an interdisciplinary group of multinational investigators is calling on the U.S. Congress and federal regulators to tighten a law that permits use of brain devices to treat rare neuropsychiatric disorders without supporting clinical trials or stringent patient oversight.

4 Feb 2011

Study: Pistachios may help reduce risk of heart disease

It's no coincidence that National Pistachio Day – February 26, 2011 – occurs during American Heart Month. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in America, and promising nutrition research shows that pistachios are a heart healthy snack choice. In honor of American Heart Month, TheGreenNut.org is offering simple tips encouraging all Americans to go green for a healthy heart this February.

4 Feb 2011

Ceregene initiates enrollment and dosing in CERE-120 Phase 2b trial for Parkinson's disease

Ceregene, a biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it is progressing with enrollment and dosing in its CERE-120 Phase 2b multi-center, sham-surgery, double-blinded controlled trial in Parkinson's disease.

3 Feb 2011

Nitto Denko announces acquisition of Avecia Biotechnology

Japan's leading diversified materials manufacturer, Nitto Denko Corporation, today announced that it has acquired Avecia Biotechnology, Inc. through Nitto Americas, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary in Teaneck, New Jersey.

3 Feb 2011

Genetic component to Parkinson’s disease discovered

Parkinson’s disease, a severely degenerative disease of the brain leading to tremors, muscle rigidity and finally immobility was until the 1990’s believed to be due to environmental factors, lifestyle and a person’s age. However, now scientists have discovered five more genes that influence its development.

3 Feb 2011

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Researchers describe the complete genome of Daphnia

Researchers find RIPs remain active, continue to produce new insertions in human genome

Partek signs distribution agreement with Life Technologies

Lack of DOT1L enzyme could lead to some types of heart disease: Study

Scientists discover how stressed cells boost thrombin production

Study: 7% biodiesel blended in regular diesel does not cause greater health risks than pure fossil diesel

Lampreys may have dual immune defense system similar to that of humans

Scientists discover how stressed cells boost production of key blood-clotting factor, thrombin

Method to comprehensively characterize human embryonic stem cell lines and iPS cell lines

Research unmasks long sought stem cell origin of carcinoma

More needs to be done globally to fight cancer

Digna Biotech, CIMA receive EU grant for development of gene therapy product for Acute Intermittent Porphyria

UM researchers find genetic cause of retinitis pigmentosa

Cell signaling hormone boosts immune response to clear HIV-like infection

New study provides insight into mechanism behind breast cancer mutation

More careful regulation of FDA's Humanitarian Device Exemption in psychiatric patients needed

Study: Pistachios may help reduce risk of heart disease

Ceregene initiates enrollment and dosing in CERE-120 Phase 2b trial for Parkinson's disease

Nitto Denko announces acquisition of Avecia Biotechnology

Genetic component to Parkinson’s disease discovered

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging