Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Ronin, Hcf-1 bind together to control gene program that stimulates growth of stem cells

Ronin, crucial to the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, and a co-regulator called Hcf-1, binds to a small strand of DNA called a hyperconserved enhancer element to control a gene "program" that stimulates growth of the stem cells and may even play a role in cancer, said a group of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine in a current report in the journal Genes and Development.

1 Jul 2010

Mutations in Siglec-8 gene may play role in asthma: Research

A gene that encodes a protein responsible for determining whether certain immune cells live or die shows subtle differences in some people with asthma, a team led by Johns Hopkins researchers reports in the June European Journal of Human Genetics.

1 Jul 2010

Highly specific assay developed to detect ERG alterations in prostate cancer

Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Prostate Disease Research, in collaboration with investigators at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, have developed a highly specific assay for the detection of ERG, a protein associated with tumor formations which is present in more than half of all prostate cancers.

1 Jul 2010

New research identifies memory and brain scan as best tests for predicting Alzheimer's disease

New research has identified the memory and brain scan tests that appear to predict best whether a person with cognitive problems might develop Alzheimer's disease. The research is published in the June 30, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1 Jul 2010

Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy causes permanent genetic damage in newborns

Newborns of non-smoking moms exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have genetic mutations that may affect long-term health, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study published online in the Open Pediatric Medicine Journal. The abnormalities, which were indistinguishable from those found in newborns of mothers who were active smokers, may affect survival, birth weight and lifelong susceptibility to diseases like cancer.

1 Jul 2010

Rubicon Genomics' PicoPlex linear WGA technology proves effective in clinical study

Rubicon Genomics today announced that its PicoPlex linear whole genome amplification technology was proven to be effective in an independent clinical study organized by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. At a press conference during its 26th Annual Meeting in Rome, ESHRE reported the success of its "groundbreaking proof of principle study" showing that a new approach incorporating PicoPlex could more accurately detect and characterize chromosomal abnormalities in human eggs.

1 Jul 2010

ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Response Genetics Inc., a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced that it has expanded its ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel to detect the presence of EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients. EML4-ALK fusion genes are present in about four percent of tumors from patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

1 Jul 2010

Gene diagnosis to be featured at 9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN

9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN, organized by Reed Exhibitions Japan, will come back again as Asia's largest bio-event from June 30 - July 2, 2010. "Gene diagnosis" is one of the featured topics for this year.

30 Jun 2010

Sirnaomics receives NIH SBIR grants to advance siRNA therapeutics for critical human diseases

Sirnaomics, Inc. announced today that the company has received two SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants from National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of National Institute of Health (NIH). Sirnaomics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company founded in early 2007, is dedicated to developing RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for treatment of critical human diseases.

30 Jun 2010

New hope for patients with drug-resistant depression

New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice characterized at Penn State University has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression.

30 Jun 2010

An innovative genetic prediction algorithm

A University of Toledo doctoral candidate in biomedical sciences recently combined the inspiration he received from his grandfather, values learned from his mother, insights gleaned from his mentors and processing power tapped from a supercomputer to unlock a few of the many secrets of the human genome.

29 Jun 2010

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that its applications for ALN-TTR01 have been given clearance by Portuguese, Swedish, and British regulatory authorities to begin clinical testing. The trial will begin enrolling patients shortly in a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase I study.

29 Jun 2010

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Researchers funded by JDRF have discovered that the hormone, serotonin, may be involved in the increase of insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy.

29 Jun 2010

Simple blood test may help detect chromosomal abnormalities in developing foetus

Researchers in The Netherlands believe they are on the verge of developing a simple, prenatal blood test that would be able to detect accurately chromosomal abnormalities in the developing foetus.

29 Jun 2010

Mammalian embryo use different strategies to suppress retroviral infection: Study

Some viruses insert themselves into the host's DNA during infection in a process called retroviral integration, causing several diseases, including AIDS and cancer, notes a Texas A&M researcher who specializes in fetal diseases.

29 Jun 2010

Signature Dx obtains worldwide license to Affymetrix microarray technology for development of CRC tests

Affymetrix, Inc. and Signature Diagnostics AG today announced that they have signed a Powered by Affymetrix™ (PbA) agreement. Under the agreement, Signature Dx obtains a worldwide license to use Affymetrix® microarray technology to develop and commercialize diagnostic and prognostic colorectal cancer (CRC) tests.

29 Jun 2010

High-phenolic-content olive oil modifies genes that promote inflammation

Health conscious consumers have long known that virgin olive oil is a good choice when it comes to preparing meals and dipping breads. Now, a team of researchers, including one with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has found that phenolic components in olive oil actually modify genes that are involved in the inflammatory response.

29 Jun 2010

Psychiatry and Pediatrics seeks volunteer families to participate in vitamin D study

Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Pediatrics (OHSU, Portland, Oregon) is seeking roughly 50-100 volunteer families to participate in a vitamin D study. The goal of the study is to find out whether giving Vitamin D to the pregnant mother, who already has had at least one previous child with autism, can prevent the recurrence of autism in the newborn sibling.

29 Jun 2010

Movable sequences of DNA are more common than previously thought

Researchers at the University of Leicester have demonstrated that movable sequences of DNA, which give rise to genetic variability and sometimes cause specific diseases, are far more common than previously thought.

29 Jun 2010

Emerald, FORMA sign strategic partnership for structure-based design of cancer drug candidates

Emerald BioStructures, a leading provider of integrated structural biology services, and FORMA Therapeutics, a drug discovery company, today announced the signing of a strategic partnership for the structure-based design of cancer drug candidates for FORMA's pipeline.

28 Jun 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Ronin, Hcf-1 bind together to control gene program that stimulates growth of stem cells

Mutations in Siglec-8 gene may play role in asthma: Research

Highly specific assay developed to detect ERG alterations in prostate cancer

New research identifies memory and brain scan as best tests for predicting Alzheimer's disease

Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy causes permanent genetic damage in newborns

Rubicon Genomics' PicoPlex linear WGA technology proves effective in clinical study

ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Gene diagnosis to be featured at 9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN

Sirnaomics receives NIH SBIR grants to advance siRNA therapeutics for critical human diseases

New hope for patients with drug-resistant depression

An innovative genetic prediction algorithm

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Simple blood test may help detect chromosomal abnormalities in developing foetus

Mammalian embryo use different strategies to suppress retroviral infection: Study

Signature Dx obtains worldwide license to Affymetrix microarray technology for development of CRC tests

High-phenolic-content olive oil modifies genes that promote inflammation

Psychiatry and Pediatrics seeks volunteer families to participate in vitamin D study

Movable sequences of DNA are more common than previously thought

Emerald, FORMA sign strategic partnership for structure-based design of cancer drug candidates

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