Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

CD20 deficiency in humans results in impaired T cell-independent antibody responses

Antibodies directed against the protein CD20, which is expressed by immune cells known as B cells, are used to treat B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis.

22 Dec 2009

Common variations in genes associated with microcephaly may explain differences in brain size

A group of Norwegian and American researchers have shown that common variations in genes associated with microcephaly - a neuro-developmental disorder in which brain size is dramatically reduced - may explain differences in brain size in healthy individuals as well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.

22 Dec 2009

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified an important genetic cause of a devastating kidney disease that is the second leading cause of kidney failure in children, according to The NephCure Foundation.

22 Dec 2009

BUSM researchers discover new gene therapy for treating emphysema patients

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered a new gene therapy that may prevent the progression of emphysema. The study, which appears on-line in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, describes a method to express therapeutic genes in lung tissue for a lifetime after only a single treatment.

22 Dec 2009

Scientists identify new therapeutic approach for overcoming emphysema

Individuals with single-gene mutations that mean they have abnormally low levels of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin are highly susceptible to emphysema, a progressive lung disease that causes severe shortness of breath.

22 Dec 2009

Investigation of IDH1 gene mutations in brain cancer receives new funds

Agios Pharmaceuticals, the leading biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs in the emerging field of cancer metabolism, announced today that it has received funding from Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), a non-profit organization that supports brain cancer research. ABC2’s funding will enable new research investigating IDH1 gene mutations in brain cancer, with the goal of supplementing Agios’s ongoing research into the development of new IDH1 therapeutics and diagnostics.

21 Dec 2009

Book on physiology of eating and weight regulation

The development of effective preventive and therapeutic measures to control eating and body weight involves basic physiology as well as cognitive and social psychology.

21 Dec 2009

Researchers determine structures of two enzymes that customize histones

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have determined the structures of two enzymes that customize histones, the spool-like proteins around which DNA coils inside the cell.

20 Dec 2009

GE Global Ubiquitous Health Research and Development Center to be established

Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), GE Healthcare and Bio Research Complex (BRC) announced today the signing of a five year plan to invest in the establishment of the “GE Global Ubiquitous Health Research and Development Center” (GE Global u-Health R&D Center).

19 Dec 2009

Possible link between presence of breast cancer genes and infertility discovered

A New York Medical College physician who specializes in restoring or preserving fertility in female cancer patients has discovered a possible link between the presence of breast cancer genes and infertility.

19 Dec 2009

Nu Skin Enterprises launches the new ageLOC Future Serum

Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. introduced the new ageLOC Future Serum to more than 10,000 sales representatives at its launch event in Japan. Japanese distributors were eager to be in the first market to fully launch one of the company's new ageLOC skin care products that targets the sources of aging by resetting youth gene clusters to a more youthful pattern. The ageLOC products are marketed as 'genLOC' in Japan.

18 Dec 2009

Influence of key transcription factor is less widespread than thought and varies over time

For decades, science texts have told a simple and straightforward story about a particular protein-a transcription factor-that helps the embryo of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, pattern tissues in a manner that depends on the levels of this factor within individual cells.

18 Dec 2009

UAB professors honored for scientific contributions and outstanding mentorship

Three University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professors have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

18 Dec 2009

Researchers discover how protein can be controlled and under what circumstances it can go awry

A team of researchers studying the protein that, when defective or absent, causes cystic fibrosis (CF) has made an important discovery about how that protein is normally controlled and under what circumstances it might go awry.

18 Dec 2009

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers have identified a naturally occurring human protein that helps prevent infection by H1N1 influenza and other viruses, including West Nile and dengue virus.

18 Dec 2009

Genetic variant associated with reduced risk of COPD

What: Researchers have discovered evidence that suggests a genetic variant may be associated with better preserved lung function among children with asthma and adults who smoke, according to a new study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which is part of the National Institutes of Health.

18 Dec 2009

Flu-fighting proteins found in human cells stop flu virus, uncover scientists

In findings that may lead to better ways to prevent and treat influenza and other viral infections, researchers report the discovery of a family of naturally occurring antiviral agents in human cells.

18 Dec 2009

Comprehensive approaches to understand the interaction of H1N1 strains with human cells

Scientists have generated hundreds of new leads in the fight against the H1N1 flu pandemic, according to two new studies published online December 17th in the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication.

18 Dec 2009

Large-scale genomic sequencing of microbes and ecosystems proposed for greatest impact in medicine

Scientists can gain insights into new ways to use microorganisms in medicine and manufacturing through a coordinated large-scale effort to sequence the genomes of not just individual microorganisms but entire ecosystems, according to a new report from the American Academy of Microbiology that outlines recommendations for this massive effort.

18 Dec 2009

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

Researchers from the UC San Diego, School of Medicine and colleagues have identified a new gene, ETS-1, that is linked to human congenital heart defects. The landmark study, recently published online in the journal of Human Molecular Genetics, provides important insights into some of the most prevalent forms of congenital heart defects in humans, including ventricular septal defects and potentially hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a uniformly fatal heart abnormality.

18 Dec 2009

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

CD20 deficiency in humans results in impaired T cell-independent antibody responses

Common variations in genes associated with microcephaly may explain differences in brain size

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

BUSM researchers discover new gene therapy for treating emphysema patients

Scientists identify new therapeutic approach for overcoming emphysema

Investigation of IDH1 gene mutations in brain cancer receives new funds

Book on physiology of eating and weight regulation

Researchers determine structures of two enzymes that customize histones

GE Global Ubiquitous Health Research and Development Center to be established

Possible link between presence of breast cancer genes and infertility discovered

Nu Skin Enterprises launches the new ageLOC Future Serum

Influence of key transcription factor is less widespread than thought and varies over time

UAB professors honored for scientific contributions and outstanding mentorship

Researchers discover how protein can be controlled and under what circumstances it can go awry

Human protein may help prevent H1N1 infection

Genetic variant associated with reduced risk of COPD

Flu-fighting proteins found in human cells stop flu virus, uncover scientists

Comprehensive approaches to understand the interaction of H1N1 strains with human cells

Large-scale genomic sequencing of microbes and ecosystems proposed for greatest impact in medicine

Landmark study provides new insight into congenital heart defects

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