Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Synthetic mRNA nanoparticles restore tumor suppressor gene, make cancer cells susceptible to drugs

In preclinical experiments, investigators restored p53 using synthetic mRNA nanoparticles, making lung and liver cancer cells susceptible to available cancer drugs.

23 Dec 2019

Inserting end-modified DNA fragments with CRISPR-Cas9 yields highest efficiency

University of Illinois researchers achieved the highest reported rates of inserting genes into human cells with the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system, a necessary step for harnessing CRISPR for clinical gene-therapy applications.

23 Dec 2019

Ancestral-sequence reconstruction of FMO genes unveils structure of important enzyme

To disarm toxic substances, many organisms - including humans - possess enzymes called flavin-containing monooxygenases. Despite their importance, the structure of the enzymes has not been resolved, as the protein is too unstable to study in detail.

23 Dec 2019

Research findings may one day help keep ALS at bay

A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine on December 23, 2019, shows how to silence a defective gene responsible for the degeneration of the motor neurons in Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in adult mice. This could help prevent disease progression if the condition is already symptomatic, and even suppress the illness if it has not yet started.

23 Dec 2019

Immunosupressant combination therapy for glioblastoma shows promise

Researchers from the University of Texas have found an immunosuppressing target for the treatment of glioblastoma. In mice studies the team has identified CD73 macrophages which could be used to treat the cancers. The team also performed studies on human tumours to arrive at their conclusions. The study was published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Medicine this week.

23 Dec 2019

New, faster and cheaper method to uncover genetic variants in single cells

Researchers led by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg and the Center for Bioinformatics at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany, have developed a cheaper and faster method to check for genetic differences in individual cells, which outperforms existing techniques with respect to the information received.

23 Dec 2019

NIH awards $1.2 million grant for studying biomolecular interactions to inform better drug design

Biomolecules -- carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids -- form the foundation of life and are responsible for carrying out every process that occurs in our bodies.

23 Dec 2019

IU researchers identify potential target to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have made several novel discoveries in the field of spinal cord injuries. Most recently, the team led by Xiao-Ming Xu, PhD, has been working to determine how to activate movement after a spinal cord injury at the ninth thoracic level, where nerve fibers from the brain down to the spinal cord are interrupted.

22 Dec 2019

McGill study finds new role of apolipoprotein E4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease

For years, physicians have been aware that patients carrying the apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4) gene are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. New research from McGill University has now found the gene plays an even greater role in dementia.

21 Dec 2019

Study uncovers a previously unknown subtype of muscle stem cells

Scientists have discovered a new subtype of muscle stem cells. These cells have the ability to build and regenerate new muscles, making them interesting targets for the development of gene therapies.

21 Dec 2019

Genomic data can accurately and reliably predict stroke risk

Estimates based on genomic data predict stroke risk with an accuracy similar to, or greater than those based on clinical risk factors. This result implies that persons at high risk might benefit from more rigorous preventive measures.

21 Dec 2019

Artificial intelligence can detect AML with high reliability

Artificial intelligence can detect one of the most common forms of blood cancer - acute myeloid leukemia (AML) - with high reliability.

20 Dec 2019

Kobe scientists develop mathematical model to predict cancer drug side effects

A research team at Kobe University Hospital have further illuminated the likelihood of cancer drug side effects that can occur due to genetic mutations in the drug-metabolizing enzyme.

20 Dec 2019

Could high cholesterol lead to motor neuron disease?

Researchers suggest that motor neuron disease may be linked to an abnormal build-up of cholesterol and other lipids within cellular compartments.

20 Dec 2019

p53 may play a more important role in kidney cancer than previously thought

The p53 gene, which researchers had thought was less relevant in kidney cancer, may play an important role after all – a discovery that could lead to new treatments.

20 Dec 2019

Combined datasets can expedite the discovery and development of new cancer drugs

A comprehensive map of genes necessary for cancer survival is one step closer, following the validation of the two largest CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens in 725 cancer models, across 25 different cancer types.

20 Dec 2019

Jefferson researcher probes kidney cancer's genes for interactions with p53 pathway

p53 is the most famous cancer gene, not least because it's involved in causing over 50% of all cancers. When a cell loses its p53 gene -- when the gene becomes mutated -- it unleashes many processes that lead to the uncontrolled cell growth and refusal to die, which are hallmarks of cancer growth.

20 Dec 2019

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Synthetic mRNA nanoparticles restore tumor suppressor gene, make cancer cells susceptible to drugs

Inserting end-modified DNA fragments with CRISPR-Cas9 yields highest efficiency

Ancestral-sequence reconstruction of FMO genes unveils structure of important enzyme

Research findings may one day help keep ALS at bay

Immunosupressant combination therapy for glioblastoma shows promise

New, faster and cheaper method to uncover genetic variants in single cells

NIH awards $1.2 million grant for studying biomolecular interactions to inform better drug design

IU researchers identify potential target to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury

McGill study finds new role of apolipoprotein E4 gene in Alzheimer’s disease

Study uncovers a previously unknown subtype of muscle stem cells

Genomic data can accurately and reliably predict stroke risk

Artificial intelligence can detect AML with high reliability

Kobe scientists develop mathematical model to predict cancer drug side effects

Could high cholesterol lead to motor neuron disease?

p53 may play a more important role in kidney cancer than previously thought

Combined datasets can expedite the discovery and development of new cancer drugs

Jefferson researcher probes kidney cancer's genes for interactions with p53 pathway

Links between most human diseases and genetics are shaky at best

Scientists explain how a common virus causes havoc on bone marrow, organ transplant patients

Penn researchers use MRI scans to predict 10-year breast cancer recurrence

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