Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

New project to combat DMD-related fibrosis receives major funding boost

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is one of the most common congenital diseases in the world, affecting one in 3,500 Canadian males. DMD is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that results in progressive muscle degeneration and there are currently no effective treatments for DMD.

17 Aug 2018

Female mosquitoes quickly evolve selective mating behavior when faced with threats

Certain female mosquitoes quickly evolve more selective mating behavior when faced with existential threats from other invasive mosquito species, with concurrent changes to certain genetic regions, according to new research from North Carolina State University.

17 Aug 2018

Bacterial activity in child's mouth may serve as biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder

New research suggests that shifts in the bacteria within a child's mouth could provide objective biomarkers for identifying autism spectrum disorder.

17 Aug 2018

Lowering pH inside tumor cells can slow down spread of cancer

A new study focusing on the environment inside cancer cells may lead to new targeted treatment strategies.

17 Aug 2018

Research uncovers miscarriage cause, identifies potential targets for treatment

Tragic miscarriages for a couple have led to a discovery with potentially broad implications for future disease treatments, according to a team of researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. They identified a previously undiscovered gene mutation underlying hydrops fetalis – a fatal condition to fetuses due to fluid buildup in the space between organs.

16 Aug 2018

Study finds role of autoimmunity in development of COPD

Autoimmunity plays a role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study led by Georgia State University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center that analyzed human genome information stored in Vanderbilt's DNA biobank.

16 Aug 2018

FDA expands approval of Vertex' cystic fibrosis medicine to treat children aged 12 to <24 months

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved KALYDECO® (ivacaftor) to include use in children with cystic fibrosis ages 12 to <24 months who have at least one mutation in their cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene that is responsive to KALYDECO based on clinical and/or in vitro assay data.

16 Aug 2018

Study provides new insight into how 'trash bag of the cell' traps and seals off waste

The mechanics behind how an important process within the cell traps material before recycling it has puzzled scientists for years. But Penn State researchers have gained new insight into how this process seals off waste, much like a trash bag.

16 Aug 2018

Trial shows PARP inhibitor as novel treatment option for patients with advanced breast cancers

In a randomized, Phase III trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the PARP inhibitor talazoparib extended progression-free survival (PFS) and improved quality-of-life measures over available chemotherapies for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes.

16 Aug 2018

Penn researchers develop first mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The biggest hurdle to finding effective therapies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – a life-threatening condition in which the lungs become scarred and breathing is increasingly difficult – has been the inability to fully model the disease in animals, limiting the ability to observe and understand the disease.

16 Aug 2018

Mount Sinai study could transform treatment for patients with retinal degenerative diseases

Researchers at Mount Sinai have successfully restored vision in mice through activating retinal stem cells, something that has never been done before. Their study, published in the August 15 online issue of Nature, could transform treatment for patients with retinal degenerative diseases, which currently have no cure.

16 Aug 2018

Researchers develop novel statistical method to evaluate gene-to-gene interactions linked with cancer

Research led by Hui-Yi Lin, PhD, Associate Professor of Biostatistics at LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health, has developed another novel statistical method for evaluating gene-to-gene interactions associated with cancer and other complex diseases.

15 Aug 2018

Study shows efficacy, safety of AAV5-based gene therapy to treat sheep model of achromatopsia

A study of a large animal model of achromatopsia caused by a mutation in the CNGA3 gene that was treated with a single injection of CNGA3 gene therapy delivered using an AAV5 vector revealed findings reported long-term follow-up findings that show promise for the efficacy and safety of this therapeutic approach.

15 Aug 2018

Ablating the mutant p53 gene in mice with colorectal cancer inhibits tumor growth

By genetically manipulating and removing the most common mutant form of the p53 gene that promotes colorectal cancer in humans, an international team of scientists demonstrated that this therapy reduces tumor growth and tissue invasion.

15 Aug 2018

Scientists reverse congenital blindness in mouse model

A study funded by the National Eye Institute has shown that congenital blindness in mice can be reversed by regenerating rod photoreceptors in the retina.

15 Aug 2018

Researchers move closer to finding potential soft spot in drug-resistant tuberculosis

Antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis is a public health threat. TB and other bacteria become resistant to antibiotics by evolving genetic changes over time, which they can do quite quickly because bacterial lifecycles are short.

15 Aug 2018

Researchers focus on uncoupling obesity from diabetes

About 422 million people around the world, including more than 30 million Americans, have diabetes. Approximately ninety percent of them have type 2 diabetes. People with this condition cannot effectively use insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas that helps the body turn blood sugar into energy.

15 Aug 2018

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

New project to combat DMD-related fibrosis receives major funding boost

Female mosquitoes quickly evolve selective mating behavior when faced with threats

Bacterial activity in child's mouth may serve as biomarkers for autism spectrum disorder

Lowering pH inside tumor cells can slow down spread of cancer

Research uncovers miscarriage cause, identifies potential targets for treatment

Study finds role of autoimmunity in development of COPD

FDA expands approval of Vertex' cystic fibrosis medicine to treat children aged 12 to <24 months

Study provides new insight into how 'trash bag of the cell' traps and seals off waste

Trial shows PARP inhibitor as novel treatment option for patients with advanced breast cancers

Penn researchers develop first mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Mount Sinai study could transform treatment for patients with retinal degenerative diseases

Researchers develop novel statistical method to evaluate gene-to-gene interactions linked with cancer

Study shows efficacy, safety of AAV5-based gene therapy to treat sheep model of achromatopsia

Ablating the mutant p53 gene in mice with colorectal cancer inhibits tumor growth

Scientists reverse congenital blindness in mouse model

Researchers move closer to finding potential soft spot in drug-resistant tuberculosis

Researchers focus on uncoupling obesity from diabetes

“Zombie gene” protects elephants from cancer finds study

A class of proteins shown to be effective in reducing drug-seeking behaviors

Scientists reveal role of 'junk DNA' in cancer dissemination

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