Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

New global map shines light on genetic roots of diseases

A global genetic interaction map is revolutionizing how genes are being studied. A new study, involving University of Minnesota researchers, is no longer looking at genes as loners, but instead as a social network of the body, interacting in groups. The new approach may ultimately change our understanding of the genetic roots of diseases.

23 Sep 2016

Gene editing of hematopoietic stem cells can cure many hereditary and congenital diseases

Recent advances in gene editing technology, which allows for targeted repair of disease-causing mutations, can be applied to hematopoietic stem cells with the potential to cure a variety of hereditary and congenital diseases.

23 Sep 2016

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase from sea-squirt shows potential to fight against sepsis

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase from a sea-squirt works as a safety valve for stressed mitochondria. This property enables it to stop the runaway inflammatory process that leads to multiple organ failure and eventual death in bacterial sepsis.

23 Sep 2016

DNA damage caused by smoking may last a lifetime

Results of a study published this week show that the effects of smoking on DNA are wide-reaching and some persist long after a person has stopped smoking. The information gained may help improve our understanding of smoking-related diseases.

23 Sep 2016

Amount of gluten triggers genetic risk of celiac disease, research shows

The amount of gluten could be a more important clue than breast-feeding or the timing of the introduction of gluten for continued research into the causes of celiac disease (gluten intolerance).

23 Sep 2016

One single genomic fingerprinting could potentially miss smaller, more aggressive prostate tumors

While the majority of prostate cancers are slow growing and not fatal, some are aggressive and lethal.

22 Sep 2016

Scientists identify potential new way to prevent chronic urinary tract infections

Researchers have identified a potential way to prevent chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs). Their research points to a key protein that bacteria use to latch onto the bladder and cause UTIs, according to scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

22 Sep 2016

JAK inhibitors may be first effective treatment for people with alopecia areata

Seventy-five percent of patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata—an autoimmune disease that causes patchy, and less frequently, total hair loss—had significant hair regrowth after treatment with ruxolitinib, reported researchers from Columbia University Medical Center. By the end of their treatment, average hair regrowth was 92 percent.

22 Sep 2016

Tumour suppressor gene has greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought

New insight into the function of a gene important in the suppression of cancer is published today. Researchers at the National University of Ireland Galway have shown that the TP53 gene has even greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought.

22 Sep 2016

Color-deficiency or color-blindness?

Color blindness could be considered a bit of a misleading term, because there are very few people who can't see color at all. Most people have what we call color deficiency or color confusion, which means that they're not blind to color; they just see a reduced number of colors.

From Vision Express 22 Sep 2016

TSRI scientists shed light on molecular workings of MS drug

A study by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has helped to de-mystify the molecular workings of the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Tecfidera. The drug is the most widely prescribed pill-based therapy for MS, but its biological mechanism remains mysterious.

21 Sep 2016

Hidden Scar approach minimizes visible breast cancer scars

PinnacleHealth Breast Care Surgeons Lisa Torp, Brynn Wolff and Katherine Barton are the first in Pennsylvania to be recognized for Excellence in Hidden Scar™ Breast Cancer Surgery.

21 Sep 2016

Duke researchers discover blood markers linked to drug-resistant tumor cells

While searching for a non-invasive way to detect prostate cancer cells circulating in blood, Duke Cancer Institute researchers have identified some blood markers associated with tumor resistance to two common hormone therapies.

21 Sep 2016

Scientists engineer smallest-reported synthetic virus that may help advance gene therapy

Gene therapy is a kind of experimental treatment that is designed to fix faulty genetic material and help a patient fight off or recover from a disease.

21 Sep 2016

Common genetic variant reduces neurobiological benefits of exercise in mice

A new study revealed that a common genetic variant in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene reduces the neurobiological benefits induced by physical exercise in mice.

21 Sep 2016

Lund University stem cell researcher awarded Fernström prize for study on repairing damaged brain

Is it possible to convert a patient’s own skin cells into functioning nerve cells? Or insert healthy genes to reprogram the cells of a damaged brain? Stem cell researcher Malin Parmar at Lund University in Sweden is studying these types of issues, in close collaboration with clinical researchers.

21 Sep 2016

NIHR HSRIC experts identify innovative and promising treatments for corneal disorders

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Horizon Scanning Research and Intelligence Centre (HSRIC), working with Fight for Sight, has identified 130 new and emerging technologies and procedures for treating corneal disorders.

21 Sep 2016

Study suggests interactions between distant DNA regions may impact disease gene levels

A person's DNA sequence can provide a lot of information about how genes are turned on and off, but new research out of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine suggests the 3-D structure DNA forms as it crams into cells may provide an additional layer of gene control.

21 Sep 2016

Researchers use novel technique to unravel key mystery of earliest stage of development

A Ludwig Cancer Research study published online September 14th in Nature reports a novel technique to map specific chemical (or "epigenetic") modifications made to the protein packaging of DNA using a small population of cells.

20 Sep 2016

De-bookmarking could be key to better reprogramming of fibroblasts into iPS cells

In reading, a bookmark tells where you stopped. Cells use bookmarks too, specific proteins that help the cell remember what collection of genes needs to be turned on again after the brief halt of gene expression during cell division.

20 Sep 2016

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

New global map shines light on genetic roots of diseases

Gene editing of hematopoietic stem cells can cure many hereditary and congenital diseases

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase from sea-squirt shows potential to fight against sepsis

DNA damage caused by smoking may last a lifetime

Amount of gluten triggers genetic risk of celiac disease, research shows

One single genomic fingerprinting could potentially miss smaller, more aggressive prostate tumors

Scientists identify potential new way to prevent chronic urinary tract infections

JAK inhibitors may be first effective treatment for people with alopecia areata

Tumour suppressor gene has greater anti-cancer activity than previously thought

Color-deficiency or color-blindness?

TSRI scientists shed light on molecular workings of MS drug

Hidden Scar approach minimizes visible breast cancer scars

Duke researchers discover blood markers linked to drug-resistant tumor cells

Scientists engineer smallest-reported synthetic virus that may help advance gene therapy

Common genetic variant reduces neurobiological benefits of exercise in mice

Lund University stem cell researcher awarded Fernström prize for study on repairing damaged brain

NIHR HSRIC experts identify innovative and promising treatments for corneal disorders

Study suggests interactions between distant DNA regions may impact disease gene levels

Researchers use novel technique to unravel key mystery of earliest stage of development

De-bookmarking could be key to better reprogramming of fibroblasts into iPS cells

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