Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Women and cancer today

Experts have warned that women who have their breasts removed out of fear of a high hereditary risk of breast cancer may be doing so needlessly. Genetic tests like for the BRCA mutations have predicted a high risk of getting breast cancer in women with many breast cancer sufferers among their first degree relatives. Earlier studies suggest the risk of the mutation to predict the cancer 87% of the time. Now experts want that this is an overestimate.

11 Nov 2010

Performance in a coalition depends on genes

How well a person performs in a coalition is partly hereditary, according to a recent study.

11 Nov 2010

German Genetic Diagnostics Act in need of amendment

Many aspects of the German Genetic Diagnostics Act (Gendiagnostikgesetz) are out of touch with the latest technology, almost impossible to implement in clinical practice, or even detrimental to the success of recognised screening tests, such as newborn screening. The Act, which came into force in February 2010, is in desperate need of amendment.

11 Nov 2010

AACR forum to focus on new advancements in cancer management among women

The American Association for Cancer Research will host a media forum focusing on new advancements in the prevention and patient management of cancer among women. This forum will be held here as part of the AACR's Ninth Annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, which is Nov. 7-10, 2010.

11 Nov 2010

Genetic constitution can influence changes in tumor growth: Study

The genes we possess not only determine the color of our eyes and hair and how our bodies grow, they might also influence the changes that occur in tumors when we develop cancer.

11 Nov 2010

New discovery can develop diagnostic test to identify gene mutation in AML

Decoding the DNA of a woman who died of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to a gene that they found to be commonly altered in many patients who died quickly of the disease.

11 Nov 2010

Study on zebrafish showcases neural basis of essential survival skill

A tiny, translucent juvenile zebrafish, on the hunt for even littler prey, has offered up a big insight into how a specific circuit of nerve cells functions in the brain. The technique used to illuminate this circuitry, and the fish model itself, provide one of the first insights into the way individual sets of neurons control a specific behavior.

11 Nov 2010

Lung cancer in smokers versus non-smokers shows different genetic mutations

A group of scientists at B.C. Cancer Agency have found that lung cancers in smokers have different genetic mutations and look different than lung cancer in non-smokers. According to senior scientist at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre Wan Lam, this finding is significant because it means that from now on, research, treatments and diagnostics should be tailored to the distinct genetic variations in the different lung cancers instead of expecting that a one-size fits all approach will work. He said, “At the current time, treatment does not distinguish between these different types. The subtypes are all grouped together. But with this work, we are beginning to tease out the subtypes.” The study was presented Tuesday at a conference in Philadelphia of the American Association of Cancer Research.

10 Nov 2010

Myrexis presents key preclinical findings of MPI-0485520 at ACR/ARHP meeting

Myrexis, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for cancer, today presented key preclinical findings of the Company's novel oral anti-interferon, MPI-0485520, at the 74th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, in Atlanta, Georgia.

10 Nov 2010

NEWMEDS launches largest database to advance drug development for depressio, schizophrenia

In a remarkable and unprecedented collaboration NEWMEDS (Novel Methods leading to NeW MEdications in Depression and Schizophrenia) have pooled resources to bring together data of 23,401 anonymized patients from 67 trials on 11 compounds in over 25 countries to form the single largest database of clinical trial data ever amassed in psychiatric research.

10 Nov 2010

MicroRNAs linked to failure of duct development in mammary glands

Max Planck researchers discover novel mechanism for vertebrate organ development. Hormones, growth factors and several proteins ensure that development occurs in the right way, at the right time. The components that cause breast development in mammals, for example, were thought to be largely known. However, as a team of scientists from Göttingen, Frankfurt and Hanover have now discovered, in the case of breast development, hormones and proteins do not account for the full story.

10 Nov 2010

Synageva's SBC-102 enzyme replacement therapy for LAL deficiency granted European orphan product designation

Synageva BioPharma Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) granted orphan product designation for SBC-102 (Recombinant Human Lysosomal Acid Lipase), the Company's enzyme replacement therapy in development to treat Lysosomal Acid Lipase (LAL) Deficiency.

10 Nov 2010

Common foot disorders more prevalent among African Americans

Common foot disorders such as flat feet, corns and bunions are more prevalent among African Americans than in whites, a new study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers has found.

10 Nov 2010

Study finds high heritability of common foot disorders

Foot disorders might be passed down from one generation to the next, according research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

9 Nov 2010

Researchers examine impact of gene mutation on Salmonella bacterium growth rate

Most mutations in the genes of the Salmonella bacterium have a surprisingly small negative impact on bacterial fitness. And this is the case regardless whether they lead to changes in the bacterial proteins or not.

9 Nov 2010

Study explains link between morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome

Scientists have found that the fat cells and tissues of morbidly obese people and animals can reach a limit in their ability to store fat appropriately. Beyond this limit several biological processes conspire to prevent further expansion of fat tissue and in the process may trigger other health problems.

9 Nov 2010

Seattle Genetics, Millennium to feature SGN-35 in two oral presentations at ASH Annual Meeting

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited today announced that brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) will be featured in two oral presentations at the 52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition being held December 4-7, 2010 in Orlando, FL.

9 Nov 2010

European study indicates cardiovascular deaths can be avoided through better preventative care

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Europe, killing an estimated 4.3 million people each year. Results from a large pan-European study announced today indicate that many of these deaths could be avoided if at-risk patients received better preventative care.

9 Nov 2010

Genetic region linked to survival in patients with advanced bowel cancer

Scientists have discovered a genetic region linked to survival in patients with advanced bowel cancer, according to a study being presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference today (Tuesday).

9 Nov 2010

Study confirms defect in sweat gland function as disease biomarker for XLHED

Edimer Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focused on developing an innovative therapy for the rare genetic disorder, X-linked Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (XLHED), today announced key findings of a study exploring novel approaches to the assessment of sweat function in males with XLHED. Affected individuals lack a normal sweat response, placing them at life-long risk for clinically-significant hyperthermia.

9 Nov 2010