Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

LCA: Few possess genetic mutation necessary for positive outcome from gene therapy

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a congenital retinal dystrophy present in approximately 1 of 80,000 births. It is estimated that about 3,000 people in the United States are living with LCA and will likely become blind in their lifetimes. Recently, there has been progress in gene therapy for this condition.

7 Apr 2010

NIH Chief Francis Collins: Medical research 'ought to tell us what works'

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jennifer Evans talked to physician-geneticist Francis Collins, a person "who isn't afraid to think big about science. For over a decade, Collins led the Human Genome Project, overseeing the federal government's race to map people's DNA.

6 Apr 2010

Findings may help devise new strategies for Cryptococcus infections

Highly dangerous Cryptococcus fungi love sugar and will consume it anywhere because it helps them reproduce. In particular, they thrive on a sugar called inositol which is abundant in the human brain and spinal cord.

6 Apr 2010

Study: Genetic mutation in mice elevates risk of stress-induced depression

Depression and schizophrenia can be triggered by environmental stimuli and often occur in response to stressful life events. However, some people have a higher predisposition to develop these diseases, which highlights a role for genetics in determining a person's disease risk.

6 Apr 2010

International experts recommend individualized treatment for type 2 diabetic patients

Patients with type 2 diabetes are generally treated similarly despite the fact that they may have underlying differences that could affect their therapeutic response.

6 Apr 2010

Individualized therapies for treating type 2 diabetes recommended

Chevy Chase, MD-Patients with type 2 diabetes are generally treated similarly despite the fact that they may have underlying differences that could affect their therapeutic response. Seeking to address this critical health issue, an international multidisciplinary group of experts just issued recommendations for individualized treatment in a consensus statement to be published in the April 2010 issue of the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

5 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 5, 2010

Both the politics and policies of health reform continue to grab headlines, with reports highlighting how lawmakers are faring in their districts during this congressional recess. News outlets also are exploring how specific provisions of the new law will work.

5 Apr 2010

Why is the genome project not yielding results faster?

As the genome projects reaches the 10 year landmark scientists are defending it. While the sequencing of the 3 billion letters in the human DNA took a long time the first draft of the human genome was presented ten years ago. Today it is possible to have your individual DNA mapped in a day and at the low cost of $5,000.

5 Apr 2010

Researchers identify three new genetic variants that increase risk of intracranial aneurysms

In the largest genome-wide study of brain aneurysms ever conducted, an international team led by researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have identified three new genetic variants that increase a person's risk for developing this deadly disease.

5 Apr 2010

Western Swedish women with breast cancer at greater risk of ovarian cancer

Previous research has shown that women with breast cancer are more likely than other women to develop ovarian cancer, but now researchers from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have shown that actually only women with a known Western Swedish mutation behind hereditary breast cancer run this increased risk of ovarian cancer.

5 Apr 2010

Implementing value-based insurance design programs in health care reform law

Value-based insurance design programs -- a concept created at the University of Michigan -- are part of the nation's new national health care plan, and U-M physician A. Mark Fendrick, M.D. is working with policy setters to implement the strategy.

3 Apr 2010

Invalidation of gene patents will benefit patients

Dr. Jim Evans, an expert in gene patenting and genetics policy who has led a program to educate federal judges about the intricacies of genetics and genetic policy, says the ruling by United States District Court Judge Robert Sweet that invalidated seven patents related to the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes "came as a surprise to everybody. It's really quite unusual for plaintiffs to get a summary judgment."

3 Apr 2010

New production method yields hundredsfold more ubiquitylated proteins critical for cancer research

Scientists at the University of Delaware have developed a new method for producing proteins critical to research on cancer, Alzheimer's, and other diseases.

3 Apr 2010

Winner of 2010-2011 Luminex/ACMGF Award

The American College of Medical Genetics Foundation (ACMGF) has awarded Dr. Marilyn M. Li, of the Tulane Medical Center and the Tulane University School of Medicine the 2010-2011 Luminex/ACMGF Award at the ACMG 2010 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting in Albuquerque, NM.

From Luminex 3 Apr 2010

"Mouse model" study finds LRRK2 gene mutation may cause inherited Parkinson's disease

Using new one-of-a-kind "mouse models" that promise to have a significant impact on future Parkinson's disease research, Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers are among the first to discover how mutations in a gene called LRRK2 may cause inherited (or "familial") Parkinson's disease, the most common form of the disease.

2 Apr 2010

DNA patent case: US District Judge rules in favor of AMP

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) is an international medical and professional association representing approximately 1,800 physicians, doctoral scientists, and medical laboratory scientists who perform laboratory testing based on knowledge derived from molecular biology, genetics, and genomics. AMP applauds US District Judge Robert Sweet's ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, et al.

2 Apr 2010

Genome of Australian zebra finch decoded

Nearly all animals make sounds instinctively, but baby songbirds learn to sing in virtually the same way human infants learn to speak: by imitating a parent.

2 Apr 2010

DNA resources coupled to EMR systems hold potential as valuable tools for clinical research

A new study reveals an exciting potential benefit of the rapidly accumulating databases of health care information, the ability to make unprecedented links between genomic data and clinical medicine. The research, published by Cell Press in the April issue of the American Journal of Human Genetics, supports the idea that large scale DNA databanks linked to electronic medical record (EMR) systems provide a valuable platform for discovering, assessing and validating associations between genes and diseases.

2 Apr 2010

'Prior approval' regulation of health insurance rates needed to ensure fair charges by insurers

Consumer Watchdog said Massachusetts' rejection today of excessive and unreasonable health insurance rate increases shows the need for effective "prior approval" rate regulation in every state to ensure that health insurers charge fair prices under national health reform legislation, which is modeled on Massachusetts' mandatory health insurance law. Massachusetts regulators recently adopted emergency prior approval regulations in anticipation of large insurance premium increases.

2 Apr 2010

Zebra finch genetic sequence decoded: help for speech impaired round the corner say researchers

Finches have been associated with evolution since the time of Darwin. In a new development researchers have successfully decoded the compete genetic make up of the zebra finch commonly known as the "little Aussie battler" (Taeniopygia guttata).

2 Apr 2010

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

LCA: Few possess genetic mutation necessary for positive outcome from gene therapy

NIH Chief Francis Collins: Medical research 'ought to tell us what works'

Findings may help devise new strategies for Cryptococcus infections

Study: Genetic mutation in mice elevates risk of stress-induced depression

International experts recommend individualized treatment for type 2 diabetic patients

Individualized therapies for treating type 2 diabetes recommended

First Edition: April 5, 2010

Why is the genome project not yielding results faster?

Researchers identify three new genetic variants that increase risk of intracranial aneurysms

Western Swedish women with breast cancer at greater risk of ovarian cancer

Implementing value-based insurance design programs in health care reform law

Invalidation of gene patents will benefit patients

New production method yields hundredsfold more ubiquitylated proteins critical for cancer research

Winner of 2010-2011 Luminex/ACMGF Award

"Mouse model" study finds LRRK2 gene mutation may cause inherited Parkinson's disease

DNA patent case: US District Judge rules in favor of AMP

Genome of Australian zebra finch decoded

DNA resources coupled to EMR systems hold potential as valuable tools for clinical research

'Prior approval' regulation of health insurance rates needed to ensure fair charges by insurers

Zebra finch genetic sequence decoded: help for speech impaired round the corner say researchers

Genetics & Genomics - Second 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