Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Viral Genetics files updated Information Statement at www.pinksheets.com

Biotechnology company Viral Genetics today announced that it filed an updated Information Statement including unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as well as year-end statements for December 31, 2008 and 2007.

22 Dec 2009

Genome-wide study of African and African-American ancestry released by scientists

People who identify as African-American may be as little as 1 percent West African or as much as 99 percent, just one finding of a large-scale, genome-wide study of African and African-American ancestry released today.

22 Dec 2009

Scientists identify role of epigenetic changes in SLE

Identical twins look the same and are nearly genetically identical, but environmental factors and the resulting cellular changes could cause disease in one sibling and not the other.

22 Dec 2009

Proline repeats make teeth strong and resilient

A simple amino acid that is repeated in the center of proteins found in tooth enamel makes teeth stronger and more resilient, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

22 Dec 2009

Common variations in genes associated with microcephaly may explain differences in brain size

A group of Norwegian and American researchers have shown that common variations in genes associated with microcephaly - a neuro-developmental disorder in which brain size is dramatically reduced - may explain differences in brain size in healthy individuals as well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.

22 Dec 2009

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified an important genetic cause of a devastating kidney disease that is the second leading cause of kidney failure in children, according to The NephCure Foundation.

22 Dec 2009

Findings may help develop new antiviral drugs for influenza

Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mount Sinai), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Salk) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1.

22 Dec 2009

Clarient announces acquisition of Applied Genomics

Clarient, Inc., a premier technology and services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the pharmaceutical industry, today announced that it has acquired privately held, Huntsville, AL-based Applied Genomics, Inc. (AGI) in an all-stock merger valued at up to $17.6 million, if all conditions and milestones set forth in the merger agreement are successfully met.

21 Dec 2009

Investigation of IDH1 gene mutations in brain cancer receives new funds

Agios Pharmaceuticals, the leading biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel drugs in the emerging field of cancer metabolism, announced today that it has received funding from Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (ABC2), a non-profit organization that supports brain cancer research. ABC2’s funding will enable new research investigating IDH1 gene mutations in brain cancer, with the goal of supplementing Agios’s ongoing research into the development of new IDH1 therapeutics and diagnostics.

21 Dec 2009

Book on physiology of eating and weight regulation

The development of effective preventive and therapeutic measures to control eating and body weight involves basic physiology as well as cognitive and social psychology.

21 Dec 2009

Seattle Genetics and GSK sign ADC collaboration agreement

Seattle Genetics, Inc., announced today that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under which GSK will pay an upfront fee of $12 million for rights to utilize Seattle Genetics’ antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology with multiple antigens to be named by GSK.

21 Dec 2009

Embryo biopsy does not adversely affect health of newborn singleton PGD/PGS children

The largest and longest running study of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening has shown that embryo biopsy does not adversely affect the health of babies born as the result of a subsequent singleton pregnancy.

21 Dec 2009

Research lays hope for developing drugs that can control apoptosis

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have identified a key step in the biological process of programmed cell death, also called apoptosis.

19 Dec 2009

Charles Sherr awarded distinction of AAAS Fellow

Charles Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., co-chair of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, has been awarded the distinction of American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society.

19 Dec 2009

Neogen reports record net income for second-quarter fiscal 2010

Neogen Corporation announced today that its net income for the second quarter of FY 2010, which ended Nov. 30, increased 18% from the previous year's second quarter. Adjusted for a 3-for-2 stock split effective Dec. 15, net income in the quarter rose to $0.20 per share, compared to the prior year's $0.17. Neogen's second quarter net income of $4,610,000 set another quarterly record for the 27-year-old company.

19 Dec 2009

UAB professors honored for scientific contributions and outstanding mentorship

Three University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professors have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

18 Dec 2009

2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research open for nomination

The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research has opened the 2010 call for nominations. The $100,000 Award recognizes individuals whose efforts have made significant transformational contributions towards the improvement of human health. Nomination forms are available at pauljanssenaward.com and will be accepted until February 15, 2010.

18 Dec 2009

TSI organizes clinical, research and educational programs

The Wake Forest University Translational Science Institute (TSI) has announced a number of organizational changes. Four programs and four specialized centers have been organized to function collaboratively in support of research conducted at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

18 Dec 2009

Access to convenience stores can pormote childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is directly related to how close kids live to convenience stores, according to the preliminary findings of a major Canadian study presented at the Entretiens Jacques-Cartier in Lyon, France. The ongoing study is named QUALITY for Quebec Adipose and Lifestyle InvesTigation in Youth.

18 Dec 2009

Flu-fighting proteins found in human cells stop flu virus, uncover scientists

In findings that may lead to better ways to prevent and treat influenza and other viral infections, researchers report the discovery of a family of naturally occurring antiviral agents in human cells.

18 Dec 2009