Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Drugs affecting the central nervous system effective against fibromyalgia, study finds

People suffering from fibromyalgia have reduced activity in the parts of the brain that inhibit the experience of pain. Drugs that affect the CNS can be effective against the disease, and are thought to be even more so if administered early in its course. This according to a new thesis from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.

22 Oct 2009

LANL and international researchers propose new genome sequence strategies

A team of geneticists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, together with a consortium of international researchers, has recently proposed a set of standards designed to elucidate the quality of publicly available genetic sequencing information.

22 Oct 2009

SAEC to collaborate with HMORN to improve the safe use of drugs

The International Serious Adverse Events Consortium (SAEC) announced today it will collaborate with the HMO Research Network (HMORN) to improve the safe use of drugs by exploring why the genetic makeup of some individuals makes them more likely to experience serious drug-related adverse events (SAEs).

22 Oct 2009

Illumina announces 2010 roadmap for Infinium whole-genome genotyping platform

At the 59th annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Illumina, Inc. today announced its 2010 roadmap for the Infinium whole-genome genotyping platform, offering products capable of analyzing up to five million (5M) variants per sample.

From Illumina, Inc. 22 Oct 2009

Sexual dysfunction in cancer survivors rarely addressed by internists

Few internists who care for cancer survivors address issues of sexual dysfunction with their patients, according to a study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers. In their article appearing in a November 2009 cancer survivor supplement to the Journal of General Internal Medicine, now available online, the investigators report that more than half the internists responding to a survey indicated they rarely or never discussed sexual problems with their patients who had survived cancer.

22 Oct 2009

New partnership to create Translational Orthopedic Research Program

The creation of the Translational Orthopedic Research Program (TORP), a new partnership of Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) and its affiliate the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Spectrum Health, Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan (OAM), and the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine, was announced today by officials of the sponsoring organizations who gathered at Van Andel Institute for the World Osteoporosis Day Summit, a meeting spotlighting local osteoporosis efforts.

22 Oct 2009

NIH awards $8 million to The Medical College of Wisconsin for heart research

The Medical College of Wisconsin has been awarded a five-year, $8 million, multi-investigator Program Project Grant (PPG) from the National Institutes of Health to understand how human pluripotent stem cells, defined as cells which if left to their own designs can develop into any of the more than 200 cell types in the human body, can be channeled to exclusively become heart muscle cells.

22 Oct 2009

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center collaborates with Navigenics to make personalized genomics available to doctors in training

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Navigenics, Inc., a leading personal genomics company, today announced a collaboration to make personalized genomics available to doctors in training.

21 Oct 2009

Applied Biosystems announces the commercial availability of SOLiD 3 Plus System

Applied Biosystems, part of Life Technologies Corporation today announced the commercial availability of the SOLiD™ 3 Plus System, an enhanced next-generation genomic analysis platform designed to allow researchers to move one step closer to performing mainstream sequencing of personal genomes for clinical research and personalized medicine.

21 Oct 2009

Update from SemBioSys Genetics regarding Botaneco Specialty Ingredients

SemBioSys Genetics Inc. today announced that Advitech Inc. ("Advitech") has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Botaneco Specialty Ingredients Inc. ("Botaneco") held by SemBioSys and Avrio Ventures Limited Partnership ("Avrio").

21 Oct 2009

STR genotyping and p57 immunohistochemistry used to distinguish hydatidiform moles

Researchers from The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions have used short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping and p57 immunohistochemistry to distinguish hydatidiform moles.

21 Oct 2009

Book reviews applications of genetic research in the fields of exercise science and sports medicine

This publication reviews past, current and future applications of genetic research in the fields of exercise science and sports medicine. It highlights ethical concerns, potential clinical applications and exploitation of genetic information. The authors, an interdisciplinary group of experts comprising clinicians, exercise scientists, human geneticists and other biological scientists, present an integrated and holistic understanding of the field to the reader.

21 Oct 2009

Research shows exon-skipping drug may prove effective for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy

An exon skipping PPMO has demonstrated dramatic effects in the prevention and treatment of severely affected, dystrophin and utrophin-deficient mice, preventing severe deterioration of the treated animals and extending their lifespan.

21 Oct 2009

Genomes of two E. coli bacteria strains sequenced and analyzed

An international team of researchers from the United States, Korea, and France has sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two important laboratory strains of E. coli bacteria, one used to study evolution and the other to produce proteins for basic research or practical applications. The findings will help guide future research and will also open a window to a deeper understanding of classical research that is the foundation of our understanding of basic molecular biology and genetics.

21 Oct 2009

New workflow automation system from Illumina

At the 59th annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Illumina, Inc. announced the launch and immediate availability of cBot, a new standard for ease-of-use and sequencing workflow automation.

From Illumina, Inc. 21 Oct 2009

Regulatory differences between mother and daughter cells shed new light on cell division

When mother and daughter cells are created each time a cell divides, they are not exactly alike. They have the same set of genes, but differ in the way they regulate them. New research now reveals that these regulatory differences between mother and daughter cells are directly linked to how they prepare for their next split.

20 Oct 2009

Scientists find cause for lupuslike disease in mice

Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.

19 Oct 2009

Federal grant for ecstasy research

A so-called "club drug" - typically not used all that often by those who take it - can still have the potential to cause a lot of damage among some users, say University of Cincinnati researchers. Trials are underway to trace the effects of ecstasy and to see who's most at risk. The study is supported by $471,000 in federal stimulus funds awarded by the National Institutes of Health and spread out over two years.

19 Oct 2009

Metabolic master switch sets the biological clock in body tissues

Our body's activity levels fall and rise to the beat of our internal drums-the 24-hour cycles that govern fundamental physiological functions, from sleeping and feeding patterns to the energy available to our cells. Whereas the master clock in the brain is set by light, the pacemakers in peripheral organs are set by food availability. The underlying molecular mechanism was unknown.

19 Oct 2009

New chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers identified a new chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that appears to work in concert with another mutation to give rise to cancer. This latest anomaly is particularly common in children with Down syndrome.

19 Oct 2009