Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Findings show the relationship between neurotransmitter dopamine and ADHD

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have uncovered evidence of a primitive emotion-like behavior in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster.

26 Nov 2009

Plasma albumin levels and cardiovascular disease risk factors influenced by common genetic components

Two indicators of liver function, glutamyl transferase (GGT) and albumin (ALB) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It is known that the variation in the plasma level of these liver related proteins is genetically influenced.

25 Nov 2009

Third-quarter financial results announced by SemBioSys Genetics

SemBioSys Genetics Inc., specializing in the manufacture of high-value proteins and oils in plant seeds, today announced its third quarter 2009 financial and operational results.

25 Nov 2009

Health watch: When you eat just as vital to what you eat

When you eat may be just as vital to your health as what you eat, found researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Their experiments in mice revealed that the daily waxing and waning of thousands of genes in the liver—the body's metabolic clearinghouse—is mostly controlled by food intake and not by the body's circadian clock as conventional wisdom had it.

25 Nov 2009

Therapeutic agents in soy can treat colon cancer, says study

A study conducted by Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland scientists identifies a new class of therapeutic agents found naturally in soy that can prevent and possibly treat colon cancer, the third most deadly form of cancer. Sphingadienes (SDs) are natural lipid molecules found in soy that research shows may be the key to fighting colon cancer.

24 Nov 2009

Presence of increased body fat hinders the loss of body weight

The presence of increased body fat, and therefore higher levels of inflammatory substances in the blood, hinders the loss and maintenance of body weight; as shown by a research project of the University of Navarra conducted by Estíbaliz Goyenechea Soto, a scientist at the School of Pharmacy.

24 Nov 2009

ACMG encourages everyone to gather family health history information on National Family History Day

This Thanksgiving is the sixth annual National Family History Day, as declared by the U.S. Surgeon General. The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) encourages everyone to know their family medical history and if they haven't already gathered this potentially life-saving information, to "start the conversation" about family medical history this holiday season when many families gather together in person.

24 Nov 2009

Multidisciplinary pediatric neurosurgery program launched

Responding to a growing need in central and northeast Pennsylvania for highly specialized care of pediatric brain tumors and other central nervous system disorders, Geisinger's Janet Weis Children's Hospital has launched a state-of-the-art and comprehensive pediatric neurosurgery program. The multidisciplinary program is led by pediatric neurosurgeon Amir Kershenovich, M.D., who says he is pleased to accept his challenging role.

24 Nov 2009

Seattle Genetics and Agensys expand ADC collaboration

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) and Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Astellas, announced today an expansion of the companies’ antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration. Under the amended agreement, Agensys will pay a $12 million fee for exclusive rights to ADC licenses against additional antigen targets. Seattle Genetics also receives an option to co-develop another ADC at the time of investigational new drug (IND) submission.

24 Nov 2009

Health Heritage: New website for maintaining family's health history

A team of researchers at the University of Virginia received funding from the National Cancer Institute, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, to enhance a Web site called Health Heritage®. This site will enable family members to enter their family medical histories so that other family members and their health care professionals can use this information while dealing with medical issues.

24 Nov 2009

Mutated IDH1 gene linked to the progression of gliomas

23 Nov 2009

Absolute Match DNA specimen verification test introduced by AIBioTech

American International Biotechnology Services™ announces the launch of its Absolute Match™ DNA specimen verification test. The test, which will be performed through AIBioTech’s Fairfax Identity Laboratories™ division, provides absolute confidence for a patient undergoing a biopsy procedure that their specimen and diagnosis is their own.

23 Nov 2009

Mutated IDH1 gene has novel enzyme activity consistent with cancer-causing gene: Study

Agios Pharmaceuticals today announced that its scientists have established, for the first time, that the mutated IDH1 gene has a novel enzyme activity consistent with a cancer-causing gene, or oncogene. This breakthrough discovery shows that the mutated form of IDH1 produces a metabolite, 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG), which may contribute to the formation and malignant progression of gliomas, the most common type of brain cancers.

23 Nov 2009

Gene deletion can increase common complication of bone marrow transplants

A commonly inherited gene deletion can increase the likelihood of immune complications following bone marrow transplantation, an international team of researchers reports in the November 22 advance online issue of Nature Genetics.

23 Nov 2009

New research examines screen time in home-based and center-based child care settings

In a new study, the amount of television viewed by many young children in child care settings doubles the previous estimates of early childhood screen time, with those in home-based settings watching significantly more on average than those in center-based daycares.

23 Nov 2009

Scientists discover new potential target for treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College have discovered a molecular mechanism that may prove to be a powerful target for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes, or white blood cells. By exploiting this mechanism, researchers have been able to powerfully suppress tumor formation in lab testing and in animal models.

22 Nov 2009

Cancer promoting gene identified

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine researchers have identified a gene that may play a pivotal role in two processes that are essential for tumor development, growth and progression to metastasis. Scientists hope the finding could lead to an effective therapy to target and inhibit the expression of this gene resulting in inhibition of cancer growth.

21 Nov 2009

Whole genome analysis identifies 43 genetic loci contributing to lipoprotein metabolism

Using highly precise measurements of plasma lipoprotein concentrations determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), researchers led by Daniel Chasman at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, the Framingham Heart Study in Framingham, and the PROCARDIS consortium in Stockholm, Sweden and Oxford, England performed genetic association analysis across the whole genome among 17,296 women of European ancestry from the Women's Genome Health Study.

21 Nov 2009

Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde linked with increased risk of myeloid leukemia

Long durations of exposure to formaldehyde used for embalming in the funeral industry were associated with an increased risk of death from myeloid leukemia, according to a new study published online November 20 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

21 Nov 2009

SCF founder Sabrina Cohen recognized as a WebMD 2009 Health Hero

Sabrina Cohen, founder of The Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research (SCF), was just recognized as a WebMD 2009 Health Hero. She will receive national media attention with a full-page article about her personal story of triumph and courage, and shares the spotlight with celebrity movie-star, Scarlett Johansson and other Health Heroes in the November/December issue.

20 Nov 2009