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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Novel blood test identifies tumor-derived DNA in early-stage cancer patients

In a bid to detect cancers early and in a noninvasive way, scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report they have developed a test that spots tiny amounts of cancer-specific DNA in blood and have used it to accurately identify more than half of 138 people with relatively early-stage colorectal, breast, lung and ovarian cancers.

17 Aug 2017

Scientists use magnetic nanoparticles to trigger activity deep inside the brain

Scientists have used magnetism to activate tiny groups of cells in the brain, inducing bodily movements that include running, rotating and losing control of the extremities -- an achievement that could lead to advances in studying and treating neurological disease.

17 Aug 2017

Impaired DNA replication may lead to trans-generational inheritance of epigenetic changes

Scientists reveal that a fault in the process that copies DNA during cell division can cause epigenetic changes that may be inherited for up-to five generations.

17 Aug 2017

Research shows how glutamine plays role in regulating cellular differentiation programs

The 200 different types of cells in the body all start with the same DNA genome. To differentiate into families of bone cells, muscle cells, blood cells, neurons and the rest, differing gene programs have to be turned on or off.

17 Aug 2017

Liquid biopsies show potential use for cancer screening

A new study has shown the potential of analyzing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) present in patients’ blood for cancer markers in early cancer detection. This technique was used in some instances for patients who already were diagnosed with a cancer as reported by some studies.

16 Aug 2017

Blood biopsy helps identify targetable genetic alterations in patients with cancer of unknown primary

Using fragments of circulating tumor DNA in blood, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers were able to identify theoretically targetable genetic alterations in 66 percent of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP), a rare disease with seven to 12 cases per 100,000 people each year.

16 Aug 2017

SBIR Fast-Track grant to fund study on new drug that targets cardiovascular diseases

The Exscien Corporation of Louisville, KY, in conjunction with LSU Health New Orleans Cardiovascular Center of Excellence, has been awarded an SBIR Fast-Track grant in the amount of $3.7 million over three years by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

14 Aug 2017

Study shows how breast cancer cells spread late in disease development

Breast cancer cells that spread to other parts of the body break off and leave the primary tumor at late stages of disease development, scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators have found.

14 Aug 2017

GM pigs one step closer to providing organs for human transplant

US scientists are the closest yet to creating genetically modified pigs with organs that can be safely transplanted into humans.

14 Aug 2017

Highly sensitive blood test holds potential for quickly tracking cancer growth and spread

Stanford University scientists have described a new type of test that can detect genetic mutations in minute amounts of DNA released from cancer cells into the blood.

14 Aug 2017

Duke researchers map evolution of sex chromosomes in fungus linked to human disease

Biologically speaking, nearly every species on Earth has two opposite sexes, male and female. But with some fungi and other microbes, sex can be a lot more complicated.

11 Aug 2017

Experts highlight need to respect women's autonomy in prenatal testing

Noninvasive fetal genetic sequencing done early in pregnancy is poised to become a routine part of prenatal care.

11 Aug 2017

Researchers develop new technique to locate pathogenic mutations in dark, non-coding genome

When doctors can't find a diagnosis for patient's disease, they turn to genetic detectives. Equipped with genomic sequencing technologies available for less than 10 years, these sleuths now routinely search through a patient's DNA looking for mutations responsible for mysterious diseases.

11 Aug 2017

New version of gene editing technique corrects molecular mistakes in RNA-based diseases

Until recently, the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique could only be used to manipulate DNA. In a 2016 study, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers repurposed the technique to track RNA in live cells in a method called RNA-targeting Cas9 (RCas9).

11 Aug 2017

Scientists create stem cell-based model of rare inherited neurological condition

An international team of scientists, led by University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers, has created a human stem cell-based model of a rare, but devastating, inherited neurological autoimmune condition called Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS).

11 Aug 2017

Xenotransplantation – organ transplants from animals may soon be a reality

Researchers have been able to create genetically modified piglets that are cleaned of the viruses that could causes diseases in humans. This could open up new avenues in organs transplants from pigs to humans. The process of transplanting organs or tissues from animals to humans is called xenotransplantation. The report was published this Tuesday in the journal Science.

11 Aug 2017

Fred Hutch aims to prevent and find cures for cancers caused by infectious agents

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is launching a new integrated research center to prevent and find cures for cancers caused by infectious agents.

10 Aug 2017

Vitamin B3 supplementation during pregnancy may prevent birth defects, in-vivo study suggests

Supplementing the diet with vitamin B3 during pregnancy may treat the molecular deficiencies in women that can lead to birth defects, according to a landmark study in Australia. Over the last 12 years, developmental geneticist Sally Dunwoodie (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney) and team have been studying the genes that influence fetal heart and bone development.

10 Aug 2017

Researchers investigate genetic mutations in sperm cells to help prevent birth defects

It's about preventing birth defects. Associate pharmaceutical sciences professor Wenfeng An and his team at South Dakota State University are investigating mobile DNA segments, known as L1s, in sperm cells with the goal to treat families at risk for genetic mutations before they conceive.

10 Aug 2017

CHLA researchers succeed in better defining rare pediatric malignant liver disease

Investigators at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have succeeded in better defining a rare pediatric malignant liver disease -- a necessary step in achieving an optimum treatment.

9 Aug 2017

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Novel blood test identifies tumor-derived DNA in early-stage cancer patients

Scientists use magnetic nanoparticles to trigger activity deep inside the brain

Impaired DNA replication may lead to trans-generational inheritance of epigenetic changes

Research shows how glutamine plays role in regulating cellular differentiation programs

Liquid biopsies show potential use for cancer screening

Blood biopsy helps identify targetable genetic alterations in patients with cancer of unknown primary

SBIR Fast-Track grant to fund study on new drug that targets cardiovascular diseases

Study shows how breast cancer cells spread late in disease development

GM pigs one step closer to providing organs for human transplant

Highly sensitive blood test holds potential for quickly tracking cancer growth and spread

Duke researchers map evolution of sex chromosomes in fungus linked to human disease

Experts highlight need to respect women's autonomy in prenatal testing

Researchers develop new technique to locate pathogenic mutations in dark, non-coding genome

New version of gene editing technique corrects molecular mistakes in RNA-based diseases

Scientists create stem cell-based model of rare inherited neurological condition

Xenotransplantation – organ transplants from animals may soon be a reality

Fred Hutch aims to prevent and find cures for cancers caused by infectious agents

Vitamin B3 supplementation during pregnancy may prevent birth defects, in-vivo study suggests

Researchers investigate genetic mutations in sperm cells to help prevent birth defects

CHLA researchers succeed in better defining rare pediatric malignant liver disease

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