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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).

KRAS ‘imbalances’ that emerge over time may influence cancer treatment response

Choosing among cancer treatments increasingly involves determining whether tumor cells harbor specific, mutated "oncogenes" that drive abnormal growth and that may also be especially vulnerable or resistant to particular drugs.

28 Feb 2017

Researchers justify alternative theory about cause of type 1 diabetes

An international team of researchers led by City of Hope's Bart Roep, Ph.D., the Chan Soon-Shiong Shapiro Distinguished Chair in Diabetes and professor/founding chair of the Department of Diabetes Immunology, has been able to justify an alternative theory about the cause of type 1 diabetes (T1D) through experimental work.

28 Feb 2017

Scientists discover how genetic mutation disarms tumor-suppressing BRCA1 proteins in breast cancer

Of the more than 3 million people with breast cancer in the United Stated, about 10 percent carry an inherited mutation in their BRCA1 gene. In health, the gene is responsible for suppressing tumors. In disease, the gene goes terribly awry.

28 Feb 2017

MIT researchers develop new machine to rapidly produce customized peptides

Manufacturing small proteins known as peptides is usually very time-consuming, which has slowed development of new peptide drugs for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and bacterial infections.

27 Feb 2017

Researchers identify genetic variants that may contribute to schizophrenia

New research has identified sections of DNA associated with altered regulation of gene expression underlying schizophrenia.

27 Feb 2017

New York school students help Cornell scientists to monitor invasive species in local waterways

Invasive aquatic species like round goby, Asian carp, and sea lamprey are a growing problem in New York State. Their presence impacts water quality, food supply, recreation and tourism, as well as human and animal health. Early detection is a critical first step in monitoring a species' spread and managing responses.

27 Feb 2017

Study finding suggests new ways in which genetic mutations may cause brain disorders

Many kids say they love their mom and dad equally, but there are times when even the best prefers one parent over the other. The same can be said for how the body's cells treat our DNA instructions. It has long been thought that each copy - one inherited from mom and one from dad - is treated the same. A new study from scientists at the University of Utah School of Medicine shows that it is not uncommon for cells in the brain to preferentially activate one copy over the other.

25 Feb 2017

Scientists unravel mechanism of rare, early phenomenon that can affect human development

The genetic material of an organism encodes the instructions that guide its development. These codes are not written in stone; they can change or mutate any time during the life of the organism.

24 Feb 2017

MGH researchers discover regulators of gene expression programs in medulloblastoma

Massachusetts General Hospital researchers have identified a mechanism that controls the expression of genes regulating the growth of the most aggressive form of medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor. In their report published online in Cancer Discovery, the team also identifies potential targets for future treatments.

24 Feb 2017

Novel antiviral drug can protect transplant patients against CMV infections

In a significant advance in improving the safety of donor stem cell transplants, a major clinical trial led by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital has shown that a novel agent can protect against the most common viral infection that patients face after transplantation.

24 Feb 2017

Scientists devise novel DNA vaccine approach against important cancer antigen targets

Scientists at The Wistar Institute and Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. have devised a novel DNA vaccine approach through molecular design to improve the immune responses elicited against one of the most important cancer antigen targets. Study results were published in the journal Molecular Therapy.

24 Feb 2017

Study shows how old blood stem cells can be rejuvenated

When we are young, our blood stem cells produce an even and well-balanced number of red and white blood cells according to need. As we age, however, the capacity of the blood stem cells to produce the number of blood cells we need declines.

24 Feb 2017

New research offers insights into how differences arise in common illnesses

As much as we try to avoid it, we are constantly sharing germs with those around us. But even when two people have the same infection, the resulting illnesses can be dramatically different--mild for one person, severe or even life-threatening for the other.

24 Feb 2017

Computational software that evaluates DNA samples may help in diagnosis, treatment of cancer

A research team from the United States and Canada has developed and successfully tested new computational software that determines whether a human DNA sample includes an epigenetic add-on linked to cancer and other adverse health conditions.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 24 Feb 2017

Researchers reveal biological pathways involved in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney disease, a serious, often fatal complication that is difficult to diagnose in early, potentially treatable stages.

24 Feb 2017

Study uncovers how effects of HSP90 protein can alter course of genetic diseases

Proteins do most of the work inside the human body, supporting the structure, function, regulation, and repair of organs, tissues and cells.

24 Feb 2017

Cutting-edge research into dolphin’s genome could provide solutions to human problems

In movies and TV shows, dolphins are often portrayed as heroes who save humans through remarkable feats of strength and tenacity. Now dolphins could save the day for humans in real life, too - with the help of emerging technology that can measure thousands of proteins and an improved database full of genetic data.

24 Feb 2017

Cocaine use by fathers may negatively impact cognitive development in male offspring

Fathers who use cocaine at the time of conceiving a child may be putting their sons at risk of learning disabilities and memory loss.

24 Feb 2017

Lack of methyl groups in gene body may lead to emergence of cancer

Every cell in our body contains the complete DNA library. So-called methyl groups regulate that in body tissues only the genetic information is expressed that is indeed needed in this tissue.

23 Feb 2017

New compounds with potent anticancer activity could lessen side effects of oncological treatments

The Universitat Jaume I, the Spanish Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and the University of Pavia have patented new compounds with potent anticancer activity in breast and colon tumour cell lines that have low toxicity in healthy cells, which can dramatically decrease side effects during chemotherapy treatment.

23 Feb 2017

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

KRAS ‘imbalances’ that emerge over time may influence cancer treatment response

Researchers justify alternative theory about cause of type 1 diabetes

Scientists discover how genetic mutation disarms tumor-suppressing BRCA1 proteins in breast cancer

MIT researchers develop new machine to rapidly produce customized peptides

Researchers identify genetic variants that may contribute to schizophrenia

New York school students help Cornell scientists to monitor invasive species in local waterways

Study finding suggests new ways in which genetic mutations may cause brain disorders

Scientists unravel mechanism of rare, early phenomenon that can affect human development

MGH researchers discover regulators of gene expression programs in medulloblastoma

Novel antiviral drug can protect transplant patients against CMV infections

Scientists devise novel DNA vaccine approach against important cancer antigen targets

Study shows how old blood stem cells can be rejuvenated

New research offers insights into how differences arise in common illnesses

Computational software that evaluates DNA samples may help in diagnosis, treatment of cancer

Researchers reveal biological pathways involved in diabetic kidney disease

Study uncovers how effects of HSP90 protein can alter course of genetic diseases

Cutting-edge research into dolphin’s genome could provide solutions to human problems

Cocaine use by fathers may negatively impact cognitive development in male offspring

Lack of methyl groups in gene body may lead to emergence of cancer

New compounds with potent anticancer activity could lessen side effects of oncological treatments

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