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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).

New ACMG guidelines recommend NIPT as optimal initial screening test for all pregnant women

Natera, Inc., a leader in non-invasive genetic testing and the analysis of circulating cell-free DNA, applauds the new guidelines just released by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, supporting the use of non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT/NIPS) as an optimal, initial option to screen for specific genetic conditions, such as Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) during pregnancy.

From Natera 30 Jul 2016

Researchers using internet to find study participants may hamper recruitment of minority, poor people

Recruiting minorities and poor people to participate in medical research always has been challenging, and that may not change as researchers turn to the internet to find study participants and engage with them online, new research suggests.

29 Jul 2016

Study clarifies role of KLF12 in CRC tumor growth

Results of preclinical studies by MUSC investigators reported in the July 2016 issue of PLOS One, demonstrate for the first time that the transcription factor KLF12 promotes CRC cell growth, in part, by activating EGR1. Furthermore, data demonstrate that KLF12 and EGR1 levels synergistically correlate with poor CRC prognoses.

29 Jul 2016

Study discovers mechanism by which bioscaffolds influence cellular behavior

A study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine identifies a mechanism by which bioscaffolds used in regenerative medicine influence cellular behavior, a question that has remained unanswered since the technology was first developed several decades ago.

29 Jul 2016

UAB researchers uncover vital mechanism for L-DOPA-induced-dyskinesia

Though the drug levodopa can dramatically improve Parkinson's disease symptoms, within five years one-half of the patients using L-DOPA develop an irreversible condition -- involuntary repetitive, rapid and jerky movements.

29 Jul 2016

Study identifies two proteins crucial for self-renewal of skin stem cells

Our skin renews, heals wounds, and regenerates the hair that covers it thanks to a small group of stem cells. These cells continually produce new ones, which appear on the skin surface after a few days.

29 Jul 2016

Novel conjugate therapy shows promise in destroying ALL cells with few side effects

Researchers at UC Davis and Ionis Pharmaceuticals have developed a hybrid treatment that harnesses a monoclonal antibody to deliver antisense DNA to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells and that may lead to less toxic treatments for the disease.

29 Jul 2016

Researchers discover genetic changes in MSH3 gene in patients with hereditary colon cancer

The formation of large numbers of polyps in the colon has a high probability of developing into colon cancer, if left untreated.

28 Jul 2016

Scientists identify mutation responsible for new, rare genetic disorder

An international team of researchers has discovered the mutation responsible for a rare, newly identified genetic disorder that causes craniofacial abnormalities and developmental delays.

28 Jul 2016

Study finds risk markers for Parkinson's disease hiding in unusual spots

Clues that point toward new risk mechanisms for developing Parkinson's disease are hiding in some unusual spots, according to a study published today in Scientific Reports

28 Jul 2016

New gene therapeutic approach could save people suffering from muscle wasting disease

A discovery by Washington State University scientist Dan Rodgers and collaborator Paul Gregorevic could save millions of people suffering from muscle wasting disease.

27 Jul 2016

Genetic profiling offers new avenues for treatment of cancer, study finds

Genetic profiling of cancer tumors provides new avenues for treatment of the disease, according to a study conducted by Sanford Health and recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

27 Jul 2016

Researchers discover pathway linking oxidative stress and cysteine in Huntington's disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have identified a biochemical pathway linking oxidative stress and the amino acid cysteine in Huntington's disease.

27 Jul 2016

New insights into RNA-protein interactions may lead to cure for heart disease

Research led by The Australian National University has uncovered new insights into how the human genome gets through the daily grind with the help of RNA-binding proteins, in a discovery which could ultimately lead to a cure for heart disease.

27 Jul 2016

Researchers find genetic variability in frozen vials of cells purchased from same cell bank

In a surprise finding, researchers working with breast cancer cells purchased at the same time from the same cell bank discovered that the cells responded differently to chemicals, even though the researchers had not detected any difference when they tested them for authenticity at the time of purchase.

26 Jul 2016

Scientists clarify mechanism of defective immune defense in G6PD patients

Favism is a common hereditary disease, affecting around 400 million people worldwide. It is caused by a lack of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD).

26 Jul 2016

Large study of familial ALS finds new gene variant present in 3% of all patients with disease

Variations in a gene with multiple functions in neurons are present in approximately 3 percent of all cases of ALS in North American and European populations, both sporadic and familial, making it one of the most common genetic causes of the disease, according to a paper published in Nature Genetics.

26 Jul 2016

Liquid biopsies hold potential for detecting NSCLC EGFR mutations, predicting cancer recurrence

Three manuscripts published in the recent issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the official journal of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, explored the versatility of liquid biopsies by identifying EGFR mutations using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in urine and plasma and examining circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in plasma to predict the risk of lung cancer recurrence after surgical resection.

26 Jul 2016

Researchers identify genetic variants linked to radiotherapy side-effects in prostate cancer patients

A new study involving researchers from The University of Manchester looked at the genetic information of more than 1,500 prostate cancer patients and identified two variants linked to increased risk of radiotherapy side-effects.

26 Jul 2016

Cancer risk screening for hereditary mutations: an interview with Ted Snelgrove

Great question – the answer is actually unknown. Every month, there are publications that report on new cancer-related genes, so it's an area of great knowledge growth at the moment.

26 Jul 2016

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

New ACMG guidelines recommend NIPT as optimal initial screening test for all pregnant women

Researchers using internet to find study participants may hamper recruitment of minority, poor people

Study clarifies role of KLF12 in CRC tumor growth

Study discovers mechanism by which bioscaffolds influence cellular behavior

UAB researchers uncover vital mechanism for L-DOPA-induced-dyskinesia

Study identifies two proteins crucial for self-renewal of skin stem cells

Novel conjugate therapy shows promise in destroying ALL cells with few side effects

Researchers discover genetic changes in MSH3 gene in patients with hereditary colon cancer

Scientists identify mutation responsible for new, rare genetic disorder

Study finds risk markers for Parkinson's disease hiding in unusual spots

New gene therapeutic approach could save people suffering from muscle wasting disease

Genetic profiling offers new avenues for treatment of cancer, study finds

Researchers discover pathway linking oxidative stress and cysteine in Huntington's disease

New insights into RNA-protein interactions may lead to cure for heart disease

Researchers find genetic variability in frozen vials of cells purchased from same cell bank

Scientists clarify mechanism of defective immune defense in G6PD patients

Large study of familial ALS finds new gene variant present in 3% of all patients with disease

Liquid biopsies hold potential for detecting NSCLC EGFR mutations, predicting cancer recurrence

Researchers identify genetic variants linked to radiotherapy side-effects in prostate cancer patients

Cancer risk screening for hereditary mutations: an interview with Ted Snelgrove

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