DNA News and Research

RSS

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).

Certain drugs could be used to treat gastric cancers with particular pattern of mutations

Gastric cancer, otherwise known as stomach cancer, does not respond well to existing treatments and it is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in the world (after lung and liver cancer). Researchers have discovered that certain drugs, currently used to treat breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers, could also be used to treat certain gastric cancers with a particular pattern of mutations (genomic molecular fingerprint).

29 Oct 2015

New research shows that autophagy can operate in cell nucleus to guard against start of cancer

Autophagy, literally self-eating or the degradation of unwanted cellular bits and pieces by the cell itself, has been shown for the first time to also work in the cell nucleus. In addition, in this setting it plays a role in guarding against the start of cancer, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

29 Oct 2015

IDT’s innovative Alt-R CRISPR-Cas9 System improves genome editing potency, reduces cell toxicity

Integrated DNA Technologies, introduces a new approach to CRISPR—its innovative Alt-R CRISPR-Cas9 System, based on the naturally occurring S. pyogenes CRISPR RNA system.

From Integrated DNA Technologies 29 Oct 2015

UAB researcher awarded NIH grant to study pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy

University of Alabama at Birmingham researcher X. Long Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., has received a five-year, $2.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to study the pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy, or TMA. In simple terms, this means looking for factors that cause or aid the onset of extensive microscopic clots in small blood vessels throughout the body. Though tiny, these spots can damage kidneys, heart and brain, and they can cause death.

29 Oct 2015

New paper device could rapidly and inexpensively assess hepatitis B, male infertility

Scientists have developed a new paper device that analyzes DNA and could rapidly and inexpensively assess disparate conditions including hepatitis B and male infertility, which together affect millions of people around the world. The test, reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could be of particular help diagnosing people in low-income areas.

29 Oct 2015

Researchers identify inherited gene variation associated with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers studying two generations of a family affected by pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have identified an inherited variation in the ETV6 gene that is associated with an increased risk of developing the disease. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators led the study, which appears in the October 28 issue of the journal Lancet Oncology.

28 Oct 2015

Researchers identify role of cGAS enzyme in autoimmune diseases

Activating an enzyme that sounds an alarm for the body's innate immune system causes two lethal autoimmune diseases in mice, while inhibiting the same enzyme rescues them, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.

28 Oct 2015

Study uncovers new genetic variants linked to increased risk of testicular cancer

A new study of more than 25,000 men has uncovered four new genetic variants associated with increased risk of testicular cancer.

27 Oct 2015

Experts reveal link between excess body weight and colorectal cancer risk

Experts speaking at the 23rd United European Gastroenterology Week (UEG Week 2015) in Barcelona, Spain today revealed compelling evidence of the link between excess body weight and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). John Mathers, Professor of Human Nutrition from the Institute of Cellular Medicine at Newcastle University in the UK presented data showing an overall increase of 18% in relative risk of CRC per 5 unit increase in BMI.

27 Oct 2015

Four microRNAs appear to play critical roles in controlling cholesterol, triglyceride metabolism

Four tiny segments of RNA appear to play critical roles in controlling cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. In their report receiving advance online publication in Nature Medicine, a Massachusetts General Hospital-based research team describes finding how these microRNAs could reduce the expression of proteins playing key roles in the generation of beneficial HDL cholesterol, the disposal of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol, control of triglyceride levels and other risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

27 Oct 2015

Researchers develop multiplexed screening approach to study cancer development in mice

In a novel use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which can be deployed to switch genes off, researchers from Germany, the UK and Spain have developed a multiplexed screening approach to study and model cancer development in mice. The scientists mutated genes in the adult mouse liver uncovering their cancer-causing roles and determining which combinations of genes cooperate to cause liver cancer.

27 Oct 2015

UTMB researchers find mechanisms to determine when pregnant women go into labor

During the last few weeks of a woman's pregnancy, many keep an overnight bag ready to go at a moment's notice in case they begin to go into labor. They do this because there is no clear signal that labor is about to begin - before the body makes it abundantly clear that this process has started. Understanding the mechanisms that initiate this process is especially important when treating women at risk of going into labor early.

27 Oct 2015

New fluorescent dye could serve as powerful tool to visualize biological events in living cells

A new photostable fluorescent dye for super resolution microscopy could serve as a powerful tool to visualize biological events and structural details in living cells at real-time for prolonged recording periods.

27 Oct 2015

DNA testing for Down's syndrome could potentially save lives of unborn babies

Offering pregnant women a DNA test for Down's syndrome on the NHS would reduce the dependency on invasive tests and potentially save the lives of unborn babies, a study shows.

27 Oct 2015

Scalable production of gene therapy vectors: an interview with Frank Ubags

Gene therapy involves introducing genetic material into cells to replace missing or malfunctioning genes or to add a gene to express a beneficial protein in order to treat certain diseases, such as cancer or inherited disorders.

26 Oct 2015

UW researchers develop new model to more accurately predict harmful genetic mutations

Between any two people, there are likely to be at least 10 million differences in the genetic sequence that makes up their DNA.

26 Oct 2015

New DNA study may lead to better treatments for diseases caused by cellular changes

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have located a previously unknown function in the so-called histones, which allows for an improved understanding of how cells protect and repair DNA damages. This knowledge may eventually result in better treatments for diseases such as cancer.

26 Oct 2015

Researchers develop new method to predict people's biological age

New research has shed light on the molecular changes that occur in our bodies as we age. In the largest study of its kind, an international group of researchers, including experts from the University of Exeter's Medical School, examined expression of genes in blood samples from 15,000 people across the world.

26 Oct 2015

Improved results yielded from new ChIP-seq protocol

Chromatrap®, a business unit of Porvair Sciences, has developed a new protocol that further extends the many advantages of its popular Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-seq) assay kits.

From Chromatrap® - Porvair Sciences Ltd 23 Oct 2015

Plague endemic in man since early Bronze Age, but has not always been flea-borne

A recent analysis of ancient DNA has revealed that the plaque had been endemic in humans for at least 3000 years before the first global outbreak on record (the Plague of Justinian in 541 AD). Furthermore, the disease was not always transmitted by fleas, with mutation to the bubonic form only occurring around the start of the 1st millennium BC.

23 Oct 2015

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Certain drugs could be used to treat gastric cancers with particular pattern of mutations

New research shows that autophagy can operate in cell nucleus to guard against start of cancer

IDT’s innovative Alt-R CRISPR-Cas9 System improves genome editing potency, reduces cell toxicity

UAB researcher awarded NIH grant to study pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathy

New paper device could rapidly and inexpensively assess hepatitis B, male infertility

Researchers identify inherited gene variation associated with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers identify role of cGAS enzyme in autoimmune diseases

Study uncovers new genetic variants linked to increased risk of testicular cancer

Experts reveal link between excess body weight and colorectal cancer risk

Four microRNAs appear to play critical roles in controlling cholesterol, triglyceride metabolism

Researchers develop multiplexed screening approach to study cancer development in mice

UTMB researchers find mechanisms to determine when pregnant women go into labor

New fluorescent dye could serve as powerful tool to visualize biological events in living cells

DNA testing for Down's syndrome could potentially save lives of unborn babies

Scalable production of gene therapy vectors: an interview with Frank Ubags

UW researchers develop new model to more accurately predict harmful genetic mutations

New DNA study may lead to better treatments for diseases caused by cellular changes

Researchers develop new method to predict people's biological age

Improved results yielded from new ChIP-seq protocol

Plague endemic in man since early Bronze Age, but has not always been flea-borne

eBook: A guide to RNA sequencing eBook

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Latest Life Science News