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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).

Scientists can now use skin samples from older patients to grow brain cells

For the first time, scientists can use skin samples from older patients to create brain cells without rolling back the youthfulness clock in the cells first. The new technique, which yields cells resembling those found in older people's brains, will be a boon to scientists studying age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

9 Oct 2015

Scientists engineer stem cells to better understand mechanisms behind leukemia

Scientists engineered stem cells to better understand the mechanisms behind a form of leukemia caused by changes in a key gene, according to a study led by Mount Sinai researchers and published online today in the journal Cell Reports.

9 Oct 2015

Proposed thin-plate model sheds light on structural basis of chromosomal aberrations in cancer cells

During cell division, each metaphase chromosome contains a single enormously long DNA molecule that is associated with histone proteins and forms a long chromatin filament with many nucleosomes.

9 Oct 2015

Scientists map EGFRvIII mutant that causes brain cancer

A team of Ludwig Cancer Research scientists has mapped out how a mutant version of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) known as EGFRvIII specifically drives critical processes that alter the reading of the genome to fuel the growth of the brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and--most important--how each process is linked to the other.

9 Oct 2015

Father’s life experiences can affect health, development of both children and grandchildren

If you have diabetes, or cancer or even heart problems, maybe you should blame it on your dad's behaviour or environment. Or even your grandfather's.

9 Oct 2015

Penn study forms basis for new treatment approaches for Sezary syndrome

Sezary syndrome (SS), an aggressive leukemia of mature T cells, is more complicated at a molecular level than ever suspected, according to investigators from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

8 Oct 2015

Cleaning patient rooms with combination of chemicals and UV light cuts transmission of superbugs

Healthcare facilities continue to battle drug-resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that loiter on surfaces even after patient rooms have been cleaned and can cause new, sometimes-deadly infections.

8 Oct 2015

SMC5/6 protein complex plays vital role in cancer suppression and premature ageing

A study conducted by the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre´s Genomic Instability Group, led by Óscar Fernández-Capetillo, describes for the first time in mammals, the role played by the SMC5/6 protein complex in cancer suppression and premature ageing. Mutations in these complexes, which were sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents, had been previously described in yeast cells, but their exact relationship with cancer or other diseases in mammals was unknown.

8 Oct 2015

Claritas Genomics announces launch of Claritas Clinical Exome, novel diagnostic test

Claritas Genomics, Inc., announced the launch of its Claritas Clinical Exome, at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics running 10/6 – 10/10 in Baltimore, MD. This novel diagnostic test is the first to exploit the strengths of multiple DNA sequencing platforms simultaneously to deliver confirmed results for a patient’s clinical whole exome within 4 weeks, compared to the industry standard of 12 weeks or more. Patients with rare disease typically seek a diagnosis for 8-12 years, receiving 3-5 separate tests at a high cost.

7 Oct 2015

Genocea announces positive data in Phase 2 trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes

Genocea Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GNCA), a biopharmaceutical company developing T cell-directed vaccines and immunotherapies, has announced positive results from a planned interim analysis of data collected six months after dosing from its ongoing Phase 2 dose optimization trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes. At its best performing dose of 60 µg per protein / 75 µg of Matrix-M2TM adjuvant, GEN-003 demonstrated a statistically significant 58 percent reduction from baseline in the viral shedding rate (p < 0.0001), the primary endpoint of the study.

7 Oct 2015

Brain metastases evolve ‘clinically actionable’ mutations

Brain metastatic disease shows branched evolution from the primary tumour, suggest preliminary findings from the largest massively parallel sequencing study of paired samples performed so far.

7 Oct 2015

Lonza, Benitec partner to develop scalable manufacturing process for AAV-based viral gene therapies

Lonza Houston, Inc., a global leader in biological, cell and viral gene therapy manufacturing, and Benitec Biopharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company commercializing a patented gene-silencing technology, DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi), today announced that they have entered into a Manufacturing Services Agreement to develop a scalable manufacturing process for Benitec's ddRNAi-based, Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-delivered products intended for therapeutic use in humans.

7 Oct 2015

Penn Medicine announces $375,000 in new grants to support BRCA-focused research projects

Penn Medicine's Basser Center for BRCA announced $375,000 in new grant funding to support BRCA-focused research projects across the nation. The grants are aimed at advancing the care of patients living with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

7 Oct 2015

New diagnostic technology based on computer algorithms can quickly identify source of cancer

In by far the majority of cancer cases, the doctor can quickly identify the source of the disease, for example cancer of the liver, lungs, etc. However, in about one in 20 cases, the doctor can confirm that the patient has cancer—but cannot find the source. These patients then face the prospect of a long wait with numerous diagnostic tests and attempts to locate the origin of the cancer before starting any treatment.

7 Oct 2015

New studies suggest ways to improve cancer care by inhibiting oncogenes, boosting tumor-suppressor activity

Two new studies by cancer scientists at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC - James) suggest new approaches for treating cancer by inhibiting overactive cancer-promoting genes and by enhancing the activity of sluggish tumor-suppressor genes.

7 Oct 2015

New nanometer-scale DNA machine can be used for detecting HIV diagnostic antibodies

New research may revolutionize the slow, cumbersome and expensive process of detecting the antibodies that can help with the diagnosis of infectious and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and HIV.

7 Oct 2015

Jumping genes: a marker for early cancer diagnosis? An interview with Dr Kazazian

In the genome of every human being, there are about 80-100 active LINE-1s that are capable of mobilizing by a copy and paste mechanism to a new location in the genome.

6 Oct 2015

New UV-Vis spectrophotometer simplifies sample quality decisions

Life scientists who work with DNA, RNA and proteins can make educated decisions about sample suitability in experiments using a standalone, microvolume spectrophotometer for accurate quantitation and purity measurements to ensure downstream application success.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 6 Oct 2015

Epilepsy Society becomes third customer of Complete Genomics' newly introduced Revolocity system

Complete Genomics, Inc., a leader in whole human genome sequencing, announced today that leading UK charity Epilepsy Society has become the third customer of the company's newly introduced Revolocity system, a supersequencer for large-scale, high-quality whole genome and whole exome sequencing.

6 Oct 2015

NIH-funded researchers test new gene therapy to improve visual function in mice

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a novel mouse model for the vision disorder Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), and found that they can use gene therapy to improve visual function in the mice. LHON is one of many diseases tied to gene mutations that damage the tiny energy factories that power our cells, called mitochondria.

6 Oct 2015

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Scientists can now use skin samples from older patients to grow brain cells

Scientists engineer stem cells to better understand mechanisms behind leukemia

Proposed thin-plate model sheds light on structural basis of chromosomal aberrations in cancer cells

Scientists map EGFRvIII mutant that causes brain cancer

Father’s life experiences can affect health, development of both children and grandchildren

Penn study forms basis for new treatment approaches for Sezary syndrome

Cleaning patient rooms with combination of chemicals and UV light cuts transmission of superbugs

SMC5/6 protein complex plays vital role in cancer suppression and premature ageing

Claritas Genomics announces launch of Claritas Clinical Exome, novel diagnostic test

Genocea announces positive data in Phase 2 trial evaluating GEN-003 for the treatment of genital herpes

Brain metastases evolve ‘clinically actionable’ mutations

Lonza, Benitec partner to develop scalable manufacturing process for AAV-based viral gene therapies

Penn Medicine announces $375,000 in new grants to support BRCA-focused research projects

New diagnostic technology based on computer algorithms can quickly identify source of cancer

New studies suggest ways to improve cancer care by inhibiting oncogenes, boosting tumor-suppressor activity

New nanometer-scale DNA machine can be used for detecting HIV diagnostic antibodies

Jumping genes: a marker for early cancer diagnosis? An interview with Dr Kazazian

New UV-Vis spectrophotometer simplifies sample quality decisions

Epilepsy Society becomes third customer of Complete Genomics' newly introduced Revolocity system

NIH-funded researchers test new gene therapy to improve visual function in mice

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

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