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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).

Study reveals potential health risks associated with burning of incense in indoor environments

The burning of incense might need to come with a health warning. This follows the first study evaluating the health risks associated with its indoor use. The effects of incense and cigarette smoke were also compared, and made for some surprising results. The research was led by Rong Zhou of the South China University of Technology and the China Tobacco Guangdong Industrial Company in China, and is published in Springer's journal Environmental Chemistry Letters.

25 Aug 2015

Dr. Sharma receives research award from ASCO to continue study on triple-negative breast cancer

Dr. Sharma was awarded the 2015 Advanced Clinical Research Award in Breast Cancer from the American Society of Clinical Oncology to continue her research on triple-negative breast cancer.

25 Aug 2015

FSU investigator solves cell division mystery

In the second part of his lab's recent one-two punch, Florida State University researcher Daniel Kaplan said he has solved a cell division mystery in a way that will intrigue the makers of cancer-fighting drugs.

25 Aug 2015

Researchers awarded $6.4 million grant to identify causes of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with CHDs

As advances in medicine are giving rise to growing numbers of children who are surviving severe heart defects, a phenomenon is emerging that is catching parents and healthcare providers off-guard. Over half of these children also have a seemingly unrelated disability: neurodevelopmental disorders. Some have severe cognitive and motor deficits that arise early.

25 Aug 2015

Benitec Biopharma announces closing of U.S. initial public offering of ADSs

Benitec Biopharma Limited, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, is pleased to announce the closing of its U.S. initial public offering of 1,500,000 American Depositary Shares (ADSs), representing 30,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares of Benitec, together with warrants to purchase 500,000 ADSs, representing 10,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares.

24 Aug 2015

Understanding the causes of sudden death in epilepsy: an interview with Professor Sanjay Sisodiya

SUDEP is the sudden unexpected witnessed or unwitnessed, non-traumatic and non-drowning death in people with epilepsy, with or without evidence of a seizure. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the known context of a seizure, excluding documented status epilepticus, where people have seizure after seizure.

24 Aug 2015

New study shows partial genetic basis underlying racial differences in slow-wave sleep

A new study clearly establishes a partial genetic basis underlying racial differences in slow-wave sleep, suggesting that it may be possible to develop sleep-related therapies that target specific genetic variants.

24 Aug 2015

MIPT scientists reveal that weak gamma radiation doses prolong life of female fruit flies

Scientists at MIPT have revealed that weak doses of gamma radiation prolong the life of drosophila flies (fruit flies), and that the effect is stronger in females than in males. These findings could reveal the genes that enable the prolongation of life and in the future lead to the creation of a means to prevent aging in humans.

24 Aug 2015

New ASU-POSTECH collaboration aims to discover biological molecules for health care, renewable energy research

The Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South Korea, have announced a partnership that will catalyze discoveries with a major impact on health care and clean energy applications.

24 Aug 2015

Alpha lipoic acid can stimulate telomerase with positive effects in mouse model of atherosclerosis

In human cells, shortened telomeres, the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, are both a sign of aging and contribute to it. Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have found that the dietary supplement alpha lipoic acid (ALA) can stimulate telomerase, the enzyme that lengthens telomeres, with positive effects in a mouse model of atherosclerosis.

24 Aug 2015

UC Davis researchers reveal how four proteins come together to help assemble tubulin

When they think about how cells put together the molecules that make life work, biologists have tended to think of assembly lines: Add A to B, tack on C, and so on. But the reality might be more like a molecular version of a 3-D printer, where a single mechanism assembles the molecule in one go.

21 Aug 2015

Novel synthetic DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against MERS virus in animal study

A novel synthetic DNA vaccine can, for the first time, induce protective immunity against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus in animal species, reported researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

21 Aug 2015

New set of genes can indicate improved survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer patients

A study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute and other major research institutes, found a new set of genes that can indicate improved survival after surgery for patients with pancreatic cancer. The study also showed that detection of circulating tumor DNA in the blood could provide an early indication of tumor recurrence.

21 Aug 2015

Potential biomarker could help prevent pre-diabetic individuals from developing Type II diabetes

Virginia Tech researchers have identified a biomarker in pre-diabetic individuals that could help prevent them from developing Type II diabetes.

21 Aug 2015

Johns Hopkins study advances scientific understanding of how DNA segments move among bacteria

Scientists at Johns Hopkins report they have deciphered the structure and unusual shape of a bacterial protein that prepares segments of DNA for the insertion of so-called jumping genes.

21 Aug 2015

Surprising mechanism behind antibiotic resistant bacteria uncovered by TSRI scientists

Every year, more strains of bacteria develop resistance to the antibiotics we use to treat deadly infections. At The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) scientists have been working to develop new forms of these drugs, including an antibiotic called arylomycin—but tests have shown that it is possible for bacteria to become resistant to arylomycin, too.

20 Aug 2015

Analysis of toilet waste from international aircraft may lead to global surveillance of infectious diseases

Current international disease surveillance systems are mainly based on reports made by doctors after treatment of infected patients. As a consequence, disease-causing microorganisms and resistance bacteria have time to spread and make large population groups sick before they are detected.

20 Aug 2015

New genome-wide association study sheds light on the underlying biology of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been passed down in many families for generations -- causing reproductive and metabolic health problems for millions of women around the world. Yet, its cause remains unknown despite more than 80 years of research since the disorder was first described in 1935.

20 Aug 2015

New study uses donor sample to evaluate how self-identification measures intersect with genetics

For years, medicine has relied on self-reported race/ethnicity as the basis of an array of decisions, from risk for disease to matching organ donors. Now, a study led by researchers at UC San Francisco has found that when that information matters most - in connecting bone marrow donors to patients - the format of the questions may determine how well the answers actually correspond to their genes.

20 Aug 2015

Scientists create membrane capable of detecting organisms that trigger diarrhea, intestinal problems

A group of scientists from the Institute of Ecology and the Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Mexico, created a membrane capable of simultaneously detecting numerous organisms in the water or food that cause diarrhea and intestinal problems. This health problem annually kills 760 000 children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization.

20 Aug 2015

DNA News and Research

Further Reading

Study reveals potential health risks associated with burning of incense in indoor environments

Dr. Sharma receives research award from ASCO to continue study on triple-negative breast cancer

FSU investigator solves cell division mystery

Researchers awarded $6.4 million grant to identify causes of neurodevelopmental disorders in children with CHDs

Benitec Biopharma announces closing of U.S. initial public offering of ADSs

Understanding the causes of sudden death in epilepsy: an interview with Professor Sanjay Sisodiya

New study shows partial genetic basis underlying racial differences in slow-wave sleep

MIPT scientists reveal that weak gamma radiation doses prolong life of female fruit flies

New ASU-POSTECH collaboration aims to discover biological molecules for health care, renewable energy research

Alpha lipoic acid can stimulate telomerase with positive effects in mouse model of atherosclerosis

UC Davis researchers reveal how four proteins come together to help assemble tubulin

Novel synthetic DNA vaccine induces protective immunity against MERS virus in animal study

New set of genes can indicate improved survival after surgery for pancreatic cancer patients

Potential biomarker could help prevent pre-diabetic individuals from developing Type II diabetes

Johns Hopkins study advances scientific understanding of how DNA segments move among bacteria

Surprising mechanism behind antibiotic resistant bacteria uncovered by TSRI scientists

Analysis of toilet waste from international aircraft may lead to global surveillance of infectious diseases

New genome-wide association study sheds light on the underlying biology of polycystic ovary syndrome

New study uses donor sample to evaluate how self-identification measures intersect with genetics

Scientists create membrane capable of detecting organisms that trigger diarrhea, intestinal problems

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