Chromosome 4 News and Research

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Humans normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs. Two copies of chromosome 4, one copy inherited from each parent, form one of the pairs. Chromosome 4 spans more than 191 million DNA building blocks (base pairs) and represents more than 6 percent of the total DNA in cells.

Identifying genes on each chromosome is an active area of genetic research. Because researchers use different approaches to predict the number of genes on each chromosome, the estimated number of genes varies. Chromosome 4 likely contains between 1,300 and 1,600 genes.

Genes on chromosome 4 are among the estimated 20,000 to 25,000 total genes in the human genome.

Sequencing the genomes of cancer patients help doctors decide the best course of treatment

Two new studies highlight the power of sequencing cancer patients' genomes as a diagnostic tool, helping doctors decide the best course of treatment and researchers identify new cancer susceptibility mutations that can be passed from parent to child.

20 Apr 2011

First ever genome scan for womb cancer reveals genetic region that reduces risk of the disease

Scientists have carried out the first ever genome scan for womb cancer and discovered a genetic region that reduces risk of the disease, according to a study published in Nature Genetics.

18 Apr 2011

FEN1 enzyme might serve as anti-cancer therapy target

An enzyme essential for DNA replication and repair in humans works in a way that might be exploited as anti-cancer therapy, say researchers at The Scripps Research Institute and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

15 Apr 2011

Researchers develop Short-CGH method for preimplantation genetic screening

A Short Comparative Genomic Hybridisation method has been developed to carry out preimplantation genetic screening by analysing all chromosomes and transferring selected embryos to the recipient uterus in the same in vitro fertilisation cycle. This eliminates the need to freeze them.

15 Apr 2011

Insight into neurodegenerative diseases

For years, researchers in genome stability have observed that several neurodegenerative diseases-including Huntington's disease-are associated with cell-killing proteins that are created during expansion of a CAG/CTG trinucleotide repeat.

12 Apr 2011

New discovery in cancer and gene therapy

DNA's role as the master blueprint of the cell means that even small sequence changes can have catastrophic consequences. For this reason, much of our understanding of cancer development comes from studying how cells copy DNA and repair sequence errors--and how these processes can go wrong.

8 Apr 2011

First-of-its-kind map of recombination hotspots in a multi-celled organism

Researchers have zoomed in on mouse chromosomes to map hotspots of genetic recombination - sites where DNA breaks and reforms to shuffle genes. The findings of the scientists at the National Institutes of Health and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USU) have the potential to improve the detection of genes linked to disease and to help understand the root causes of genetic abnormalities.

6 Apr 2011

Scientists develop new method to identify factors that suppress cancer gene expression

Tumor suppressor genes normally control the growth of cells, but cancer can spring up when these genes are silenced by certain chemical reactions that modify chromosomes.

6 Apr 2011

Researchers identify genetic anomaly that may drive rare subset of prostate cancers

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a genetic anomaly that may drive the aggressive spread of a rare subset of prostate cancers.

5 Apr 2011

Known cancer-linked gene involved in subset of advanced prostate tumors

Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a genetic anomaly that may drive the aggressive spread of a rare subset of prostate cancers.

5 Apr 2011

Scientists reveal unknown role of cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School have described a previously unknown role for the cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis, the process by which a dividing cell separates its chromosomes containing the cell's DNA into two identical sets of new daughter cells.

5 Apr 2011

Researchers identify new gene that can influence person's risk of developing epilepsy

Vanderbilt University researchers have identified a new gene that can influence a person's risk for developing epilepsy. The findings, reported in the March 29 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could improve molecular diagnostic tools and point to novel therapeutic targets for epilepsy.

5 Apr 2011

Study links chronic stress of cancer with telomere length

Results of a study presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held here April 2-6, lend credence to the idea that improving quality of life affects stress-related biological markers and possibly the health of people with cancer.

4 Apr 2011

Common genetic variation linked to bladder cancer risk and telomere length

A common genetic variation links to both bladder cancer risk and to the length of protective caps found on the ends of chromosomes, scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported today at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting.

4 Apr 2011

Glasgow Professor discusses about new approach for CML treatment at UK conference

Speaking at the UK National Stem Cell Network conference in York later today, Professor Tessa Holyoake from the University of Glasgow will discuss a brand new approach to treating chronic myeloid leukaemia in which a small number of cancer cells persist despite effective therapy thus preventing cure.

31 Mar 2011

Study links genes with alcohol consumption among Asians

In a study of 1,721 Korean male drinkers aged 40󈞱 y in an urban population-based cohort, and another sample of 1,113 male drinkers from an independent rural cohort, information on average daily alcohol consumption was collected and DNA samples were collected for genotyping.

31 Mar 2011

Low doses of estrogen, growth hormone can increase height in girls with Turner syndrome

Giving girls with Turner syndrome low doses of estrogen, as well as growth hormone, years before the onset of puberty, increases their height and offers a wealth of other benefits, say a team of researchers led by Thomas Jefferson University.

31 Mar 2011

Study: Donor's DNA level in heart transplant recipient's blood can reveal organ rejection

Heart transplant recipients and their physicians are likely more concerned with the function of the donated organ than with the donor's DNA sequences that tag along in the new, healthy tissue.

29 Mar 2011

Genetic link to attempted suicide discovered - Findings could lead to new avenues of treatment

Johns Hopkins scientists, reporting in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, have identified a small region on chromosome 2 that is associated with increased risk for attempted suicide. This small region contains four genes, including the ACP1 gene, and the researchers found more than normal levels of the ACP1 protein in the brains of people who had committed suicide. This protein is thought to influence the same biological pathway as lithium, a medication known to reduce the rate of suicidal behavior.

28 Mar 2011

Resveratrol can provide resistance before and after hazardous radiation exposure

Clinical studies of Resveratrol--recognized for its proven role in activating the longevity gene to inhibit age-related diseases--have shown that its antioxidant power provides resistance before and after exposure to hazardous radiation.

24 Mar 2011

Chromosome 4 News and Research

Further Reading

Sequencing the genomes of cancer patients help doctors decide the best course of treatment

First ever genome scan for womb cancer reveals genetic region that reduces risk of the disease

FEN1 enzyme might serve as anti-cancer therapy target

Researchers develop Short-CGH method for preimplantation genetic screening

Insight into neurodegenerative diseases

New discovery in cancer and gene therapy

First-of-its-kind map of recombination hotspots in a multi-celled organism

Scientists develop new method to identify factors that suppress cancer gene expression

Researchers identify genetic anomaly that may drive rare subset of prostate cancers

Known cancer-linked gene involved in subset of advanced prostate tumors

Scientists reveal unknown role of cilia protein IFT88 in mitosis

Researchers identify new gene that can influence person's risk of developing epilepsy

Study links chronic stress of cancer with telomere length

Common genetic variation linked to bladder cancer risk and telomere length

Glasgow Professor discusses about new approach for CML treatment at UK conference

Study links genes with alcohol consumption among Asians

Low doses of estrogen, growth hormone can increase height in girls with Turner syndrome

Study: Donor's DNA level in heart transplant recipient's blood can reveal organ rejection

Genetic link to attempted suicide discovered - Findings could lead to new avenues of treatment

Resveratrol can provide resistance before and after hazardous radiation exposure

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