Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Human Argonautes directly cuts messenger RNA

Human Argonautes (hAgo), are key proteins involved in a process known as RNA interference. RNAi, as it is often called, is a mechanism that cells use to regulate gene expression.

7 Jun 2013

Researcher studies mechanism of s-looping to prevent heart abnormalities in infants

Ashok Ramasubramanian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Union College, believes that the study of the tiny tubes that make up the embryonic heart offers new hope to babies born with heart abnormalities. So, he's looking to chicken embryos for clues. Ramasubramanian's findings were published in the April 2013 issue of Developmental Dynamics.

7 Jun 2013

Cow antibodies points to new ways for making human medicines

Humans have been raising cows for their meat, hides and milk for millennia. Now it appears that the cow immune system also has something to offer. A new study led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) focusing on an extraordinary family of cow antibodies points to new ways to make human medicines.

7 Jun 2013

Researchers demonstrate how young genes acquire essential functions

Researchers from UConn and other institutions in the U.S. and abroad have shown how a relatively young gene can acquire a new function and become essential to an organism's life.

7 Jun 2013

Diagnoplex secures 1.3 million Swiss francs from financing round

Diagnoplex SA, a developer of molecular diagnostics for colon cancer and Debiopharm Diagnostics SA, part of the Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies Debiopharm Group™, with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs, including oncology and companion diagnostics, today announced that Diagnoplex has secured 1.3 million Swiss francs from a financing round led by Debiopharm.

7 Jun 2013

Changes in normal glycan behavior lead to fatal lysosomal disease, say researchers

From the neurons that enable thought to the keratinocytes that make toenails grow-a complex canopy of sugar molecules, commonly known as glycans, envelop every living cell in the human body.

6 Jun 2013

Researchers discover TRF1 gene that is important for nuclear reprogramming

Researchers are still fascinated by the idea of the possibility of reprogramming the cells of any tissue, turning them into cells with the capacity to differentiate into cells of a completely different type- pluripotent cells-and they are still striving to understand how it happens.

6 Jun 2013

Medicago reports positive interim results from preclinical trial for H7 VLP vaccine candidate

Medicago Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, today reported positive interim results from a preclinical trial for an H7N9 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate ("H7 vaccine").

6 Jun 2013

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from 2 placebo-controlled double blind studies of RXI-109

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing innovative therapies addressing major unmet medical needs using RNA-targeted technologies, today announced the unblinded results of the first of their 2 placebo-controlled double blind studies in volunteers with their anti-scarring agent RXI-109, a proprietary sd-rxRNA compound that has been shown in vitro and in animals to reduce mRNA for connective tissue growth factor.

6 Jun 2013

Findings have implications for potential gene therapies for autism spectrum disorders

A gene linked to autism spectrum disorders that was manipulated in two lines of transgenic mice produced mature adults with irreversible deficits affecting either learning or social interaction.

6 Jun 2013

Genetic duplication that occurred millions of years ago encouraged evolution of ASF1b gene: Study

How and when evolution generates diversity or gives form to proteins, living beings' functional building blocks, are essential questions that still surround the theory of evolution. In humans, the majority of genes have emerged via genetic duplication, a strategy in which a gene generates two identical copies that can evolve to generate different proteins.

6 Jun 2013

Scientists suggest that Oprl1 receptor is altered in mice with PTSD-like symptoms

When injected into mice immediately following a traumatic event, a new drug prevents the animals from developing memory problems and increased anxiety that are indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder.

6 Jun 2013

Researchers provide insights into potential therapeutic approaches to Down syndrome

University of Michigan researchers have determined how a gene that is known to be defective in Down syndrome is regulated and how its dysregulation may lead to neurological defects, providing insights into potential therapeutic approaches to an aspect of the syndrome.

6 Jun 2013

Cells with amplified HER2 gene need to be considered carefully, study says

Biocept, Inc., a privately-held, CLIA certified laboratory testing company focused on detection and analysis of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in cancer patients, reported the publication in the journal Cancer Medicine of a paper entitled "Discordance in HER2 gene amplification in circulating and disseminated tumor cells in patients with operable breast cancer" on research performed with collaborators from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

5 Jun 2013

Research demonstrates need for development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells

Researchers at the University of Michigan have evidence that a single gene controls both halves of nerve cells, and their research demonstrates the need to consider that design in the development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells.

5 Jun 2013

Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

In a pair of distinct but complementary papers, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and colleagues illuminate the functional importance of a relatively new class of RNA molecules.

5 Jun 2013

Research: RG3039 drug can extend survival, improve function in spinal muscular atrophy mouse models

In a new publication that appears in Human Molecular Genetics, the laboratory of Christine DiDonato, PhD reports on their pharmacological characterization of the drug RG3039, demonstrating that it can extend survival and improve function in two spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) mouse models.

5 Jun 2013

EORTC BOS 2 trial to test efficacy of adding bevacizumab to peri-operative FOLFOX 4 chemotherapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent cause of cancer-related mortality in both Europe and the United States. Treatment for patients with resectable hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer consists of surgery combined with chemotherapy, but recurrence is observed in two thirds of these patients.

5 Jun 2013

Thomson Reuters announces this year's Hottest Researchers

The Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters today announced this year's Hottest Researchers, a ranking of the most influential scientific researchers and research papers on ScienceWatch, the open web resource for science metrics and analysis.

5 Jun 2013

Better understanding of breast milk variability, strategies for optimizing neonatal diet

The composition of breast milk varies from mother to mother, and genetic factors may affect the levels of protective components in breast milk that could influence a newborn's outcomes.

5 Jun 2013

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Human Argonautes directly cuts messenger RNA

Researcher studies mechanism of s-looping to prevent heart abnormalities in infants

Cow antibodies points to new ways for making human medicines

Researchers demonstrate how young genes acquire essential functions

Diagnoplex secures 1.3 million Swiss francs from financing round

Changes in normal glycan behavior lead to fatal lysosomal disease, say researchers

Researchers discover TRF1 gene that is important for nuclear reprogramming

Medicago reports positive interim results from preclinical trial for H7 VLP vaccine candidate

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from 2 placebo-controlled double blind studies of RXI-109

Findings have implications for potential gene therapies for autism spectrum disorders

Genetic duplication that occurred millions of years ago encouraged evolution of ASF1b gene: Study

Scientists suggest that Oprl1 receptor is altered in mice with PTSD-like symptoms

Researchers provide insights into potential therapeutic approaches to Down syndrome

Cells with amplified HER2 gene need to be considered carefully, study says

Research demonstrates need for development of new treatments for regeneration of nerve cells

Study suggests modulation of "enhancer-directed RNAs" can alter gene expression in living cells

Research: RG3039 drug can extend survival, improve function in spinal muscular atrophy mouse models

EORTC BOS 2 trial to test efficacy of adding bevacizumab to peri-operative FOLFOX 4 chemotherapy

Thomson Reuters announces this year's Hottest Researchers

Better understanding of breast milk variability, strategies for optimizing neonatal diet

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Decoding Cannabis: Differentiating Hemp and Marijuana

Deciphering the Microbiome with The Microsetta Initiative

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research