Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Promising study may lead to potential new therapeutics for women facing triple-negative breast cancer

Using a small molecule decoy, investigators funded by the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation have managed to block protein interactions and induce epigenetic reprogramming in human and mouse breast cancer cells, essentially changing the gene expression of breast cancer cells to behave in a more normal manner.

9 Jul 2010

Males with faulty BRCA2 genes at risk of breast cancer

Men who carry a faulty version of the BRCA2 gene have an estimated one-in-15 chance of developing breast cancer by the time they reach 70, British scientists have found.

9 Jul 2010

Musashi 2 protein predicts progression of AML and CML, identify researchers

Researchers at Whitehead Institute and Children's Hospital Boston have identified a protein, called Musashi 2, that is predictive of prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

9 Jul 2010

Research findings may help scientists understand how muscle and heart diseases develop

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which cells direct gene expression, the process by which information from a gene is used to direct the physical and behavioral development of individuals. The research, which may help scientists gain insight into how muscle and heart diseases develop, is published in the July 8th issue of Nature.

9 Jul 2010

Study identifies a region in human genome that is linked to FSGS

An in-depth study of a family with multiple generations affected by kidney disease has identified a previously unknown location for a gene abnormality causing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

9 Jul 2010

Female mice that lack fucose mutarotase gene exhibit male-like sexual behavior

The mammalian fucose mutarotase enzyme is known to be involved in incorporating the sugar fucose into protein. Female mice that lack the fucose mutarotase (FucM) gene refuse to let males mount them, and will attempt copulation with other female mice. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Genetics created the FucM mouse mutants in order to investigate the role of this enzyme in vivo.

9 Jul 2010

Researchers report how mature red blood cells form

We take our blood for granted, but its creation requires a complicated series of steps, starting with the formation of blood stem cells during early embryonic development, followed by progressive differentiation into the progenitors of red cells, white cells and platelets, and ultimately the full set of blood cells.

9 Jul 2010

MicroRNA 193b gene can slow the growth of melanoma, research shows

New Queen's University research has shown that the growth of melanoma, one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer, can be slowed when a little known gene called MicroRNA 193b is added.

9 Jul 2010

Japanese scientists identify long-elusive enzyme necessary for proper regulation of cilia

It's safe to say that cilia, the hairlike appendages jutting out from the smooth surfaces of most mammalian cells, have long been misunderstood - underestimated, even.

8 Jul 2010

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice – still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

MicroRNA-212 plays key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Study

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have found that a particular type of genetic material plays a key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction and may offer an entirely new direction for the development of anti-addiction therapies. In animal studies, the scientists found that a molecule called microRNA-212 was increased in the brains of test animals that had extended access to cocaine.

8 Jul 2010

Silence strengthens RNAi IP portfolio with issuance of key patent in structural modification technology

Silence Therapeutics plc announces the issuance of United States patent 7,750,144, titled Methods and Compositions for Enhancing Efficacy and Specificity of RNA Silencing, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The issued patent generally claims methods of producing double stranded (RNAi) agents having decreased off-target silencing activity through certain structural modifications. The ability to minimize the off-target effects of RNAi therapeutics is critical for controlling unwanted cellular activity and/or potential safety concerns.

8 Jul 2010

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

New findings reported in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication, are offering new leads as to why some people might suffer from high levels of triglycerides. High triglycerides are a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They can also lead to inflammation of the pancreas, the researchers said.

8 Jul 2010

Study reveals X+ allele of APOB gene as another risk factor of gallstone formation after gastrectomy

The cause of higher incidence of gallstone after radical gastrectomy still remains unknown. Almost all previous studies have attributed gallstone formation to gallbladder motility disorder after gastrectomy, But this theory cannot completely explain it. Is there any other risk factor of gallstone formation after gastrectomy?

8 Jul 2010

LSUHSC awarded $4M grant to study cannabinoid treatment for HIV infection

Patricia Molina, MD, PhD, Professor and Head of Physiology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, has been awarded a $4 million grant over five years by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health to study how cannabinoids, the principal psychoactive component of marijuana, produce subtle changes in gene activity that affect how a person responds to HIV infection.

8 Jul 2010

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice - still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy.

8 Jul 2010

Rutgers researchers report genetic coding responsible for making QPM kernels sturdy

Rutgers researchers have discovered the basis for what makes corn kernels hard, a quality that allows corn to be easily harvested, stored and transported. The findings could lead to better hybrids and increase the supply for people in developing countries who rely on it as a nutritional staple.

7 Jul 2010

Scientists identify potential disease genes in humans and mice

An international consortium of scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University of Toronto has identified previously unknown potential disease genes in humans and mice. Genes on the X chromosome, which regulate embryonic development, are the focus of the current publication in the renowned journal Genome Research. Men have only one X chromosome, and therefore mutations on this chromosome disproportionately affect males, frequently leading to serious diseases such as hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and mental retardation.

7 Jul 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals initiates dosing in Phase I human clinical study with ALN-TTR01

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today it has initiated dosing in a Phase I human clinical study with ALN-TTR01. The study is aimed at evaluating the safety and tolerability of ALN-TTR01 in patients with transthyretin -mediated amyloidosis, and is also designed to provide preliminary data on human proof of concept based on measurements of TTR serum levels.

7 Jul 2010

Epeius Biotechnologies receives notice of allowance from USPTO for gene delivery platform

Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation, an emerging leader in the field of targeted genetic medicine, received a notice of allowance from the USPTO for another crucial patent covering its leading tumor-targeted gene delivery platform. The issuance of this high-value patent protection for targeting metastatic disease follows on the heels of two major patent issuances covering tumor-targeted gene delivery and precision-targeted cancer immunotherapy, respectively.

7 Jul 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Promising study may lead to potential new therapeutics for women facing triple-negative breast cancer

Males with faulty BRCA2 genes at risk of breast cancer

Musashi 2 protein predicts progression of AML and CML, identify researchers

Research findings may help scientists understand how muscle and heart diseases develop

Study identifies a region in human genome that is linked to FSGS

Female mice that lack fucose mutarotase gene exhibit male-like sexual behavior

Researchers report how mature red blood cells form

MicroRNA 193b gene can slow the growth of melanoma, research shows

Japanese scientists identify long-elusive enzyme necessary for proper regulation of cilia

Scientists shrink distant sarcomas with genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and anti-vascular drug

MicroRNA-212 plays key role in determining vulnerability to cocaine addiction: Study

Silence strengthens RNAi IP portfolio with issuance of key patent in structural modification technology

New findings show why some people suffer from high levels of triglycerides

Study reveals X+ allele of APOB gene as another risk factor of gallstone formation after gastrectomy

LSUHSC awarded $4M grant to study cannabinoid treatment for HIV infection

Scientists use genetically reprogrammed herpes virus to shrink distant sarcomas

Rutgers researchers report genetic coding responsible for making QPM kernels sturdy

Scientists identify potential disease genes in humans and mice

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals initiates dosing in Phase I human clinical study with ALN-TTR01

Epeius Biotechnologies receives notice of allowance from USPTO for gene delivery platform

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

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS