Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Cancer stem cells may vary from tumor to tumor, say researchers

Cancer stem cells have enticed scientists because of the potential to provide more durable and widespread cancer cures by identifying and targeting the tumor's most voracious cells.

2 Jul 2010

Research shows promising targeted therapies for type 2 diabetes patients

Named for the furballs whose astonishing fecundity made them stars in early Star Trek episodes, the tribbles protein, first identified in fruit flies, aids in regulating many cell processes in humans. Joslin Diabetes Center researchers now have identified mechanisms triggered by a variant of the tribbles gene that cause trouble in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells—and that offer a promising target for therapies for people with type 2 diabetes, even if they don't carry that gene variant.

2 Jul 2010

Scientists explain mechanism behind acute myeloid leukemia

New research by scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has illuminated in fine detail one of the genetic paths that leads to a particularly aggressive form of leukemia.

2 Jul 2010

SAIC-Frederick, Fluidigm collaborate to decode entire genome of Epstein-Barr virus

SAIC-Frederick, Inc. and Fluidigm Corporation are collaborating to decode the entire genome of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) using technology that can speed up research on the genetic basis of cancer and other diseases.

1 Jul 2010

Babies born after IVM fertility treatment more likely to be born larger than normal

A review of studies of babies born after in vitro maturation (IVM) fertility treatment has suggested that they are more likely to be born larger than normal and to have more difficult births requiring more obstetric interventions such as caesareans.

1 Jul 2010

Research findings suggest new treatment approach to improve corneal transplants

Although it is already one of medicine's most successful transplant procedures, doctors continue to seek ways to improve corneal transplants. Now, for the first time, a team of German and British researchers have confirmed that failure and rejection of transplanted corneas are more likely in patients whose eyes exhibit abnormal vessel growth, called corneal neovascularization, prior to surgery.

1 Jul 2010

Ronin, Hcf-1 bind together to control gene program that stimulates growth of stem cells

Ronin, crucial to the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, and a co-regulator called Hcf-1, binds to a small strand of DNA called a hyperconserved enhancer element to control a gene "program" that stimulates growth of the stem cells and may even play a role in cancer, said a group of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine in a current report in the journal Genes and Development.

1 Jul 2010

Mutations in Siglec-8 gene may play role in asthma: Research

A gene that encodes a protein responsible for determining whether certain immune cells live or die shows subtle differences in some people with asthma, a team led by Johns Hopkins researchers reports in the June European Journal of Human Genetics.

1 Jul 2010

Highly specific assay developed to detect ERG alterations in prostate cancer

Researchers at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Center for Prostate Disease Research, in collaboration with investigators at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, have developed a highly specific assay for the detection of ERG, a protein associated with tumor formations which is present in more than half of all prostate cancers.

1 Jul 2010

New research identifies memory and brain scan as best tests for predicting Alzheimer's disease

New research has identified the memory and brain scan tests that appear to predict best whether a person with cognitive problems might develop Alzheimer's disease. The research is published in the June 30, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

1 Jul 2010

Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy causes permanent genetic damage in newborns

Newborns of non-smoking moms exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy have genetic mutations that may affect long-term health, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study published online in the Open Pediatric Medicine Journal. The abnormalities, which were indistinguishable from those found in newborns of mothers who were active smokers, may affect survival, birth weight and lifelong susceptibility to diseases like cancer.

1 Jul 2010

Rubicon Genomics' PicoPlex linear WGA technology proves effective in clinical study

Rubicon Genomics today announced that its PicoPlex linear whole genome amplification technology was proven to be effective in an independent clinical study organized by the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. At a press conference during its 26th Annual Meeting in Rome, ESHRE reported the success of its "groundbreaking proof of principle study" showing that a new approach incorporating PicoPlex could more accurately detect and characterize chromosomal abnormalities in human eggs.

1 Jul 2010

ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Response Genetics Inc., a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced that it has expanded its ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel to detect the presence of EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients. EML4-ALK fusion genes are present in about four percent of tumors from patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

1 Jul 2010

Gene diagnosis to be featured at 9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN

9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN, organized by Reed Exhibitions Japan, will come back again as Asia's largest bio-event from June 30 - July 2, 2010. "Gene diagnosis" is one of the featured topics for this year.

30 Jun 2010

Sirnaomics receives NIH SBIR grants to advance siRNA therapeutics for critical human diseases

Sirnaomics, Inc. announced today that the company has received two SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants from National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), of National Institute of Health (NIH). Sirnaomics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company founded in early 2007, is dedicated to developing RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for treatment of critical human diseases.

30 Jun 2010

New hope for patients with drug-resistant depression

New research shows that a unique strain of laboratory mice characterized at Penn State University has behavioral, hormonal, and neurochemical characteristics that are similar to those of human patients with drug-resistant forms of depression.

30 Jun 2010

An innovative genetic prediction algorithm

A University of Toledo doctoral candidate in biomedical sciences recently combined the inspiration he received from his grandfather, values learned from his mother, insights gleaned from his mentors and processing power tapped from a supercomputer to unlock a few of the many secrets of the human genome.

29 Jun 2010

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that its applications for ALN-TTR01 have been given clearance by Portuguese, Swedish, and British regulatory authorities to begin clinical testing. The trial will begin enrolling patients shortly in a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase I study.

29 Jun 2010

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Researchers funded by JDRF have discovered that the hormone, serotonin, may be involved in the increase of insulin-producing beta cells during pregnancy.

29 Jun 2010

Simple blood test may help detect chromosomal abnormalities in developing foetus

Researchers in The Netherlands believe they are on the verge of developing a simple, prenatal blood test that would be able to detect accurately chromosomal abnormalities in the developing foetus.

29 Jun 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Cancer stem cells may vary from tumor to tumor, say researchers

Research shows promising targeted therapies for type 2 diabetes patients

Scientists explain mechanism behind acute myeloid leukemia

SAIC-Frederick, Fluidigm collaborate to decode entire genome of Epstein-Barr virus

Babies born after IVM fertility treatment more likely to be born larger than normal

Research findings suggest new treatment approach to improve corneal transplants

Ronin, Hcf-1 bind together to control gene program that stimulates growth of stem cells

Mutations in Siglec-8 gene may play role in asthma: Research

Highly specific assay developed to detect ERG alterations in prostate cancer

New research identifies memory and brain scan as best tests for predicting Alzheimer's disease

Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy causes permanent genetic damage in newborns

Rubicon Genomics' PicoPlex linear WGA technology proves effective in clinical study

ResponseDX: Lung genetic test panel launched to detect EML4-ALK gene variants in lung cancer patients

Gene diagnosis to be featured at 9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN

Sirnaomics receives NIH SBIR grants to advance siRNA therapeutics for critical human diseases

New hope for patients with drug-resistant depression

An innovative genetic prediction algorithm

Alnylam receives Portuguese, Swedish, British approvals to initiate ALN-TTR01 Phase I study in ATTR

Serotonin promotes beta cell expansion during pregnancy, offers possible cure for type 1 diabetes

Simple blood test may help detect chromosomal abnormalities in developing foetus

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