Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Insight into how mutations in LRRK2 gene may cause familial Parkinson's disease

Using new one-of-a-kind "mouse models" that promise to have a significant impact on future Parkinson's disease research, Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers are among the first to discover how mutations in a gene called LRRK2 may cause inherited (or "familial") Parkinson's disease, the most common form of the disease. The study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, is the first in vivo evidence that LRRK2 regulates dopamine transmission and controls motor performance, and that the mutation of LRRK2 eliminates the normal function of LRRK2, leading to Parkinson's disease.

1 Apr 2010

Court rules against gene patents

The New York Times: A judicial ruling that "threw out parts of two gene patents and called into question thousands more" has biotechnology executives hastening "to reassure their investors that the ruling would not necessarily undermine their businesses, at least in the short run. But the executives themselves were struggling on Tuesday to figure out what the long-term impact would be."

1 Apr 2010

EMBL scientists identify genes involved in human cell division

Name a human gene, and you'll find a movie online showing you what happens to cells when it is switched off. This is the resource that researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and their collaborators in the Mitocheck consortium are making freely available, as the result of a study in which they have identified the genes involved in mitosis - the most common form of cell division - in humans.

1 Apr 2010

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of 28% for 2009

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company pursuing the development and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics based on RNA interference (RNAi), today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

31 Mar 2010

Bioheart presents cutting edge therapies at 2010 Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum

Bioheart, Inc., announced today that Dr. Karl E. Groth, the Company's Chairman and CEO will speak at the 2010 Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on April 8. Dr. Groth will discuss Bioheart's cell therapies for Congestive Heart Failure.

31 Mar 2010

Plant-based system could help improve lives of hemophilic patients

Hemophilia, a disease linked with legends of European monarchs, frail heirs and one flamboyant charlatan called Rasputin, still afflicts many people today.

31 Mar 2010

BIO pleased with Court's dismissal of claims over patenting gene-based inventions

“As explained in the ruling yesterday, the District Court's determination is only a preliminary step in the legal process that does not affect how the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) evaluates patent applications relating to DNA-based inventions.”

31 Mar 2010

Researcher explores the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies

A Kansas State University researcher is exploring the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies that are common for type-2 diabetics.

31 Mar 2010

Melior Discovery, Rett Syndrome Research Trust collaborate to screen drug-candidates

Melior Discovery, Inc. announced today that it has entered into collaboration with the Rett Syndrome Research Trust to screen drug-candidates in an in vivo model of Rett Syndrome.

31 Mar 2010

Judge throws out human gene patents linked to cancers

The New York Times: A federal judge Monday threw out two patents on human genes that are linked to breast and ovarian cancer. "The decision, if upheld, could throw into doubt the patents covering thousands of human genes and reshape the law of intellectual property."

31 Mar 2010

Neuroscientists prevent memory loss in fruit flies by blocking activity of PI3 kinase signaling protein

By blocking the cellular signaling activity of a protein, a team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has prevented memory loss in fruit flies caused by brain plaques similar to those thought to cause Alzheimer's disease in humans. The study also resolves a long-standing controversy about the role of this protein, PI3 kinase, which was previously thought to have a protective function against the disease.

30 Mar 2010

Mood altering effects of Phenytoin

Phenytoin is a well known antiepileptic agent widely used throughout the world. Recent clinical studies in patients with bipolar disorder have suggested that, as for other anticonvulsant drugs commonly used in the treatment of bipolar patients including valproate and carbamazepine, phenytoin may have mood-stabilizing effects in addition to its well-known anticonvulsant properties.

30 Mar 2010

Researchers find Dpp protein causes metastatic tumour migration

One of the most intriguing questions in cancer research is what causes metastatic tumour migration, why some tumour cells manage to migrate to other parts of the body but others cells don't. International investigation conducted by Enrique Mart-n Blanco, CSIC researcher at the Institute of Biology of Barcelona, located in the Barcelona Science Park, reveals that cells make use of a natural mechanism for this.

30 Mar 2010

Chromatin expands operations to 5,000 square foot facility in University of Illinois' Research Park

The University of Illinois today announces that Chromatin, Inc., a biotechnology company that has occupied space in the University's Research Park since 2005 as part of the EnterpriseWorks incubator, is expanding operations and graduating to a 5,000 square foot facility in the Research Park. The expansion marks the company's continued significant progress in commercializing its proprietary technology, including mini-chromosomes which were originally developed at the University of Chicago by company co-founder and CEO Daphne Preuss.

30 Mar 2010

Plaques in blood vessels may break by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes

University of Washington (UW) researchers have gathered evidence that dangerous plaques in blood vessels can rupture by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes. Plaques are fat-laden rough spots in the otherwise smooth walls of arteries. When a plaque ruptures, blood accumulates inside of it, a process known as plaque hemorrhage. The plaque enlarges and artery-blocking clots can form. If the flow of oxygen-rich blood is restricted, a heart attack, stroke, or damage to other organs can occur.

30 Mar 2010

Mutations in gene protecting body leads to development of cancer

An important gene that normally protects the body against cancer can itself cause a variety of cancers depending on the specific mutation that damages it, according to a new study by investigators at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James).

30 Mar 2010

New therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors

Helmholtz Zentrum M-nchen has launched a new cooperative project with SIRION BIOTECH GmbH in Martinsried to develop new therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors. With a two-year grant from the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology, the two partners will seek to further develop lentiviral vector systems to better understand the disease mechanisms of this cancer form and to devise approaches for treatment.

30 Mar 2010

Systemic treatment of microRNA therapeutic targeting miR-10b inhibits breast cancer metastasis

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. today announced the publication of new results in the journal Nature Biotechnology by Regulus scientists and collaborators. The new study demonstrated that systemic treatment of a microRNA therapeutic targeting microRNA-10b in tumor-bearing mice inhibits breast cancer metastasis. Cancer-related metastasis is a major cause of mortality and current cancer treatments have limited utility suppressing the metastatic spread of cancer cells. microRNA therapeutics targeting miR-10b represent a promising approach for the discovery and development of a novel anti-metastatic agent.

30 Mar 2010

Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus collaborate to develop new anti-viral drugs

The Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Buford, Georgia, have entered into a collaboration and research agreement to develop novel compounds to treat infectious disease. Zirus uses a proprietary method for identifying genes and gene products in host cells that, when blocked, can prevent viruses from multiplying. Over the past several years, either alone or in collaboration with partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zirus has identified, licensed and filed patents on more than 1000 targets.

30 Mar 2010

Study: Hormone replacement in joint fluid might be beneficial in treating osteoarthritis

German researchers determined that concentrations of the sex hormones, testosterone in men and estrogen in women, may have a positive effect on the regenerative potential of cartilage tissue. The study suggests hormone replacement in the joint fluid of men and women might be beneficial in treating late stages of human osteoarthritis by regenerating damaged tissue.

30 Mar 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Insight into how mutations in LRRK2 gene may cause familial Parkinson's disease

Court rules against gene patents

EMBL scientists identify genes involved in human cell division

RXi Pharmaceuticals reports net loss of 28% for 2009

Bioheart presents cutting edge therapies at 2010 Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum

Plant-based system could help improve lives of hemophilic patients

BIO pleased with Court's dismissal of claims over patenting gene-based inventions

Researcher explores the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies

Melior Discovery, Rett Syndrome Research Trust collaborate to screen drug-candidates

Judge throws out human gene patents linked to cancers

Neuroscientists prevent memory loss in fruit flies by blocking activity of PI3 kinase signaling protein

Mood altering effects of Phenytoin

Researchers find Dpp protein causes metastatic tumour migration

Chromatin expands operations to 5,000 square foot facility in University of Illinois' Research Park

Plaques in blood vessels may break by overproducing protein-digesting enzymes

Mutations in gene protecting body leads to development of cancer

New therapeutic approaches against lymphoid tumors

Systemic treatment of microRNA therapeutic targeting miR-10b inhibits breast cancer metastasis

Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus collaborate to develop new anti-viral drugs

Study: Hormone replacement in joint fluid might be beneficial in treating osteoarthritis

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

The evolution of OCT for retinal imaging and disease intervention

Supercharging Next-Gen Antibody Discovery with AI and High-Throughput Experimentation

Prof. Dr. Kristina Kusche-Vihrog