Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

New research into nicotine addiction

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded a $2.1 million contract to Perlegen Sciences, Inc., to investigate the human genome for DNA variations and candidate genes associated with nicotine addiction.

24 Nov 2004

Scientists have given blind nerve cells the ability to detect light

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have given "blind" nerve cells the ability to detect light, paving the way for an innovative therapy that could restore sight to those who have lost it through disease.

24 Nov 2004

Study links a novel protein pathway to the aggressive progression of breast cancer

Cytogen Corporation today announced the publication of a study linking a novel protein pathway to the aggressive progression of breast cancer.

24 Nov 2004

Discovery of a new cancer gene, which, when damaged, may promote prostate cancer

Together with an international research team, researchers from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed an effective method for the screening and identification of genes that under normal conditions suppress cancer growth.

24 Nov 2004

Genetic defect boosts the chances of becoming addicted to tobacco

A genetic defect, which slows the liver's capacity to clear nicotine from the body, boosts the chances of becoming addicted to tobacco, finds research in Tobacco Control. The effects are particularly strong in new, young smokers, the study shows.

24 Nov 2004

Breakthrough HIV research wins prestigious industry award

Research that could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of HIV has scooped a University of Manchester scientist a prestigious industry award.

From The University of Manchester 23 Nov 2004

Experimental compound prevents cholesterol gallstone disease

A promising experimental compound prevents cholesterol gallstone disease in mice by stimulating the biochemical pathway that controls bile acid secretion by the liver, according to new studies by Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers.

23 Nov 2004

Stem cells' repair skills could be link to cancer

Johns Hopkins researchers say there is growing evidence that stem cells gone awry in their efforts to repair tissue damage could help explain why long-term irritation, such as from alcohol or heartburn, can create a breeding ground for certain cancers.

23 Nov 2004

Discovery of gene mutation in fruit flies that alters sensitivity to crack cocaine

Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and New York University have discovered a gene mutation in fruit flies that alters sensitivity to crack cocaine and also regulates their internal body clock.

23 Nov 2004

FDA approves Tarceva (erlotinib)

OSI Pharmaceuticals and Genentech have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved, after priority review, Tarceva (erlotinib) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

20 Nov 2004

Brain imaging shows differences in people at risk for Alzheimer's

Using brain imaging, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have found clear differences in brain function between healthy people who carry a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and those who lack the factor.

20 Nov 2004

Overexpression of a protein called Down Syndrome Critical Region 1 (DSCR-1) reduces tumor growth

Scientists have found that overexpression of a protein called Down Syndrome Critical Region 1 (DSCR-1) blocks the formation of new blood vessels and thus reduces tumor growth. Therapeutics based on this finding may potentially lead to new cancer treatments.

19 Nov 2004

Researchers find mutations in a multifunctional protein cause Parkinsonism

A team of researchers at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. and colleagues in Canada and Germany have discovered a gene and six mutations of it that cause symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

18 Nov 2004

New genetic test has proven useful as a prognostic tool for ovarian cancer

The identification of a gene expression profile using microarray technology may help clinicians better determine the prognosis of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer and may eventually help provide targeted therapies for this hard-to-treat disease, according to a study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

18 Nov 2004

Understanding the signals that delay the spread of follicular lymphoma could provide new therapeutic targets

Scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), have created a model that predicts the survival of follicular lymphoma patients based on the molecular characteristics of their tumors at diagnosis.

18 Nov 2004

70% of cases of spina bifida are preventable by folic-acid supplementation

A seminar in this week’s issue of THE LANCET discusses the causes, symptoms, and treatments relating to spina bifida, and reinforces an important public-health message for women about to become pregnant

18 Nov 2004

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from a virus that causes a fatal nervous system disorder, according to research conducted at Brown University and Case Western Reserve University.

18 Nov 2004

Not all congestion-producing chronic rhinosinusitis infections are the same

Rather, this problem that afflicts some 30 million Americans annually has four severity classifications that could help guide treatment today and help find better treatments in the future, says the lead author on the study published in the November issue of The Laryngoscope.

18 Nov 2004

Gene protects against environmental pollutants and pulmonary emphysema

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions have identified a “master gene” in mice that controls the action of 50 other genes whose products protect the lungs against environmental pollutants.

17 Nov 2004

Researchers find effective treatment for Unusual Fever Syndrome caused by cold exposure

Remember when Grandma used to say, "don’t go out in the cold; you’ll get sick”? It turns out that she was right for a small number of people who have a condition called familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS)

16 Nov 2004

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

New research into nicotine addiction

Scientists have given blind nerve cells the ability to detect light

Study links a novel protein pathway to the aggressive progression of breast cancer

Discovery of a new cancer gene, which, when damaged, may promote prostate cancer

Genetic defect boosts the chances of becoming addicted to tobacco

Breakthrough HIV research wins prestigious industry award

Experimental compound prevents cholesterol gallstone disease

Stem cells' repair skills could be link to cancer

Discovery of gene mutation in fruit flies that alters sensitivity to crack cocaine

FDA approves Tarceva (erlotinib)

Brain imaging shows differences in people at risk for Alzheimer's

Overexpression of a protein called Down Syndrome Critical Region 1 (DSCR-1) reduces tumor growth

Researchers find mutations in a multifunctional protein cause Parkinsonism

New genetic test has proven useful as a prognostic tool for ovarian cancer

Understanding the signals that delay the spread of follicular lymphoma could provide new therapeutic targets

70% of cases of spina bifida are preventable by folic-acid supplementation

Generic antipsychotic drugs can protect brain cells from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy

Not all congestion-producing chronic rhinosinusitis infections are the same

Gene protects against environmental pollutants and pulmonary emphysema

Researchers find effective treatment for Unusual Fever Syndrome caused by cold exposure

Genetics & Genomics - Second Edition eBook

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production