Archive for the 'Genomics' Category

Scientists Identify Gene Required for Repairing Damaged Muscle

Researchers at the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School have come a step closer to treating, and maybe even preventing, muscle damage which is caused by neurodegenerative disorders and other forms of disease. In a newly published study, the researching team has disclosed that they have found that the gene polymerase I and transcript release factor, or PTRF, are a crucial constituent of the cell process that repairs damaged muscle tissue.

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Coffee Addiction Linked to Genetics

If you thought that you are a person who craves coffee more than others, then now is the time to explore your genetics, as scientist have proven that caffeine addiction is part of our DNA.  According to a report, there are differences in two genes which cause people to consume more or less caffeine. Individuals who have a “high-consumption” variation of either gene appear to drink more coffee, as compared to those who have a “low-consumption” variant.

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New Classification for E. Coli Bacteria

The standard fecal coliform test that is used for monitoring the quality of water is being questioned by a latest research study that has identified sources of Escherichia coli bacteria that may not indicate an environmental hazard.

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Production of Mercury by Microorganisms to be Researched

A new research study on the sequenced bacterial genome conducted by a team from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has the possibility of revealing clues as to how microorganisms produce a highly toxic form of mercury.

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Diagnosing Genetic Mutations with the Help of New Technology

Even one minute alteration one of the thousands of DNA codes that constitute each gene in the human genome can lead to severe diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Huntington’s Disease. A similarly miniscule alteration in the DNA of a virus or bacteria can lead to drug resistant strains that are difficult for doctors to treat with generalized drug therapies. For these reasons, scientists have been searching for methods for studying the impact genetic mutations can have on an organism but have been restricted in these efforts by an inability to easily and efficiently produce and analyze the thousands of potential changes possible in even one small gene.

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Breast Tumors Are Unique in Terms of Genetics

Findings from the Washington University in St. Louis and the Siteman Cancer Center have proved that almost every breast cancer patient has a unique type of breast cancer, in terms of the genetics of the cancer. The researchers who sequenced the complete genomes of tumors from 50 breast cancer patients detected over 1,700 mutations, most of which were unique to individual patients.

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Genetadi Biotech: Possible to Identify 150 Genetic Syndromes

In a recent announcement by Genetadi Biotech, the company has announced that a prenatal diagnostic device developed by the company based on amniocentesis is now available. The device is based on microarray technology (genomic hybridization genetic chips) and has a diagnostic resolution that is 100 times more than the common cytogenetic technology available today.

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Human Genetics Commission Approves Pre-Pregnancy Genetic Disease Testing

In a revolutionary move, genetic tests that have the possibility of almost completely eliminating the probability of couples having a baby with an inherited disease have been approved by the Human Genetics Commission.

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Impact of Parasitic Infection on Behavior

A latest study conducted by Jianchun Xiao and colleagues at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine has found distinct differences in the manipulation of host gene expression among the three clonal lineages of parasites that are found in Europe and North America.

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Researchers Identify Gene Responsible for Severe Skin Condition in Epilepsy Patients

Researchers at the University of Liverpool and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland have discovered a gene that has the potential to indicate if epilepsy patients starting drug treatment are likely to experience side-effects resulting in blistering of the skin.

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