Genetic Press

Watching the unravelling of the human genome….

Archive for November, 2008

Specific DNA Variations Of The Serotonin Transporter Gene Can Influence Drinking Intensity

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. New findings show that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Specific DNA Variations Of The Serotonin Transporter Gene Can Influence Drinking Intensity

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

The brain's serotonergic system plays an important role in alcohol preference and consumption. New findings show that specific DNA sequence variations of the serotonin transporter gene can influence drinking intensity among alcohol-dependent individuals.

Combining targeted therapy drugs may treat previously resistant tumors

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

(Massachusetts General Hospital) A team of cancer researchers from several Boston academic medical centers has discovered a potential treatment for a group of tumors that have resisted previous targeted therapy approaches. In their Nature Medicine report, receiving early online release, the investigators report that combining two different kinase inhibitors ...

Master Gene Plays Key Role In Blood Sugar Levels

Friday, November 28th, 2008

When mice that lack steroid receptor-2, a master regulator gene called a coactivator, fast for a day, their blood sugar levels plummet. If they go another day without food, they will die. The severity of the hypoglycemia was unexpected, according to an article in Science.

How Do Individuals React To Metabolic Stress? Genetic Variation In Metabolism Identified

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Metabolic diseases -- in particular the increasingly prevalent type 2 diabetes -- are caused by a complex interaction between genetic disposition and unfavorable lifestyle, above all unbalanced diet and too little physical exercise. Researchers have now for the first time been able to show a relationship between the genetic make-up ...

Stem Cell Research Hold Great Promise, But Obstacles Remain, Expert Argues

Friday, November 28th, 2008

"There are still a number of major hurdles in the path of stem cell research today that are preventing the routine application of the technology in regenerative medicine." So say scientists writing in the International Journal of Biotechnology.

Study identifies genetic variants giving rise to differences in metabolism

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

(Public Library of Science) Common genetic polymorphisms induce major differentiations in the metabolic make-up of the human population, according to a paper published Nov. 28 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. An international team of researchers, led by Karsten Suhre, has conducted a genome-wide association study with metabolomics, identifying ...

Misreading Of Damaged DNA May Spur Tumor Formation

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Cells can turn on tumor-promoting growth circuits by falsely reporting critical genetic information during the process of transcription: making RNA from DNA. Damage to the DNA making up a gene can lead to a misreading of the gene as it is made into RNA, a process called transcriptional mutagenesis. Transcriptional ...

Misreading Of Damaged DNA May Spur Tumor Formation

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Cells can turn on tumor-promoting growth circuits by falsely reporting critical genetic information during the process of transcription: making RNA from DNA. Damage to the DNA making up a gene can lead to a misreading of the gene as it is made into RNA, a process called transcriptional mutagenesis. Transcriptional ...

Pure Insulin-producing Cells Produced In Mice

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Researchers have developed an unlimited number of pure insulin-producing cells from mouse embryonic stem cells. The cells, which have the same sub-cellular structures as the insulin-producing cells naturally found in the pancreas, were highly effective in treating diabetes in the mouse model.