Archive for May, 2014

The Sims 3: Perfect Genetics Challenge- {Part 1.5} Got Shot Down!
Read Me. *Warning* The first couple of episodes of this LP were recorded all at once, and the audio got kind of weird there for a bit, but still new at this so please don #39;t...

By: Moar Sims

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The Sims 3: Perfect Genetics Challenge- {Part 1.5} Got Shot Down! - Video

The Sims 3 | Perfect Genetics Challenge Part 1: One Woohoo Down
Hey guys and welcome to Part 1 of my new lets play! Backstory: "Once upon a time, the Mighty Player sent a Sim to live in the world where all its creations were living happily. But this...

By: simplyapril

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The Sims 3 | Perfect Genetics Challenge Part 1: One Woohoo Down - Video

VaderOG Genetics Week 8 HD1080p
VaderOG Genetics Strains : Merlot OG, Witch Brew,Witch Hunt,Bubble Krush,

By: klitzo420

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VaderOG Genetics Week 8 HD1080p - Video

Diaceutics Personalized Medicine 2.0 - Integrating Key Learnings Across the Organization
This webinar, the second in Diaceutics #39; series on Personalized Medicine (PM), will focus on PM education across the pharmaceutical company from the R D tea...

By: Diaceutics Labceutics

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Diaceutics Personalized Medicine 2.0 - Integrating Key Learnings Across the Organization - Video

Neural Prolotherapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at NYC
VinciHealth.com: Igor Ostrovsky MD, PhD performs neural prolotherapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. Neural Prolotherapy is a powerfully effective new development in the world of regenerative medicine....

By: VinciHealth

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Neural Prolotherapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at NYC - Video

A new development in fertility treatment scientists have successfully produced early-stage sperm cells from the skin cells of infertile men.

According to the study, Stanford University researchers took skin cells from infertile men, turned them into stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cellsand then implanted those cells in the tubules of mice testes. (Via Flickr / 7715592@N03,33852688@N08)

Before we move forward, you might be wondering how scientists turned skin cells back into stem cells. This video from Stem Cell Network sums up the process.

"If some adult cell types are taken, grown in plastic dishes and given specific genetic instructions, over time a small number of these cells will reverse from their differentiated state and develop the ability to redifferentiate."(Via Vimeo /Stem Cell Network)

Researchers discovered the stem cells developed into germ cells, the precursor to sperm cells. (Via YouTube / CreekValleyCritters)

But while this new development seemingly bodes well for future fertility treatment, a writer for The Guardian points out one major concern.

"The cells that lodged in the tubules developed into early-stage sperm cells, but others turned into small tumours. The danger of causing cancer in the men is one of the major risks that scientists need to overcome." (Via The Guardian)

And LiveScience reports the research is still in its infancy, noting even though the stem cells produced germ cells, they "did not go on to form mature sperm in the mice."The head researcher for the study told LiveScience this is likely because of the "evolutionary differences between humans and mice."

Despite concerns, Nature World News says this research has potential, because there are various uses for the treatment. "There is also the possibility of using cells from endangered species to help boost their reproduction."

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, about 12 percentof adults suffer from infertility. The study has been published in the journal Cell Reports.

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Human skin cells used to create sperm cells

Scientists have turned skin tissue from infertile men into early-stage sperm cells in a groundbreaking study that raises hopes for new therapies for the condition.

The unexpected success of the procedure has stunned some scientists, because it was thought to be impossible for the men to make any sperm.

The men who took part in the study had major genetic defects on their Y sex chromosomes, which meant they could not produce healthy adult sperm on their own.

About 1% of men cannot make any sperm, a condition known as azoospermia, while a fifth of men have low sperm counts. Male fertility is a concern for roughly half of couples who seek IVF treatment.

In the latest study, researchers took skin cells from three infertile men and converted them into stem cells, which can grow into almost any tissue in the body. When these cells were transplanted into the testes of mice, they developed into early-stage human sperm cells.

What we found was that cells from men who did not possess sperm at the time of clinical observation were able to produce the precursors for sperm, said Cyril Ramathal, of Stanford University.

Skin cells from infertile men grew into fewer early-stage sperm cells than cells taken from normally fertile men, the study found.

The research is at an early stage, but scientists suspect that the converted skin cells might have grown into mature sperm cells if they had been transplanted into the infertile mens testes.

If further work confirms the suspicion, it may be possible to restore male fertility by taking mens skin cells, turning them into stem cells, and injecting these into their testes. The same might be done for men who are left infertile after having chemotherapy for cancer.

Being able to efficiently convert skin cells into sperm would allow this group to become biologic fathers, said Michael Eisenberg, director of male reproduction and surgery at Stanford, who was not involved in the study. Infertility is one of the most common and devastating complications of cancer treatments, especially for young boys and men.

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Scientists turn tissue from infertile men into sperm cells

Here is a new development in fertility treatment: Scientists have successfully produced early-stage sperm cells from the skin cells of infertile men.

According to thestudy, Stanford University researchers took skin cells from infertile men, turned them into stem cells known as induced pluripotent stem cells, and then implanted those cells in the tubules of mice testes. (ViaFlickr / 7715592@N03,33852688@N08)

Before we move forward, you might be wondering how scientists turned skin cells back into stem cells. Stem Cell Networksummed up the process: "If some adult cell types are taken, grown in plastic dishes and given specific genetic instructions, over time a small number of these cells will reverse from their differentiated state and develop the ability to redifferentiate."(ViaVimeo /Stem Cell Network)

>> Read more trending stories

Researchers discovered the stem cells developed into germ cells, the precursor to sperm cells. (ViaYouTube /CreekValleyCritters)

But while this new development seemingly bodes well for future fertility treatment, a writer forThe Guardianpoints out one major concern: "The cells that lodged in the (mice) tubules developed into early-stage sperm cells, but others turned into small tumors. The danger of causing cancer in the men is one of the major risks that scientists need to overcome."(ViaThe Guardian)

Despite concerns,Nature World Newssays this research has potential, because there are various uses for the treatment."There is also the possibility of using cells from endangered species to help boost their reproduction," the organization reported.

According to theAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine, about 12 percentof adults suffer from infertility. The study has been published in the journal Cell Reports.

Read more:
Scientists use human skin to create sperm cells

Health authorities on Saturday reissued warnings against health facilities and medical practitioners offering stem-cell therapies or related products, which promise to cure a range of diseases, arrest the aging process or even increase libido.

In an advisory, the Food and Drug Administration stressed that to date not one stem cell or human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) that applied for registration has been registered by the FDA for compassionate or clinical trial use or for general use.

The use of HCT/Ps without the authorization or permission by the FDA is considered illegal, it said. The agency warned hospitals and health facilities of the provisions of the FDA Act of 2009, which prohibits the manufacture, use, advertisement or sponsorship of unregistered health products.

This warning extends to all unlicensed practitioners from other countries and to tourists who visit the Philippines for leisure and medical needs.

According to FDA acting director general Kenneth Hartigan Go, the FDA recognizes only hematopoietic (pertaining to the formation and development of blood cells) stem-cell transplantation, corneal resurfacing with limbal stem cells and skin regeneration with epidermal stem cells as generally accepted standards of healthcare procedures.

If health institutions are doing these three procedures, they can continue because those are allowed, Go said.

But the efficacy of the use of stem cells for the treatment of other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and autism, among others, have yet to be proven, he said.

Go noted that while many spa centers and salons are advertising stem-cell therapy treatment and products, none of them have secured the FDAs approval. As of now, we have not accredited any health facility offering stem-cell therapy yet.

Applicants with deficiencies

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FDA: No way spas can do stem-cell therapy

COMING SOON: Food products that contain higher levels of phytosterols for reduced cholesterol, crops with higher levels of carotenoids for increased vitamin A, potato loaded with antioxidants, low-linolenic soybean, and high-lysine corn.

These may be farfetched but the possibilities are endless. Thanks to genetic engineering, the crops of the future will no longer be just dreams but realities. Already, the world has seen eggplant and corn that defy pests, vitamin A-rich rice, herbicide tolerant soybean, virus resistant papaya, and high laureate canola.

They are called genetically modified (GM) crops, which are products of biotechnology, a "technique that makes use of organism (or parts of it) to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific purposes."

GM crops are made through a process called genetic engineering. Dr. Antonio Alfonso, a plant breeder at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Crops Biotechnology Center director said genetic engineering is employed because of the following reasons: the trait is not present in the germplasm of the plant; the trait is very difficult to incorporate using conventional breeding methods; and it would take a very long time to introduce and/or improve such trait in the crop through conventional breeding.

In 1994, Calgene's delayed-ripening tomato became the first GM food crop to be produced and consumed in an industrialized country. Other GM crops -- corn, soybean, cotton, canola, and eggplant -- followed. These are called "first generation" crops which have proven their ability to lower farm-level production costs.

Now, research is focused on "second generation" GM crops that will feature increased nutritional and/or industrial traits. These crops will have more direct benefits to consumers. Examples include: potatoes with higher starch content and inulin; edible vaccines in corn, banana, and potatoes; corn varieties with low phytic acid and increased essential amino acids; healthier oils from soybean and canola; and allergen-free nuts.

These are called functional foods. It is defined as "foods or dietary components that claim to provide health benefits aside from basic nutrition." These foods contain biologically active substances such as antioxidants that may lower the risks from certain diseases associated with aging.

"Diet and health are closely related," explains the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). "Thus crops are now being enhanced through biotechnology to increase levels of important biologically active substances for improved nutrition, to increase body's resistance to illnesses, and to remove undesirable food components."

Linoleic acid (LA), alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are some of the essential fatty acids. These are considered essential because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. A large number of scientific research studies suggest that higher dietary essential fatty acid intakes are associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease risk.

The main food sources of the long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids are fish. Plants lack the enzymes to make long-chain fatty acids needed by human beings. Scientists at the University of Bristol modified Arabidopsis thaliana to produce long-chain PUFAs.

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Functional crops are coming

Dr. Thomas Merritt - God in Genetics
Dr. Thomas Merritt answers the question, "Are we finding proof today that everything religion has been teaching us is slowly making more sense with the advancement of genetics to explain to...

By: LetsTalkScience

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Dr. Thomas Merritt - God in Genetics - Video

Stacy Alaimo Chapter Six "Genetics, Agency, and Ethics"

By: Angela Bennett Segler

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Stacy Alaimo Chapter Six "Genetics, Agency, and Ethics" - Video

2014 Spring Trials: HEM Genetics, Limbo Petunia
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By: SpringTrials.org

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2014 Spring Trials: HEM Genetics, Limbo Petunia - Video

Minecraft: Attack of the B-Team! Unadvanced Genetics - E33
Mark of the Old Ones on Kickstarter! http://kck.st/1e5v1wA SKYZM ONLINE Twitter http://www.twitter.com/skyzm Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/skyzmLP Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sky...

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Minecraft: Attack of the B-Team! Unadvanced Genetics - E33 - Video

Human embryonic stem cells can become any cell in the body. AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines Health authorities warned the public anew on Saturday about health facilities and medical practitioners offering unauthorized stem cell therapy and products.

In an advisory, the Food and Drug Administration said that to date, not one stem cell or human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) that applied for registration has been registered by the FDA for compassionate or clinical trial use, or general use.

The use of HCT/Ps without the authorization or permission by the FDA is considered illegal, it said, reminding hospitals and health facilities of the provisions of the FDA Act of 2009, which prohibits the manufacture, use, advertisement or sponsorship of unregistered health products.

This warning extends to all unlicensed practitioners from other countries and to tourists who visit the Philippines for leisure and medical needs, the advisory added.

According to FDA acting director general Kenneth Hartigan Go, the FDA recognizes only hematopoietic (pertaining to the formation and development of blood cells) stem cell transplantation, corneal resurfacing with limbal stem cells and skin regeneration with epidermal stem cells as generally accepted standards of health care procedures.

If health institutions are doing these three procedures, they can continue doing them because those are allowed. Go said, adding that the efficacy of the use of stem cells for the treatment of other diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and autism, among others, has yet to be proven.

Go noted that while many spa centers and salons are advertising stem cell therapy and products, none of them has the approval of the health agency.

As of now we have not accredited any health facility offering stem cell therapy yet, Go said.

Several facilities had applied for accreditation but Go said many of these were asked to correct their deficiencies.

Read the original here:
Public warned of fly-by-night stem cell procedures, products

Skin cells from infertile men can be turned into the precursors of sperm cells in a lab, according to a new study.

The findings raise the possibility of one day making sperm from the skin cells of men with fertility problems, the researchers said. However, much more research is needed to determine if this is possible and whether it is safe.

In the new study, researchers first transformed the men's skin cells into stem cells, then implanted the cells into the testes of mice where they formed sperm precursor cells. However, one safety issue is that some of the stem cells formed tumors in the mice, said study researcher Renee Reijo Pera, who conducted the work while at Stanford University, and is now a professor of cell biology and neurosciences at Montana State University.

To conduct the study, Pera and colleagues took skin samples from three infertile men, and two fertile men. The infertile men had a genetic mutation in a region of the genome called AZF1 that prevented them from making mature sperm, a condition called azoospermia. [Sexy Swimmers: 7 Facts About Sperm]

The researchers used the skin cells to produce what are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), which have the ability to become nearly any tissue type in the body. These iPS cells were then implanted into the testes of mice, where they turned into germ cells, which normally give rise to sperm in males.

However, in the study, the germ cells did not go on to form mature sperm in the mice, likely because of evolutionary differences between humans and mice that blocked the production of such mature cells, Pera said.

The stem cells from fertile men were much better at generating germ cells than those from infertile men. Still, the fact that the infertile men's stem cells produced germ cells at all was surprising, because men with the AZF1 mutation often have no germ cells, Pera said.

The new findings suggest that these infertile men do in fact have the potential to produce germ cells, but the germ cells are lost over time, Pera said. If that's true, young boys with this mutation might be able to preserve their germ cells for the future by collecting and freezing samples of testes tissue, Pera said.

The mouse model used in the study will help researchers better understand the earliest stages of sperm development, Pera said. For example, the cells of human embryo "decide" whether they are going to be germ cells at day 12 after conception, she said. "We've developed a way to study the earliest steps," which take place in the fetus, Pera said.

Previously, the same group of researchers created germ cells from human embryonic stem cells. And last year, experiments in mice showed that skin cells of the animals can be turned into stem cells, which can then be turned into germ cells. When researchers implanted these germ cells in sterile mice, the mice became fertile.

Originally posted here:
Skin cells turned into sperm

May 2, 2014 7:02 pm by Stephanie Baum | 0 Comments MedCity News

In the latest stem cell innovation, a group of researchers from Stanford University successfully converted skin cells to stem cells to sperm cells, raising new questions about a potential path to treat infertility. The study was published in Cell Report.

The research used skin samples from five men with a genetic mutation calledazoospermia a genetic mutation that prevented them from making mature sperm.

According to a description of the study on NPRs website, researchers took skin cells from infertile men and transformed them into pluripotent stem cells, which can be converted into any cell in the body. The cells were inserted in mice testes and became immature human sperm cells.

The research is certainly at the early stage and experts caution it will take a lot more research to develop healthy sperm but it is already drawing mixed responses from the research world. Although its been called provocative, Dartmouth bioethicist Ronald Green got particularly dark and called attention to the downside. He speculated that it could lead to thefts of tissue samples or hair from the dead to recreate the dearly departed.

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Stem cell innovation study converts skin cells to sperm cells in potential infertility treatment

By Estel Grace Masangkay

An independent group of scientists led by experts at the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute (NYSCF) reported that they have manufactured the first disease-specific line of embryonic stem cells made with a patients DNA. The achievement is heralded as a major breakthrough in the regenerative medicine field.

This is also the first time cloning technologies have been utilized to generate genetically matched stem cells. The team used somatic cell nuclear transfer to successfully clone a skin cell from a 32 year old female patient with Type 1 diabetes. The cells were transformed into insulin-producing cells similar to lost beta cells in diabetes, which could provide better treatment or even a cure for T1D.

Susan Solomon, CEO and co-founder of NYSCF, says she is excited about the successful production of patient-specific stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). CEO Solomon said she became involved with medical research when her son was diagnosed with T1D.

Dr. Egli, scientist from the New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute and who led the research, said, From the start, the goal of this work has been to make patient-specific stem cells from an adult human subject with type-1 diabetes that can give rise to the cells lost in the disease. By reprograming cells to a pluripotent state and making beta cells, we are now one step closer to being able to treat diabetic patients with their own insulin-producing cells.

The scientists analyzed factors that affect stem-cell derivation after SCNT. They added histone deacetylase inhibitors and protocol for human oocyte activation, which were crucial in delivering them to the stage at which embryonic stem cells can be properly derived. The beta cells produced from the patients own skin cells are autologous and match the patients DNA. Further research is underway at NYSCF and other institutions for the development of strategies to protect existing and therapeutic beta cells from attacks of the immune system.

The research teams work appeared in the journal Nature.

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Scientists Produce Personalized Stem Cells For Specific Diseases

(PRWEB) May 02, 2014

The report Stem Cell Therapy Market by Treatment Mode (Autologous & Allogeneic), Therapeutic Applications (CNS, CVS, GIT, Wound Healing, Musculoskeletal, Eye, & Immune System) - Regulatory Landscape, Pipeline Analysis & Global Forecasts to 2020 analyzes and studies the major market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World (RoW).

Browse 57 market data tables 32 figures spread through 196 Slides and in-depth TOC on Stem Cell Therapy Market http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/stem-cell-technologies-and-global-market-48.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on report.

This report studies the global stem cell therapy market over the forecast period of 2015 to 2020.The market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 39.5% from 2015 to 2020, to reach $330million by 2020.

Download Free PDF Download @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=48

The global stem cell therapy market on the basis of the mode of treatment is segmented into allogeneic and autologous stem cell therapy. In addition, based on the therapeutic applications, the global stem cell therapy market is segmented into eye diseases, metabolic diseases, GIT diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, immune system diseases, CNS diseases, CVS diseases, wounds and injuries, and others.

Inquire Before Buying @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=48

A number of factors such as the increasing funding from various government and private organizations, growing industry focus on stem cell research, and increasing global awareness about stem cell therapies through various organizations are stimulating the research activities for stem cell therapies. Developing markets, emergence of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells as an alternative to embryonic stem cells (ESCs), and evolution of new stem cell therapies represent high growth opportunities for market players.

In 2015, North America will hold the largest share of the global stem cell therapy market. This large share is primarily attributed to the extensive government funding and increasing fast-track approval for stem cell therapeutics by the FDA. Moreover, development of advanced genomic methods for stem cell analysis and high number of ongoing research activities are further fueling the growth of the stem cell therapy market in North America. However, the Asia-Pacific stem cell therapy market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the forecast period, owing to factors such as increasing regulatory support through favorable government policies, strong product pipelines, and increasing licensing activities in this region.

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Stem Cell Therapy Market (Autologous & Allogeneic) Worth $330 Million in 2020 - New Report by MarketsandMarkets

A new review of previous scientific studies has concluded that stem cell therapy may help reduce the number of deaths in heart patients.

The Cochrane Heart Review Group analyzed data from studies involving just over 1,200 patients in 23 randomized, controlled trials.

The group's report on the potential benefits of stem cell heart repair was published online on April 29 in The Cochrane Library. The Cochrane Reviews are systematic assessments of evidence-based research into human health care and health policy.

There were fewer deaths among heart patients receiving stem cell therapy in addition to standard treatment, compared to patients who were treated with traditional therapies alone or with a placebo. Stem cells are primitive master cells that, under the right conditions, can turn into any cell in the body.

The therapy also reduced the chances that patients, with improved heart function, had to be readmitted to the hospital.

The review noted that stem cell therapy could possibly reduce the number of deaths after one year, but the results of larger clinical trials are needed.

The stem cells are taken from a patients own bone marrow and injected into the hearts of patients with ischemic heart disease and congestive heart failure, repairing damaged cardiac tissue.

Dr. Enca Martin-Rendon, author of the review in Britain, said, This is encouraging evidence that stem cell therapy has benefits for heart disease patients. However, Martin-Rendon noted it is difficult to come to any concrete conclusions until larger clinical trials are carried out.

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Stem Therapy May Improve Survival of Heart Patients

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 02, 2014

Stem Cell Institute is releasing additional tickets for its Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trials seminar on Saturday, May 17, 2014 in New York City at the New York Hilton Midtown from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

After booking its original meeting room beyond capacity, the Stem Cell Institute has reserved a larger room to accommodate additional attendees. The seminar will now take place in the Beekman Room, 2nd Floor, East Corridor of the New York Hilton Midtown.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to register promptly. Only 75 additional seats are available.

Speakers include:

Neil Riordan PhD Clinical Trials: Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Autism and Spinal Cord Injury

Dr. Riordan is the founder of the Stem Cell Institute and Medistem Panama Inc.

Jorge Paz-Rodriguez MD Stem Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Disease: MS, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus

Dr. Paz is the Medical Director at the Stem Cell Institute. He practiced internal medicine in the United States for over a decade before joining the Stem Cell Institute in Panama.

Special guest speaker:

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Additional Tickets Released for Stem Cell Institute Public Seminar on Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Trials in New ...

In a new study published today in Cell Reports, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center demonstrate that mice lacking one copy of a gene called CTCF have abnormal DNA methylation and are markedly predisposed to cancer.

CTCF is a very well-studied DNA binding protein that exerts a major influence on the architecture of the human genome, but had not been previously linked to cancer. Over 30 years ago, frequent loss of one copy of chromosome 16 was first reported in breast cancer but the gene or genes responsible remained to be identified. Dr. Gala Filippova, staff scientist at Fred Hutch and co-author of the study, originally cloned the human CTCF gene and mapped it to chromosome 16, within the same region that is frequently lost in human cancers. That same year, Dr. Chris Kemp of the Human Biology Division at Fred Hutch, co-authored a paper demonstrating that, in contrast to the predominant "two hit" theory on tumor suppressor genes, it was not necessary to lose both copies, one hit was enough. However, CTCF was ruled out as a candidate breast cancer gene on chromosome 16 simply because it did not conform to the "two hit" model.

"In this current study we explored whether loss of just one copy of the CTCF gene could trigger epigenetic changes and predispose to tumor development," said Dr. Filippova of Fred Hutch. The study demonstrates that indeed, loss of one copy of CTCF caused large scale epigenetic changes and greatly enhanced tumor formation in multiple tissues. In addition, recent large scale analysis of the human cancer genome revealed that deletions or mutations in CTCF are one of the most common events in breast, endometrial, and other human cancers.

Collectively, these findings indicate that CTCF is major tumor suppressor gene in human cancer and highlights the power of the mouse models to prove that a candidate gene has a function in cancer. These results have implications for understanding the origin of DNA methylation alterations in cancer and suggest that epigenetic instability may both precede and accelerate the emergence of cancer.

"This answers a 30 year riddle in cancer research," said Dr. Kemp. "And it shows once again, as we first showed in 1998, that one hit is enough."

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Originally posted here:
30-year puzzle in breast cancer solved

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

1-May-2014

Contact: Michael Nank mnank@fredhutch.org 206-667-2210 Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

In a new study published today in Cell Reports, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center demonstrate that mice lacking one copy of a gene called CTCF have abnormal DNA methylation and are markedly predisposed to cancer. CTCF is a very well-studied DNA binding protein that exerts a major influence on the architecture of the human genome, but had not been previously linked to cancer. Over 30 years ago, frequent loss of one copy of chromosome 16 was first reported in breast cancer but the gene or genes responsible remained to be identified. Dr. Gala Filippova, staff scientist at Fred Hutch and co-author of the study, originally cloned the human CTCF gene and mapped it to chromosome 16, within the same region that is frequently lost in human cancers. That same year, Dr. Chris Kemp of the Human Biology Division at Fred Hutch, co-authored a paper demonstrating that, in contrast to the predominant "two hit" theory on tumor suppressor genes, it was not necessary to lose both copies, one hit was enough. However, CTCF was ruled out as a candidate breast cancer gene on chromosome 16 simply because it did not conform to the "two hit" model.

"In this current study we explored whether loss of just one copy of the CTCF gene could trigger epigenetic changes and predispose to tumor development," said Dr. Filippova of Fred Hutch. The study demonstrates that indeed, loss of one copy of CTCF caused large scale epigenetic changes and greatly enhanced tumor formation in multiple tissues. In addition, recent large scale analysis of the human cancer genome revealed that deletions or mutations in CTCF are one of the most common events in breast, endometrial, and other human cancers.

Collectively, these findings indicate that CTCF is major tumor suppressor gene in human cancer and highlights the power of the mouse models to prove that a candidate gene has a function in cancer. These results have implications for understanding the origin of DNA methylation alterations in cancer and suggest that epigenetic instability may both precede and accelerate the emergence of cancer.

"This answers a 30 year riddle in cancer research", said Dr. Kemp. "And it shows once again, as we first showed in 1998, that one hit is enough".

###

At Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, home to three Nobel laureates, interdisciplinary teams of world-renowned scientists seek new and innovative ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Fred Hutch's pioneering work in bone marrow transplantation led to the development of immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to treat cancer with minimal side effects. An independent, nonprofit research institute based in Seattle, Fred Hutch houses the nation's first and largest cancer prevention research program, as well as the clinical coordinating center of the Women's Health Initiative and the international headquarters of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. Private contributions are essential for enabling Fred Hutch scientists to explore novel research opportunities that lead to important medical breakthroughs. For more information visit http://www.fredhutch.org or follow Fred Hutch on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

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A 30-year puzzle in breast cancer is solved

Dartmouth Institute for Quantitative Biomedical Sciences (iQBS) researchers developed a new gene expression analysis approach for identifying cancer genes. The paper entitled, "How to get the most from microarray data: advice from reverse genomics," was published online March 21, 2014 in BMC Genomics. The study results challenge the current paradigm of microarray data analysis and suggest that the new method may improve identification of cancer-associated genes.

Typical microarray-based gene expression analyses compare gene expression in adjacent normal and cancerous tissues. In these analyses, genes with strong statistical differences in expression are identified. However, many genes are aberrantly expressed in tumors as a byproduct of tumorigenesis. These "passenger" genes are differentially expressed between normal and tumor tissues, but they are not "drivers" of tumorigenesis. Therefore, better analytical approaches that enrich the list of candidate genes with authentic cancer-associated "driver" genes are needed.

Lead authors of the study, Ivan P. Gorlov, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine and Christopher Amos, Ph.D., Professor of Community and Family Medicine and Director of the Center for Genomic Medicine described a new method to analyze microarray data. The research team demonstrated that ranking genes based on inter-tumor variation in gene expression outperforms traditional analytical approaches. The results were consistent across 4 major cancer types: breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.

The team used text-mining to identify genes known to be associated with breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. Then, they estimated enrichment factors by determining how frequently those known cancer-associated genes occurred among the top gene candidates identified by different analysis methods. The enrichment factor described how frequently cancer associated genes were identified compared to the frequency of identification that one could expect by pure chance. Across all four cancer types, the new method of selecting candidate genes based on inter-tumor variation in gene expression outperformed the other methods, including the standard method of comparing mean expression in adjacent normal and tumor tissues. Dr. Gorlov and colleagues also used this approach to identify novel cancer-associated genes.

The authors cite tumor heterogeneity as the most likely reason for the success of their variance-based approach. The method is based on the knowledge that different tumors can be driven by different subsets of cancer genes. By identifying genes with high variation in expression between tumors, the method preferentially identifies genes specifically associated with cancer. This same feature, tumor heterogeneity, may reduce the ability to identify critical gene expression changes when comparing mean gene expression in adjacent tumor and normal tissues, as tumors of the same type may have different sets of genes differentially expressed.

The results of the study challenge the model that comparing mean gene expression in adjacent normal and cancer tissues is the best approach to identifying cancer-associated genes. Indeed, the team identified high variation in adjacent "normal" tissue samples, which are typically used as control samples for comparison in analyses based on mean gene expression. The study suggests that methods based on variance may help get the most from existing and future global gene expression studies.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Novel analyses improve identification of cancer-associated genes from microarray data

Korey Fung Ethics of Genetic Engineering Designer Babies Reproductive Revolution
Student Korey Fung presents "Ethics of Genetic Engineering: Designer Babies and the Reproductive Revolution" on April 8, 2014 in the Technology and Future of...

By: Kim Solez

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Korey Fung Ethics of Genetic Engineering Designer Babies Reproductive Revolution - Video