Archive for March, 2015

Analysis of large epidemiologic studies identifies rare variants associated with no preventive benefit

An analysis of genetic and lifestyle data from 10 large epidemiologic studies confirmed that regular use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in most individuals. The study being published in the March 17 issue of JAMA found that a few individuals with rare genetic variants do not share this benefit. The study authors note, however, that additional questions need to be answered before preventive treatment with these medications can be recommended for anyone.

"Previous studies, including randomized trials, demonstrated that NSAIDS, particularly aspirin, protect against the development of colorectal cancer, but it remains unclear whether an individual's genetic makeup might influence that benefit," says Andrew Chan, MD, MPH, of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Gastroenterology Division, co-senior and co-corresponding author of the JAMA report. "Since these drugs are known to have serious side effects - especially gastrointestinal bleeding - determining whether certain subsets of the population might not benefit is important for our ability to tailor recommendations for individual patients."

The research team analyzed data from the Colon Cancer Family Registry and from nine studies included in the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium - which includes the Nurses' Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Women's Health Initiative - comparing genetic data for 8,624 individuals who developed colorectal cancer with that of 8,553 individuals who did not, matched for factors such as age and gender. The comprehensive information on lifestyle and general health data provided by participants in the studies again confirmed that regular use of aspirin or NSAIDs was associated with a 30 percent reduction in colorectal cancer risk for most individuals. However, that preventive benefit did not apply to everyone, and the study found no risk reduction in participants with relatively uncommon variants in genes on chromosome 12 and chromosome 15.

"Determining whether an individual should adopt this preventive strategy is complicated, and currently the decision needs to balance one's personal risk for cancer against concerns about internal bleeding and other side effects," states Chan, who is an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "This study suggests that adding information about one's genetic profile might help in making that decision. However, it is premature to recommend genetic screening to guide clinical care, since our findings need to be validated in other populations. An equally important question that also needs to be investigated is whether there are genetic influences on the likelihood that someone might be harmed by treatment with aspirin and NSAIDs."

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The lead author of the JAMA report is Hongmei Nan, MD, PhD; formerly a research fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital and now on the faculty at the Fairbanks School of Public Health and the Simon Cancer Center at Indiana University. Li Hsu, PhD, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is co-corresponding author, and Ulrike Peters, PhD, MPH, also of Fred Hutch, is co-senior author. Support for this study includes several grants from the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with an annual research budget of more than $760 million and major research centers in AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, transplantation biology and photomedicine.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Genetic background determines whether aspirin/NSAIDS will reduce colorectal cancer risk

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Newswise WASHINGTON Today AACC sent formal comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the agencys proposed regulation of next-generation sequencing tests. AACC appreciates FDAs efforts to seek input from the healthcare community before developing new policy in this area, but is concerned that FDA regulation of next-generation sequencing could impede the advancement of precision medicine.

Precision medicine uses a persons unique biological makeup, including genetics, to determine which treatments that person would respond to best. Genetic tests hold the potential to predict an individuals risk of developing numerous different conditions throughout life. Having this knowledge could lead one to take a more proactive approach to his or her health, particularly with respect to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes that could be prevented with basic lifestyle changes. Next-generation sequencing will enhance the application of precision medicine by making genetic testing more readily available.

After reviewing FDAs preliminary discussion paper on the topic, Optimizing FDAs Regulatory Oversight of Next-Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Tests, AACC recommends that oversight of next-generation sequencing remain under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) like other laboratory developed tests. CLIA-regulated laboratories conducting next-generation sequencing testing are experienced in developing, verifying, and performing clinical tests. AACC believes that CLIA-recognized accrediting bodies and professional societies should continue to take the lead in providing oversight and guidance for next-generation sequencing testing in the absence of specific, identified problems with this approach.

AACC agrees with the FDA that next-generation sequencing tests offer great opportunities for advancing laboratory medicine and improving patient care, and we commend the agencys efforts to initiate a dialogue among the various organizations and professionals involved in next-generation sequencing and those affected by such testing, said AACC President Dr. David D. Koch. We believe, however, that the current oversight mechanisms in place for next-generation sequencing are sufficient for dealing with the particular challenges this technology presents and that further FDA involvement at this time might hinder the advancement of this field.

Read AACCs comment letter here.

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About AACC Dedicated to achieving better health through laboratory medicine, AACC brings together more than 50,000 clinical laboratory professionals, physicians, research scientists, and business leaders from around the world focused on clinical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, mass spectrometry, translational medicine, lab management, and other areas of breaking laboratory science. Since 1948, AACC has worked to advance the common interests of the field, providing programs that advance scientific collaboration, knowledge, expertise, and innovation. For more information, visit http://www.aacc.org.

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AACC Cautions FDA Against Over-Regulating the Genetic Testing Technology Vital to Precision Medicine

KIDLINGTON, England, March 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Diagnosis and Drug Delivery for diseases like cancer, cardiovascular and genetic ailments have always been a concern. In recent years, however, new strides and developments in the Nano-Medicine Market have facilitated more effective diagnosis and drug delivery for diseases. Not only can these diseases now be studied better but it will also help us in making informed decisions producing better cures. The Nano-medicine market is on a steady growth and with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5% from 2011, the market size will reach to $130.9 billion by 2016.

Nanotechnologies in Drug Delivery Congress organized by MarketsandMarkets Conferences are gathering Industry Experts from the Nano-Medicine Market who will look at these developments and also present new ideas. Supported by the French Society for Nanomedicine, the congress will beheld on 27 - 28 April 2015 inLondon, UK.

Register for the Event:http://www.mnmconferences.com/nanotechnologies_attend-conference.html

Save 20% off on the Delegate Registration if you register your seat before March! Just use WM/ND/20 as a discount code. So hurry to get an amazing deal!

Speaking at the congress will be AstraZeneca, Nemaura Pharma, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance, Cytoviva, World Nano Foundation, King's College London, Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Uppsala University and University of Oxford among others.

One of the Key Speakers at the Congress will be Prof. Andrew Owen, Professor of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology at University of Liverpool and Chair atBritish Society for Nano medicine, Liverpool - UK. He will be delivering a special address on day one on nanotechnology - enabled drug delivery in HIV therapy. Prof. Owen holds a personal Chair in the Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, UK and has contributed to over 120 original research and review publications, book chapters and patent applications. Shedding light on the topic he said, "Nanotechnology-based HIV drug delivery has attracted recent attention within academia with many technologies in early stage evaluation for improving oral bioavailability or targeting HIV-infected cells and tissues. Interest has been significantly accelerated recently by the entry of long-acting Nano formulations into human trials. These Nano formulations developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and ViiV Healthcare are able to sustain therapeutic concentrations in blood for over 1 month from a single intramuscular depot injection."

For More Details Visit: http://www.mnmconferences.com/nanotechnologies.html

Prof. Owen believes nanotechnology - enabled drug delivery will positively influence future treatments of HIV patients. He stated, "Modern antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved morbidity and mortality but patient adherence to medication is an on-going issue that frequently results in treatment failure. Also, many antiretroviral drugs exhibit poor bioavailability and adverse drug reactions are common. The ability to administer drugs monthly rather than daily at lower overall doses may mitigate issues with adherence and pill fatigue, which will hopefully translate to improved patient outcomes."

Other topics that will be covered at the congress include the role of Nanomedicine and targeted medicine for personalized medicine, real-time, whole body, tracking of nanoparticle bio-distribution using multispectral optoacoustic tomography, targeted Nanomedicine in cancer therapy and combining diagnostics and delivery in a single device. The congress will be a great opportunity for delegates to learn about the new developments and also interact with global industry peers.

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Nano-Medicine Market Size is Expected to be Worth $130.9 Billion by 2016

Human Molecular Genetics : The severity of retinal pathology in homozygous Crb1rd8/rd8 mice...
The severity of retinal pathology in homozygous Crb1rd8/rd8 mice is dependent on additional genetic factors. Ulrich F.O. Luhmann et al (2015), Human Molecula...

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The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Pt7 - The brother and the stripper
If you like this video please leave a thumbs up, it really helps Open fully for *NEW SCHEDULE* info and social media links Weekly Schedule (Subject t...

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The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Pt7 - The brother and the stripper - Video

Spring Fling Genetics Conference Breeder Panel

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Spring Fling Genetics Conference Breeder Panel - Video

So you lost your job and your lifes a mess. Youre fat, youre broke, youre bad at sex. Youre looking at your dog, hoping she doesnt die next. You need to get lucky. And whats the best way to get lucky? No, its not finding a four-leafed clover on St. Patricks Day. That kind of luck doesnt exist. No, what you need to do is go impress a bunch of drunk strangers with your knowledge of four-leaf clover genetics!

Like every other trait on every other living thing, a clovers lucky fourth leaf sprouts from DNA. But the clover genome is surprisingly complicated, and finding the genes responsibleand under what conditionsfor the four-leaf mutation is a still-unsolved biological puzzle.

There are over 300 different species of clover, but the type most associated with the rare fourth lucky leaf is the widespread white clover (so named because of the fluffy, delicious-looking white blossoms). Its like having a cat with an extra claw. We know it has a genetic basis, and a mutation that happens at a slow but regular frequency, says Wayne Parrott, who studies crop genetics at the University of Georgia. His lab has come closest to finding the genetic roots of the four-leaf mutation. We know more or less where it is on the chromosome, he says. But the clover seems to have done everything possible to make its genome inscrutable.

This is partly because the plant is so widely distributed. Native on three continents, the white clovers genome tells the story of a plant that geography tried, and failed, to split into multiple species. The white clover is an allotetrapoloid. Huh? Best to work backward on that one. -Ploid means chromosome, and -tetra means four. That means the white clover has double the amount of chromosomes as humans, mangoes, pill bugs, and most other organisms. This brings us to the allo- prefix, which means that each pair of the white clovers chromosomes comes from a different species.

Crazy, I knowbut clover arent aliens. When itwas proliferating over the globe, the clover started to split into multiple species, but then theydoubled back and started breeding again. And instead of recombining into diploid chromosomes, the clover kept both pairs. Maize and sorghum had some awkward allotetraploid years when they first started splitting about 20 million years ago (both now have just two chromosomes). Pretty exciting family life for a boring ole ground cover, right?

On top of that,white clover dont have the tidiest genealogies. The plants are promiscuous outbreeders (opposite of inbreeders, sorry Team Lannister). In fact, they are pretty much incapable of breeding with themselves (as many plants do). Combined with the quadruple chromosomes, the white clovers sex life means that it is incredibly difficult to figure out which genes came from which parent. This means inheritance studieswhich figure out if a genes expression is due to nature over nurtureare all but impossible.

But Parrotts group made an admirable accomplishment. They grew 178 plants and recordedamong other leaf traits like pattern and colorany plants with at least one four-leafed stem (A single clover plant sends out many runners). In the study, four-leafed stems favored warm conditionsthere were double the amount of outdoor four-leaf clovers in the summer than winter. And in the winter, more lucky shamrocks grew in the greenhouse than outside.

This could mean that three leaves is an adaption for colder or wetter climates. Clovers are a member of the bean family, which Parrott says have been steadily losing leaves over the millennia. If you go back, the ancestors of the bean family had a lot more leaves, he says. In the case of beans and clover, you are down to three. He says that this could be accidental, though says it is noteworthy that if having more leaves were a big advantage, then youd expect to see more of them. But, he also says that the number of leaves could be entirely accidental. Not everything happens for a reason, he says.

With their experimental data in hand, Parrotts teamstarted looking at the genome. They found at least one gene that correlated closely to the expression of three leaves. These genes were similarly somewhat suppressed in the summer months, leading to more four leaf clovers. Weather is important for a lot of plant traits, says Parrott, though hes reluctant to say it all comes down to time of year. He says one of the reasons that we see more four leafed clovers when its warm is because the plant is making more leaves in those times of year. The probability is simply higher.

And clovers can grow many more than four leavesthe Guinness record is 56 leaves on a single stem. Speaking of Guinness, if you drink enough of it today* youre sure to find plenty of six-leaf clovers, at the very least.

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The Mysterious Genetics of the Four-Leaf Clover

Science Advances : Gene therapy rescues disease phenotype in a spinal muscular atrophy......
Gene therapy rescues disease phenotype in a spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) mouse model. Monica Nizzardo et al (2015), Scie...

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Science Advances : Gene therapy rescues disease phenotype in a spinal muscular atrophy...... - Video

MIAMI (PRWEB) March 17, 2015

GlobalStemCellsGroup.com has announced plans to participate in the 25th annual Argentine Congress of Aesthetic Medicine April 9 and 10 2015. More than 1,000 physicians from around the world will descend on Buenos Aires for the conference to learn and share new findings in aesthetic medicine.

Following the congress, Global Stem Cells Group and Estanislao Janowski, M.D., a plastic surgeon specializing in stem cell application in aesthetic and cosmetic medicine will conduct an intensive, hands-on course on stem cell harvesting, isolation and re-integration, to be held April 11. Janowski, a GSCG faculty member and long-time collaborator is the owner and president of Bioplastica, an aesthetic surgical center featuring the latest stem cell applications in cosmetic and anti-aging medicine.

This will be the third year Global Stem Cells Group participates in the conference, hosted by the Argentina Society of Aesthetic Medicine (SOARME). A soon-to-be-named GSCG faculty member will also deliver a keynote speech to congress attendees.

The international event, which will be held at the Catholic University of Argentina in Buenos Aires, will feature acclaimed stem cell aesthetic practitioners from Argentina and the U.S. SOAME is a member of the Argentine Medical Association (A.M.A.) and of the International Union of Aesthetic Medicine (U.I.M.E.). SOAME has the scientific support of the John F. Kennedy University in Buenos Aires and a host of national and international scientific organizations.

For more information visit the Global Stem Cells Group website, email bnovas(at)regenestem(dot)com, or call 305-224-1858.

About the Global Stem Cells Group:

Global Stem Cells Group, Inc. is the parent company of six wholly owned operating companies dedicated entirely to stem cell research, training, products and solutions. Founded in 2012, the company combines dedicated researchers, physician and patient educators and solution providers with the shared goal of meeting the growing worldwide need for leading edge stem cell treatments and solutions.

With a singular focus on this exciting new area of medical research, Global Stem Cells Group and its subsidiaries are uniquely positioned to become global leaders in cellular medicine.

Global Stem Cells Groups corporate mission is to make the promise of stem cell medicine a reality for patients around the world. With each of GSCGs six operating companies focused on a separate research-based mission, the result is a global network of state-of-the-art stem cell treatments.

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Global Stem Cells Group to Participate in the 25th Argentine Congress of Aesthetic Medicine in Buenos Aires April 9-10 ...

Orange, California (PRWEB) March 17, 2015

The top stem cell therapy clinics in California, Telehealth, are now offering treatment for nonhealing wounds at three locations. The stem cell therapy for wound healing is being offered by Board Certified doctors at three separate locations in Orange, La Jolla and Upland. Call (888) 828-4575 for more information and scheduling.

Patients with diabetes, neuropathy and autoimmune disorders often find it difficult to heal even minor wounds. This may lead to diabetic ulcers and infections in the soft tissue and/or bone. At times, even the most rigorous conventional wound care fails to heal wounds sufficiently.

At Telehealth, stem cell therapy for nonhealing wounds has been showing exceptional results. Wounds that had basically been unresponsive to traditional methods have displayed quick results with healing when the procedures are performed. The regenerative medicine treatments involve either bone marrow derived stem cells or amniotic derived stem cells. Additional, PRP therapy is included in the treatment at times when necessary.

Along with helping to heal difficult wounds, stem cell therapy is also available for degenerative arthritis, chronic tendonitis, rotator cuff tears, ligament injuries, migraines and much more. Treatments are offered in Orange, Upland and a new La Jolla location by Board Certified doctors with extensive experience.

Most treatments are partially covered by insurance, which helps considerably to keep cost down. Call (888) 828-4575 for more information and scheduling.

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Stem Cell Therapy Now Being Offered for NonHealing Wounds at Telehealth's Three Regenerative Medicine Clinics

Spinal Cord Injury Spotlight - Dominic P. at Project Walk San Francisco
Dominic Prado suffered a C6 spinal cord injury in January of 2012. He has always made his recovery program a priority with weekly training sessions. His rece...

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A TEENAGER'S quest to find a bone marrow match and beat his leukaemia has inspired school friends to go on to save the lives of two perfect strangers.

Jack Coen and Joe Rowbottom, both 18, were at Bradford Grammar School when fellow pupil Alex Anstess, now 16, was first diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2012.

After hearing a talk in school about registering on the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow register, they - and others - signed up and both of them have gone on to successfully donate stem cells.

Jack, from Ilkley, who donated in October last year after being found to be a perfect match for a patient needing a bone marrow transplant, said: I just thought if you have the opportunity to save someones life then why not? If I was in that position, Id want someone to do it for me.

"On the day, I thought about the other person receiving my stem cells and hoped I could give them more Christmases with their family. If I never make another good decision for the rest of my life, I have at least made one good and worthwhile decision by donating."

And Joe, from Yeadon, who donated his stem cells last month, said: It was so easy to spit in a tube and sign up. It was weird to think a stranger was dependent on me and yet its such a small thing to do. It was actually surprising something so simple could save someones life. Knowing Alex spurred me on to donate because I knew what the person was going through. Its great to see Alex back at school and proves the donor register does work.

Although Alex, of Cullingworth, had gone into remission after his 2012 diagnosis, the cancer returned in July last year and doctors broke the news that his life depended on a bone marrow transplant. It was The Anthony Nolan Trust that found him a perfect match and he had the procedure in September last year, helping him on the road to recovery.

His mum, Sue, said: I cannot describe the feeling of seeing that little bag of stem cells come in for Alex. We waited a long time for that moment and Ill never forget the relief we felt. Were so thankful to the donor who literally saved his life. Its absolutely brilliant that Jack and Joe have gone on to donate and help another family like ours."

Bradford Grammar headteacher Kevin Riley said: The school motto is Hoc Age which we usually translate as Just do it. What a wonderful example Jack and Joe are of that determination to help others. Im proud of them and the other students who have responded to the appeal.

If you are aged 16-30 and in good health you too can sign up to the Anthony Nolan register at anthonynolan.org. To find out more about the Register & Be a Lifesaver programme, email registerandbe@AnthonyNolan.org or call 0207 284 8213.

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Teenager's quest to beat leukaemia inspires school friends to donate stem cells to help people in need

A little boy with an extremely rare condition is in desperate need of a transplant to save his life.

Finn McEwen, seven, from Litherland has bone marrow failure and now his family are facing a race against time to find a stem cell match.

His condition, myelodysplastic syndrome, is extremely rare in children and cannot be treated with chemotherapy, so a transplant is Finns only hope.

His family, including dad Neil, 46, baby sister Seren, 18 months, and brother Lucas, 6, have all been ruled out as matches and Finn needs to have the transplant within the next six to eight weeks to have the best chance of recovery.

His mum Carole, 43, told the Liverpool Echo Finn has always been well and active, and it was a massive shock when doctors said he had the condition.

The family had to endure weeks of waiting after Finn suffered a serious nosebleed in January before doctors could find out what was wrong with him, as it is extremely difficult to diagnose.

Cry for help: A transplant is the only cure for the condition, which is caused by bone marrow not making enough healthy red blood cells

Carole said: Its been this massive rollercoaster, up and down. We couldnt believe it, it came from nowhere. We thought it was nothing and then thought it could be leukaemia, and then we had that couple of weeks where we thought it was going to be OK.

This is a hundred times worse than before. Every time we go in there seems to be an extra bit of bad news. It just feels like its your worst nightmare.

A transplant is the only cure for the condition, which is caused by bone marrow not making enough healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

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Finn McEwen: Family's bone marrow appeal to help save seven-year-old with rare condition

Stem cells are special cells that can turn into any kind of cells in the body. They serve as a repair system for the body. There are two main types of human stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells are cells that come from an unborn baby (embryo). Those are NOT the cells that are used for this product.LUMINESCEformulation uses technology derived from the study of Adult Stem Cells.

Stem cells communicate with tissue cells to induce repair. They produce many different growth factors and "communication" chemicals to do this.Dr Nathan Newmanhas been able to take stem cells in the lab, and separate them from the solution that holds the growth factors. This media is the foundation of theLUMINESCEproduct.

What is the relationship between growth factors and the stem cell technology?

The patent-pending technology ofLUMINESCEprovides for the delivery of key growth factors found in natural skin. As we age, the production of these growth factors within skin is reduced, and leads to wrinkling and thinning of the skin. By re-introducing these factors through the daily application ofLUMINESCE, damaged skin cells may be repaired, and skin tissue re-generated.

Stem cells are cells that have the ability to grow into any kind of cell in the body, and they rely on special signals to tell them what cells they will ultimately become. If you know the stem cell language, then you could communicate to the cells.

In this way, you could have stem cells that become new young skin cells, rebuild collagen, and deliver a new younger looking skin.

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Stem Cells, Skin Care and Dr Newman | Skin Care

Steve Perrin, Ph.D., CEO and CSO, discusses why iPS technology is ready for drug discovery for today's ALS patients. Click here to learn why Steve believes TDI is uniquely suited to implement this technology in ALS research.

Fernando Vieira, M.D., director of research operations, discusses how iPS technology can be used to model sporadic ALS, help to identify sub-types of ALS patients and accelerate drug development as part of a comprehensive translational research program at ALS TDI.

Jessie St. Martin, associate scientist, talks about induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) and their importance in ALS research. Jessie, a recent addition to the translational research team, will play an integral part in developing this program at ALS TDI. Click here to learn more about iPS cells.

Jenny Dwyer, board member, explains why your support of the iPS program at ALS TDI may have the ability to rapidly accelerate treatments for today's patients. Jenny was a longtime ALS caregiver of her husband, Pat. Together, they were advocates for ALS research. Click here to listen to her message.

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Invest in iPS @ TDI | ALS Therapy Development Institute

Nova Cells Institute treatment Report, stem cell therapy, 562-916-3410
Nova Cells Institute stem cell treatment report shows success with spina bifida, lewy body dementia, cancer patients and more - visit http://www.novacellsinstitute.com to learn more.

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Nova Cells Institute treatment Report, stem cell therapy, 562-916-3410 - Video

Orthopedic Stem Cell Therapy - Queens, New York
Benjamin Bieber MD of #CrossBayPMR in Howard Beach, New York has had great success with #stemcell therapy using your own fat cells. Avoid invasive #jointreplacement surgery and get back to...

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Orthopedic Stem Cell Therapy - Queens, New York - Video

Jeremy #39;s Stem cell therapy journey
This is a video about stem cells and stem cell therapy. Created by #39;Vivienne Armstrong #39;.-- Created using PowToon -- Free sign up at http://www.powtoon.com/join -- Create animated videos and...

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York University researchers have learned how living beings can keep gene expression in check -- which might partly explain the uncontrolled gene expression found in many cancers.

"Using yeast as a model organism, we studied the Tup1 protein, a negative regulator of gene expression," says Biology Professor Emanuel Rosonina, adding, "This protein binds to some genes and blocks their expression, helping to ensure genes that shouldn't be turned on remain inactive."

The current study, jointly conducted by York University and Columbia University researchers, suggests that Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier (SUMO) modifies proteins bound to active genes, in order to prevent unfettered gene over-expression that can be harmful to the organism. "One of the ways SUMO does this is by promoting the binding of Tup1 to active genes, which then acts to reduce their expression to appropriate levels," explains Rosonina, in the Faculty of Science at York U.

"Sumoylation controls the timing of Tup1-mediated transcriptional deactivation" published March 13, 2015 in Nature Communications is a follow up to a previous study which found SUMO in every gene examined.

"As a result of the previous study, we reported that SUMO is probably important for controlling expression of active genes because we found it on every gene we looked at, but only when they were turned on," notes Rosonina.

Considering that many tumours have abnormal levels of SUMO, it will be important to examine whether inappropriate SUMO modifications in these tumours are related to the uncontrolled gene expression that is observed in most cancers, the research concludes.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by York University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Organisms can keep gene expression in check, biologist says

1 hour ago by Geoff Vivian A Scarlet robin (Petroica boodang). Credit: Roger Smith

The scarlet robin (Petroica boodang) may be classified into separate eastern and western Australian species following thousands of years of evolution separated by natural geographical barriers including the Nullarbor Plain.

WA Museum geneticist Gaynor Dolman, who studied a dozen accepted species, says the robin is one of several southern Australian birds whose populations have been separated by natural barriers for so long they have become distinct species.

These include the chestnut quail-thrush (Cinclosoma castanotum), white-naped honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus), New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) and white-eared honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis).

Dr Dolman says several natural geographical barriers appear to have prevented populations from mixing at different times.

She says the most permanent and significant of these is the "Eyrean Barrier" consisting of the Flinders Ranges and the salty Lake Eyre Basin in South Australia, which has kept some populations separate for at least 600,000 years.

She attributes the oldest species divergence, perhaps 1.5 million years ago, to this barrier.

Dr Dolman says the Nullarbor Plain had been in the landscape for a long time and potentially affects the birds.

"But they also might be able to get past the Nullarbor at different periods where there's more drainage in the system or the shoreline is further back," she says

Dr Dolman the Nullarbor may have led to a later species divergence about 275,000 years ago in some cases, and there may have been a more recent divergence that is yet to be confirmed.

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Single gene points to separate bird species

summer internship training in Genetic Engineering
CytoGene Research Development ,Lucknow provides several modules of training as well as dissertation/project in Genetic Engineering http://cytogene.in/r-DNA...

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summer internship training in Genetic Engineering - Video

Steps in Genetic Engineering - AIIMS AIPMT State CET Botany Video Lecture

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Steps in Genetic Engineering - AIIMS AIPMT State CET Botany Video Lecture - Video

Replacing faulty genes in early human embryos and germ cells is within our grasp. Such changes affect DNA in the nucleus and so would be heritable; ultimately, they could be used to make a genetically modified baby.

There are already reports that groups in China, the US and the biotech industry have done this kind of genetic engineering in the lab, prompting some scientists to call for a moratorium on this work. But the underlying technology is potentially hugely disruptive, offering easier and more precise ways to manipulate genes. Here's what you need to know about this new frontier in genetics.

What's behind the current controversy over human genetic engineering? Several teams have tried modifying the genome of a human embryo and submitted their results for publication, according to an article published in Technology Review on 5 March. This kind of research is already illegal in some countries.

What exactly has been done? We don't know the details yet. But based on what's been done in monkeys, the work probably involved fertilising donated human eggs by injecting a sperm and then, while the fertilised eggs were still at the one-cell stage, injecting various RNAs. These RNAs cut DNA at specific sites, tricking our natural DNA repair system into destroying or replacing one or more genes a technique known as gene editing. The embryos would then have been allowed to develop for a few days until they reached the blastocyst stage containing a few hundred cells before being destroyed. The embryos' DNA would have been sequenced to see whether the gene editing had been successful.

So it's now possible to genetically engineer humans? It was already possible. The hard part is doing it safely and efficiently. Gene editing was first developed decades ago, but it was very difficult and expensive, and often didn't work very well. To create just one genetically modified animal this way typically required hundreds of attempts. But editing genes has become a lot easier, cheaper and more efficient thanks to the CRISPR system, developed just a couple of years ago. This was the method used to modify the human embryos.

Why are some scientists calling for a moratorium? They argue that human germline gene editing is dangerous, unnecessary and would lead to designer babies. They also claim it could lead to a backlash that would impede the use of gene editing for making non-heritable changes to our bodies. A wide range of diseases, from HIV to cancer, could potentially be treated this way.

So is germline gene editing dangerous? We don't know yet. One of the points of trying it with human embryos is to find out. The main worry is so-called off-target mutations, that is, unintended changes to the genome. The monkey studies suggest the risk is low. The risk also has to be viewed in context: the DNA in our cells naturally mutates. Each of us is born with around 50 new mutations, the vast majority of which have no known effect.

Is germline gene editing the only way to prevent some heritable diseases? Severe disorders caused by a single faulty gene, such as cystic fibrosis, can usually be prevented by screening. Parents can opt for IVF, for instance, with preimplantation genetic diagnosis that is, testing the embryos before they are implanted to ensure they don't have the faulty gene. But when children are at risk of inheriting several faulty genes, screening usually isn't feasible.

Serious genetic disorders that strike early in life are, fortunately, rare. But we probably all inherit dozens if not hundreds of gene variants that increase our risk of common diseases such as cancer, dementia, depression and so on.

Will gene editing lead to designer babies? Possibly. But it's not clear that many, or any, parents, would want to pay large sums and undergo a risky process IVF has its dangers just to ensure their child is blue-eyed. And it is of course possible to allow germline editing for disease prevention while banning it for other purposes. It would be hard for anyone who broke the ban to get away with it, given that genetic tests could reveal whether a child's DNA has been altered. Some argue, though, that parents should be free to choose their child's characteristics if they want.

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Editing human embryos is genetics' new battleground

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Newswise BETHESDA, MD Nearly 1,000 scientists from 35 countries will attend the 28th Fungal Genetics Conference organized by the Genetics Society of America (GSA), March 1722, 2015, at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA. The conference will feature approximately 900 presentations (including over 200 talks) of cutting-edge fungal genetics research with a focus on filamentous fungi on topics including genomics, gene regulation, cell biology and development, evolutionary biology, fungal-host interactions and biotechnology.

Professor Michael J. Hynes from the University of Melbourne will present the Perkins/Metzenberg Lecture on Saturday, March 21 at 5:45 pm, just prior to the closing conference banquet. This lecture is given at each Fungal Genetics Conference by a leader in fungal genetics research; it often includes an historical and thought-provoking perspective as well as an outlook on the future of the field. For more information on the conference program, including the timing of plenary sessions each of which ends with a Chair's Choice Talk presenting high impact studies nominated by the scientific community please see the schedule of events.

Numerous species of fungi are instrumental model organisms for the study of biology particularly of genetics and related phenomena including heredity, gene function, reproduction, metabolism, and evolution. For example, the field of molecular genetics is said to have begun in Neurospora crassa, where experiments showing that genes act by regulating definite chemical events led to the 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The genetic and experimental tractability of fungi make them excellent systems for studying the effects and mechanisms of mutations and transposable DNA elements that move to different locations in the genome. Their short yet complex life cycles allow for studies of long-term evolution and sexual reproduction, while their multicellularity allows for studies of development, intracellular communication, and morphogenesis. Interactions between fungi and other organisms have also enabled studies of pathogenesis, infection, and symbiotic relationships. The industrial applications of fungi are numerous, including biotechnology, biofuels, fermentation, pharmaceuticals, citric acid production, and more. The 28th Fungal Genetics Conference will integrate the areas in which fungi have been instrumental as model organisms or industrial tools.

For additional information, please see the conference website athttp://www.genetics-gsa.org/fungal/2015/.

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The 28th Fungal Genetics Conference is open to media representatives, including those frombona fideprint, broadcast, radio, and online venues, and freelance writers on a verifiable assignment from an established news source. Please contactpress@genetics-gsa.orgfor information about complimentary press registration.

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Fungal Genetics Meeting to Showcase Breakthroughs in Molecular Biology