Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

24-Oct-2013

Contact: Suzanne Wu suzanne.wu@usc.edu 213-740-0252 University of Southern California

A common genetic variant that affects 1 in 3 people significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer from the consumption of red meat and processed meat, according to a study presented today at the annual American Society of Human Genetics 2013 meeting, the largest gathering of human geneticists in the world.

In addition to identifying a gene that raises risk for colorectal cancer from eating red or processed meat, the study the first to identify the interactions of genes and diet on a genome-wide scale also reveals another specific genetic variation that appears to modify whether eating more vegetables, fruits and fiber actually lowers your colorectal cancer risk.

"Diet is a modifiable risk factor for colorectal cancer. Our study is the first to understand whether some individuals are at higher or lower risk based on their genomic profile. This information can help us better understand the biology and maybe in the future lead to targeted prevention strategies," said lead author Jane Figueiredo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

"But we are not saying that if you don't have the genetic variant that you should eat all the red meat you'd like," Figueiredo added. "People with the genetic variant allele have an even higher increased risk of colorectal cancer if they consume high levels of processed meat, but the baseline risk associated with meat is already pretty bad."

We've all heard reports about how certain foods may lower or raise the risk for certain diseases, such as cancer. But how our personal genetic variations modify the effects of diet on disease has not yet been thoroughly investigated, said senior author Ulrike Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Public Health Sciences Division.

The researchers systematically searched the more than 2.7 million genetic sequences for interactions with consumption of red and processed meat. The study looked at 9,287 patients with colorectal cancer and a control group of 9,117 individuals without cancer.

The risk of colorectal cancer associated with processed meat was significantly higher among people with the genetic variant rs4143094, the study shows. This variant is located on the same chromosome 10 region that includes GATA3, a transcription factor gene previously linked to several forms of cancer. The transcription factor encoded by this gene normally plays a role in the immune system, but carries this genetic variant in about 36 percent of the population.

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Researchers identify gene variant that raises risk for colorectal cancer from eating processed meat

Oct. 24, 2013 A common genetic variant that affects 1 in 3 people significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer from the consumption of red meat and processed meat, according to a study presented today at the annual American Society of Human Genetics 2013 meeting.

In addition to identifying a gene that raises risk for colorectal cancer from eating red or processed meat, the study -- the first to identify the interactions of genes and diet on a genome-wide scale -- also reveals another specific genetic variation that appears to modify whether eating more vegetables, fruits and fiber actually lowers your colorectal cancer risk.

"Diet is a modifiable risk factor for colorectal cancer. Our study is the first to understand whether some individuals are at higher or lower risk based on their genomic profile. This information can help us better understand the biology and maybe in the future lead to targeted prevention strategies," said lead author Jane Figueiredo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

"But we are not saying that if you don't have the genetic variant that you should eat all the red meat you'd like," Figueiredo added. "People with the genetic variant allele have an even higher increased risk of colorectal cancer if they consume high levels of processed meat, but the baseline risk associated with meat is already pretty bad."

We've all heard reports about how certain foods may lower or raise the risk for certain diseases, such as cancer. But how our personal genetic variations modify the effects of diet on disease has not yet been thoroughly investigated, said senior author Ulrike Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's Public Health Sciences Division.

The researchers systematically searched the more than 2.7 million genetic sequences for interactions with consumption of red and processed meat. The study looked at 9,287 patients with colorectal cancer and a control group of 9,117 individuals without cancer.

The risk of colorectal cancer associated with processed meat was significantly higher among people with the genetic variant rs4143094, the study shows. This variant is located on the same chromosome 10 region that includes GATA3, a transcription factor gene previously linked to several forms of cancer. The transcription factor encoded by this gene normally plays a role in the immune system, but carries this genetic variant in about 36 percent of the population.

The researchers speculate that the digestion of processed meat may promote an immunological or inflammatory response that may trigger tumor development. The GATA3 transcription factor normally would help suppress the immunological or inflammatory response. However, if the GATA3 gene region contains a genetic variant, it may encode a dysregulated transcription factor that impacts its ability to suppress the response.

But other genetic vatiants may be beneficial: On chromosome 8, another statistically significant diet-gene interaction was found in variant rs1269486. For people with this variant, eating your fruits and veggies may be even better for you when it comes to colorectal cancer risk, the research shows.

The study is part of an ongoing collaboration among multiple institutions worldwide, the international NIH-funded Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium (GECCO).

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Gene variant that raises risk for colorectal cancer from eating processed meat present in one-in-three people

Oct. 24, 2013 Researchers from the Institute of Genomic Medicine (Inmegen) carried out a study on genetic factors that can be associated to metabolic syndrome, main trigger of cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes and obesity, with the goal of identifying high risk populations and influence its treatment in the most effective way.

Under the lead of Lorena Orozco, the objective of the research is to know the genetic susceptibility of the mixed and indigenous Mexican populations to developing metabolic syndrome or one of its components and the relationship of this risk with its indigenous, Caucasian or African origins.

The researcher explained that the metabolic syndrome is characterized by the simultaneous presence or sequence of at least three of the next components: increment in glucose levels, triglycerides, arterial hypertension, low levels of benefic cholesterol (HDL) and rise of the waist circumference.

She also said that the study includes individuals from different Mexican states throughout the country, like Chiapas, San Luis Potos, Mexico State, Yucatn, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Puebla and Mexico City.

The project's study group was integrated by 800 mixed race individuals and 400 natives more than 30 years old, from both sexes. Blood samples were taken from this groups in order to know their cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and blood pressure levels, as well as their body mass, size, weight and height.

In this stage of the study, it was founded that 42 per cent of the mixed population suffered from metabolic syndrome and 10 per cent had type II diabetes.

Regarding the indigenous group, the results showed that there were communities like the Tojolabales form Chiapas, where type II diabetes was barely present, contrasting with other groups like the Totonacas from Veracruz, were the prevalence of this disease was near a 25 per cent. It was also found that 45 per cent of the Tarahumaras from Chihuahua that were tested had high blood pressure.

In another phase of the project, DNA from each individual was analyzed to evaluate the intervention of three genes (AKT1, GCKR and ADIPOQ) that participate in the metabolism of glucose or fatty acids.

"We are heirs of a genetics that in a hostile environment, thousands of years ago, helped us survive long periods of famine and other hardships. However, in the present, this genetics is the detonator of diseases such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome," emphasized the researcher.

Regarding the main discoveries, the researchers observed that in the mixed population there are variations in the sequence of ADIPOQ and GCKR genes that are associated to the rise of triglycerides in the blood stream. Meanwhile, the variations of the gene AKT1 are related with low levels of benefic cholesterol.

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Genetic factors predispose metabolic syndrome in mixed races

Newswise BOSTON/CHICAGO An international research consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Chicago has answered several questions about the genetic background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), providing the first direct confirmation that both are highly heritable and also revealing major differences between the underlying genetic makeup of the disorders. Their report is being published in the October issue of the open-access journal PLOS Genetics.

"Both TS and OCD appear to have a genetic architecture of many different genes perhaps hundreds in each person acting in concert to cause disease," says Jeremiah Scharf, MD, PhD, of the Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit in the MGH Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, senior corresponding author of the report. "By directly comparing and contrasting both disorders, we found that OCD heritability appears to be concentrated in particular chromosomes particularly chromosome 15 while TS heritability is spread across many different chromosomes."

An anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions that disrupt the lives of patients, OCD is the fourth most common psychiatric illness. TS is a chronic disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics that usually begins in childhood and is often accompanied by conditions like OCD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Both conditions have been considered to be heritable, since they are known to often recur in close relatives of affected individuals, but identifying specific genes that confer risk has been challenging.

Two reports published last year in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, with leadership from Scharf and several co-authors of the current study, described genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of thousands of affected individuals and controls. While those studies identified several gene variants that appeared to increase the risk of each disorder, none of the associations were strong enough to meet the strict standards of genome-wide significance. Since the GWAS approach is designed to identify relatively common gene variants and it has been proposed that OCD and TS might be influenced by a number of rare variants, the research team adopted a different method. Called genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA), the approach allows simultaneous comparision of genetic variation across the entire genome, rather than the GWAS method of testing sites one at a time, as well as estimating the proportion of disease heritability caused by rare and common variants.

"Trying to find a single causative gene for diseases with a complex genetic background is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack," says Lea Davis, PhD, of the section of Genetic Medicine at the University of Chicago, co-corresponding author of the PLOS Genetics report. "With this approach, we aren't looking for individual genes. By examining the properties of all genes that could contribute to TS or OCD at once, we're actually testing the whole haystack and asking where we're more likely to find the needles."

Using GCTA, the researchers analyzed the same genetic datasets screened in the Molecular Psychiatry reports almost 1,500 individuals affected with OCD compared with more than 5,500 controls, and nearly TS 1,500 patients compared with more than 5,200 controls. To minimize variations that might result from slight difference in experimental techniques, all genotyping was done by collaborators at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, who generated the data at the same time using the same equipment. Davis was able to analyze the resulting data on a chromosome-by-chromosome basis, along with the frequency of the identified variants and the function of variants associated with each condition.

The results found that the degree of heritability for both disorders captured by GWAS variants is actually quite close to what previously was predicted based on studies of families impacted by the disorders. "This is a crucial point for genetic researchers, as there has been a lot of controversy in human genetics about what is called 'missing heritability'," explains Scharf. "For many diseases, definitive genome-wide significant variants account for only a minute fraction of overall heritability, raising questions about the validity of the approach. Our findings demonstrate that the vast majority of genetic susceptibility to TS and OCD can be discovered using GWAS methods. In fact, the degree of heritability captured by GWAS variants is higher for TS and OCD than for any other complex trait studied to date."

Nancy Cox, PhD, section chief of Genetic Medicine at the University of Chicago and co-senior author of the PLOS Genetics report, adds, "Despite the fact that we confirm there is shared genetic liability between these two disorders, we also show there are notable differences in the types of genetic variants that contribute to risk. TS appears to derive about 20 percent of genetic susceptibility from rare variants, while OCD appears to derive all of its susceptibility from variants that are quite common, which is something that has not been seen before."

In terms of the potential impact of the risk-associated variants, about half the risk for both disorders appears to be accounted for by variants already known to influence the expression of genes in the brain. Further investigation of those findings could lead to identification of the affected genes and how the expression changes contribute to the development of TS and OCD. Additional studies in even larger patient populations, some of which are in the planning stages, could identify the biologic pathways disrupted in the disorder, potentially leading to new therapeutic approaches.

The study is a collaboration between two consortia the Tourette Syndrome Association International Consortium for Genomics (TSAICG) and the International OCD Foundation Genetics Collaborative (IOCDFGC) representing 43 institutions across 12 countries. Scharf, an assistant professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, is co-chair of the TSAICG steering committee and a member of the IOCDFGC steering committee. Cox is a professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, and Davis a research assistant professor at the University of Chicago. Additional co-authors include Carol Mathews, MD, University of California at San Francisco; James Knowles, MD, University of Southern California, and Evelyn Stewart, MD, University of British Columbia.

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Genetic Analysis Reveals Novel Insights Into the Genetic Architecture of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette ...

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

24-Oct-2013

Contact: Mike Morrison mdmorrison@partners.org 617-724-6425 Massachusetts General Hospital

An international research consortium led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Chicago has answered several questions about the genetic background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette syndrome (TS), providing the first direct confirmation that both are highly heritable and also revealing major differences between the underlying genetic makeup of the disorders. Their report is being published in the October issue of the open-access journal PLOS Genetics.

"Both TS and OCD appear to have a genetic architecture of many different genes perhaps hundreds in each person acting in concert to cause disease," says Jeremiah Scharf, MD, PhD, of the Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit in the MGH Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, senior corresponding author of the report. "By directly comparing and contrasting both disorders, we found that OCD heritability appears to be concentrated in particular chromosomes particularly chromosome 15 while TS heritability is spread across many different chromosomes."

An anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions that disrupt the lives of patients, OCD is the fourth most common psychiatric illness. TS is a chronic disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics that usually begins in childhood and is often accompanied by conditions like OCD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Both conditions have been considered to be heritable, since they are known to often recur in close relatives of affected individuals, but identifying specific genes that confer risk has been challenging.

Two reports published last year in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, with leadership from Scharf and several co-authors of the current study, described genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of thousands of affected individuals and controls. While those studies identified several gene variants that appeared to increase the risk of each disorder, none of the associations were strong enough to meet the strict standards of genome-wide significance. Since the GWAS approach is designed to identify relatively common gene variants and it has been proposed that OCD and TS might be influenced by a number of rare variants, the research team adopted a different method. Called genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA), the approach allows simultaneous comparision of genetic variation across the entire genome, rather than the GWAS method of testing sites one at a time, as well as estimating the proportion of disease heritability caused by rare and common variants.

"Trying to find a single causative gene for diseases with a complex genetic background is like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack," says Lea Davis, PhD, of the section of Genetic Medicine at the University of Chicago, co-corresponding author of the PLOS Genetics report. "With this approach, we aren't looking for individual genes. By examining the properties of all genes that could contribute to TS or OCD at once, we're actually testing the whole haystack and asking where we're more likely to find the needles."

Using GCTA, the researchers analyzed the same genetic datasets screened in the Molecular Psychiatry reports almost 1,500 individuals affected with OCD compared with more than 5,500 controls, and nearly TS 1,500 patients compared with more than 5,200 controls. To minimize variations that might result from slight difference in experimental techniques, all genotyping was done by collaborators at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, who generated the data at the same time using the same equipment. Davis was able to analyze the resulting data on a chromosome-by-chromosome basis, along with the frequency of the identified variants and the function of variants associated with each condition.

The results found that the degree of heritability for both disorders captured by GWAS variants is actually quite close to what previously was predicted based on studies of families impacted by the disorders. "This is a crucial point for genetic researchers, as there has been a lot of controversy in human genetics about what is called 'missing heritability'," explains Scharf. "For many diseases, definitive genome-wide significant variants account for only a minute fraction of overall heritability, raising questions about the validity of the approach. Our findings demonstrate that the vast majority of genetic susceptibility to TS and OCD can be discovered using GWAS methods. In fact, the degree of heritability captured by GWAS variants is higher for TS and OCD than for any other complex trait studied to date."

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Genetic analysis reveals insights into the genetic architecture of OCD, Tourette syndrome

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced it will present data this week at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) annual meeting in Boston showing that the Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test meets rigorous quality standards and provides clinical sequencing results equivalent to 99.99 percent accuracy. Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer is a new diagnostic test that provides patients with information about their hereditary risk for eight major cancers including breast, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, pancreatic, prostate, gastric cancers and melanoma.

"Next-generation DNA sequencing offers the ability to test many genes at once, but it must be optimized to ensure clinical accuracy. We've invested three years of research to optimize our Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer test, and the validation data show that Myriad myRisk Hereditary Cancer offers 99.99 specificity and sensitivity which means it provides unprecedented quality and accuracy equal to the gold standard Sanger sequencing," said Richard J. Wenstrup, M.D., chief medical officer of Myriad. "As next-generation technology advances, mutation classification techniques also must evolve to ensure high quality data interpretation for clinical decision making. Myriad has developed a robust variant classification program called Myriad myVision(TM) to achieve highly accurate, clinically-actionable, genetic test results for patients and healthcare providers."

The five studies being presented at the ASHG annual meeting include:

Development of a Next Generation Sequencing Panel to Assess Hereditary Cancer Risk that Includes Clinical Diagnostic Analysis of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes. [Roa et al., Poster: Oct. 24, 2013, 11:30 a.m. -- 12:30 p.m. ET]

This study validated the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test, which is a 25-gene panel that uses next generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The study compared the myRisk Hereditary Cancer test to the gold standard Sanger sequencing for evaluation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in 1,864 patient samples. myRisk Hereditary Cancer detected 15,877 variants compared to 15,878 variants using Sanger sequencing, resulting in an analytic sensitivity > 99.99 percent. These data show that a NGS gene panel designed to meet rigorous quality standards can provide clinical sequencing results that are equivalent to those obtained from Sanger DNA sequencing analysis (i.e., greater sensitivity without loss of specificity). In this validation study, Myriad's myRisk Hereditary Cancer test was shown to be highly effective and provided high quality, accurate results for clinical decision-making purposes.

A Clinical History Weighting Algorithm Accurately Classifies BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants. [Bowles et al., Poster: Oct. 25, 2013, 10:30 -- 11:30 a.m. ET]

This study evaluated a clinical history weighting algorithm designed to provide highly accurate classifications for BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants of uncertain significance and which is integral to Myriad's proprietary myVision(TM) Variant Classification Program. The algorithm is based on the premise that disease-associated mutations will be observed more often in individuals at high risk for carrying a mutation, as determined by personal and family history. Statistical analysis weights the family histories of each patient carrying a variant of interest and compares those histories to control patients carrying variants known to be benign or deleterious. Data from more than 400,000 patients were used to develop the algorithm, which was validated against 6,000 BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants. The results showed that the clinical history weighting algorithm accurately classified well-documented variants associated with BRCA1 and BRCA2 and allowed classification with fewer observations than other techniques, providing timely and accurate classifications to guide clinical care. Importantly, this clinical history weighting algorithm facilitated the accurate reclassification of BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants of uncertain significance, which will improve the clinical management of patients at risk for hereditary cancer.

Frequencies of BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and CDKN2A Germline Mutations in Familial Pancreatic Cancer (FPC): A PACGENE study. [Zhen/Petersen et al., Poster: Oct. 24, 2013, 10:30 -- 11:30 a.m. ET]

This study assessed the frequency of germline mutations in four of the genes in the myRisk Hereditary Cancer panel -- BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and CDKN2A -- in patients with familial pancreatic cancer. Using samples from a large pancreatic cancer registry, the DNA from 80 patients who met familial pancreatic cancer criteria was tested. The frequencies for deleterious or suspected deleterious mutations and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) among the patients tested totaled 13.8 percent: BRCA1 (2.9 percent), no VUS; BRCA2 (4.4 percent), no VUS; PALB2 (1.3 percent), no VUS; CDKN2A (5.2 percent), 3 VUS. These data show the genetic heterogeneity of germline mutations in patients with familial pancreatic cancer and strongly suggest that these patients are appropriate candidates for genetic testing using a hereditary cancer panel that tests for multiple genes to prevent a misdiagnosis.

Detection of Large Rearrangements in PMS2. [Mancini-DiNardo et al., Podium: Oct. 25, 2013, 3:15 p.m. ET]

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Myriad myRisk(TM) Hereditary Cancer Test Is Highly Accurate in Key Validation Study

Oxford BioMedica gets go-ahead to continue its trials

5:30pm Thursday 24th October 2013 in News

GENE therapy company Oxford BioMedica has been given the go-ahead by drug regulators to recruit more volunteers for a clinical trial of a treatment for eye disease.

The trials were halted in June after low concentrations of a potential impurity were discovered in the drug.

The companys share price rose four per cent on the news, having already risen following a million-dollar milestone payment from pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a 7.1m status recognition award from the UK Government.

BioMedica, based at Oxford Science Park, has used new analytical methods to identify the impurity as DNA from foetal bovine serum, the most widely-used growth supplement in certain laboratory techniques.

Chief executive John Dawson said: We place the highest importance on safety, and our analytical methods and quality assurance processes are continuously evolving to ensure that we remain at the forefront of gene therapy development and manufacture.

Im confident that, with significant opportunities ahead, Oxford BioMedica will continue to lead the way in delivering novel gene therapies to patients.

The eye treatment uses Biomedicas LentiVector technology, developed from research at Oxford University by the companys founders, Professors Alan and Sue Kingsman.

Before resuming the trials in France and the US, the study must be approved by ethics committees following approval by the US Food and Drug Administration and the French regulatory agency, ANSM.

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Oxford BioMedica gets go-ahead to continue its trials

(4.4) Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - IB SL Biology Past Exam Paper 1 Questions
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(4.4) Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - IB SL Biology Past Exam Paper 1 Questions - Video

Genetic Engineering as a course choice after 12th
This Video suggests Genetic Engineering as a course that can be done after doing 12th (10+2).

By: Indiaeduinfo

Excerpt from:
Genetic Engineering as a course choice after 12th - Video

By Eva Recinos2013-10-23 02:28:28 UTC

Genetic engineering and synthetic biology are making it easier to create everything from food ingredients to scents using unexpected sources.

That's where genetically engineered yeast comes in. A recent article in the New York Times explored its larger implications and how companies like Amyris continue to push the scope of what engineered yeast can produce.

Amyris found that it can create not only ingredients for cosmetics products but also artemisinin, a compound used in drugs to treat malaria. Artemisinin normally comes from sweet wormwood, harvested by both Asian and African farmers, as The Guardian reports. Though the artificial creation of the important compound means good news in one sense, some see it as an indication that genetically engineering it could jeopardize the livelihood of harvesters.

Amyris co-founder Jay Keasling told the New York Times that the process is "just like brewing beer, but rather than spit out alcohol, the yeast spits out these products."

Evolva also experimented with genetically engineered yeast and found that it could produce synthetic vanillin, sometimes used as an alternative to the standard, natural vanilla extract.

Vanillin could be used for everything from fragrances to dairy products. As the company's site explains, vanilla and vanillin are used in many products and therefore created at a collectively large rate, but "only a small fraction of this volume contains natural vanilla, with the vast majority being synthetic vanillin."

Yet, as the New York Times article reports, other groups see problems with the artificial creations, questioning the idea of integrating engineered ingredients into everyday foods.

In the meantime, Amyris plans to work with Michelin to produce a rubber product and will likely continue to create other partnerships for future experiments.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

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Genetically Engineered Yeast Yields More Than Beer

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

23-Oct-2013

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, October 23, 2013The stem cell field is at a critical point, with the potential for a major impact on clinical medicine if stem cell-based therapies can overcome serious and immediate challenges. These challenges and key action items to overcome them are described in an article published on Fast Track as part of the World Stem Cell Report 2013, a special upcoming supplement to Stem Cells and Development, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Stem Cells and Development website.

The World Stem Cell Report is the official publication of the World Stem Cell Summit, to be held December 4-6, 2013 in San Diego, CA. More than 1,000 researchers and clinicians from around the globe will attend the Summit.

In the article "Key Action Items for the Stem Cell Field Looking to 2014," author Paul S. Knoepfler, University of California Davis School of Medicine, describes the building momentum behind stem cells, both for their impact as transformative basic science discoveries and their potential for translation to clinical medicine. At the same time, however, he outlines several critical challenges, including "stem cell tourism," the complex balance between innovation and regulatory/FDA compliance, and the need to educate physicians and patients about stem cell therapies.

"Paul Knoepfler is being honored at the World Stem Cell Summit with the Stem Cell Action 'National Advocacy Award' from the Genetics Policy Institute," says Bernard Siegel, JD, Co-Chair of the 2013 World Stem Cell Summit and Executive Director, Genetics Policy Institute (GPI, Palm Beach, FL). Siegel is also Co-Editor-in-Chief of the World Stem Cell Report."Dr. Knoepfler's unique perspective as a scientist and patient advocate provides a fresh perspective to the stem cell universe. As a communicator, Paul is unsurpassed. We are proud to include his views in the Report."

"Key opinion leaders in the field like Paul Knoepfler bring into focus where we are, and where we are not yet, in regard to the further translation of stem cell research," says Editor-in-Chief Graham C. Parker, PhD, The Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, MI).

###

The World Stem Cell Summit is the flagship meeting of the international stem cell community. The Summit aims to accelerate the discovery and development of lifesaving cures and therapies, bringing global stakeholders together to solve global challenges. It builds a foundation to advance cell therapies by establishing a supportive environment of regulation, legislation, financing, reimbursement, and patient advocacy. The 2013 World Stem Cell Summit will be held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, in San Diego, California, December 4-6, 2013. It is presented by GPI and is co-organized by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Scripps Research Institute, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, and Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS). For more information, visit the World Stem Cell Summit website.

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How will stem cell therapies impact patient care?

SAQ (4.3) Theoretical genetics - IB SL Biology Past Exam Paper 2 Questions
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Matric revision: Life Sciences: Genetics (3/5): homozygous ...
Homozygous, dominance, co-dominance, incomplete dominance, multiple alleles Which of the cattle will definitely be homozygous? What if both are dominant? How...

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Introduce Genetics with Seeds
Enhance your introduction to genetics by showing pea seeds with different characteristics--providing a connection to Gregor Mendel #39;s use of pea plants to demonstrate inheritance.

By: FlinnScientific

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Introduce Genetics with Seeds - Video

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced that it will issue financial results for the first fiscal quarter 2014 following the close of market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013.

The Company also will host a conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results. Participating on the call will be Peter Meldrum, President and Chief Executive Officer; Mark Capone, President of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.; and James Evans, Chief Financial Officer.

To listen to the call, interested parties within the United States may dial 800-354-6885 or +1 303-223-2680 for international callers. All callers will be asked to reference reservation number 21676804.

The conference call also will be available through a live webcast at http://www.myriad.com. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the end of the call for seven days and may be accessed by dialing 800-633-8284 within the United States or +1 402-977-9140 for international callers and entering reservation number 21676804.

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patients' lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, Melaris, myPath Melanoma(TM), myPlan Lung Cancer(TM), myRisk Hereditary Cancer(TM), TheraGuide, Prezeon, OnDose, Panexia and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G

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Myriad Genetics to Announce Fiscal First Quarter 2014 Financial Results on Tuesday November 5, 2013

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Good Start Genetics, Inc.,an innovative molecular diagnostics company harnessing a powerful, proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) capability, today announced that seven abstracts were accepted for presentation at the 2013 American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting. The abstracts highlight Good Starts leadership position in next-generation DNA sequencing and present new data that demonstrate the companys NGS-based carrier screening is able to detect rare and novel mutations not detected by other laboratories. The findings reinforce that the NGS-based technology utilized in the companys carrier screening test, GoodStart Select, more accurately detects pathogenic mutations, irrespective of patient ethnicity, and results in fewer missed carriers.

These data, generated in both the clinical and research sides of our business, further demonstrate the ability of our validated technology to capture disease-causing mutations that other tests simply cannot detect, stated Don Hardison, president and chief executive officer of Good Start Genetics. As a result, the patient receives the most comprehensive and clinically-relevant test results available and can further understand the risks of conceiving a child with a debilitating or fatal inherited disease prior to becoming pregnant.

Two of the posters presented are highlighted below.

Enhanced Detection through Next Generation Sequencing

In a poster presentation, titled Detection of Carriers of Rare and Novel Mutations using Next Generation DNA Sequencing, data demonstrate that Good Start Genetics NGS platform is able to detect uncommon and previously unrecognized mutations across a spectrum of society-recommended disorders. Through analysis of nearly 16,500 patients referred for carrier screening from in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics across the U.S., Good Start identified 146 unique mutations and 771 carriers across 15 genes. More than a third (39%) of these mutations would not have been detected by traditional carrier screening, in particular the novel pathogenic mutations, which are only detectable with comprehensive sequencing. These data showcase the accuracy and precision of NGS-based carrier screening, ultimately providing clinically relevant information to patients that may decrease their risk of conceiving a child with a debilitating or fatal genetic disorder. The data were presented in program number 2827W.

Effective Detection of Tay-Sachs Disease Carrier Status

In a second poster presentation, titled Discrepant Tay-Sachs disease enzyme and DNA carrier screening results in the African American population, the authors demonstrate that the current standard of care for detecting carriers of Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is not an accurate method to assess carrier status in African Americans and possibly other populations. Retrospective analysis of 2,656 patients demonstrated that there is a high percentage of African Americans who do not have a genetic mutation for TSD, yet presented with an indeterminate or positive TSD result from enzyme analysis. This conflicts with current guidelines from ACOG that recommend enzyme analysis as a screening tool in low-risk patients. The data were presented in program number 2543W.

About ASHG

The American Society for Human Genetics is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide. The Societys nearly 8,000 members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others who have a special interest in the field of human genetics. The 2013 ASHG Annual Meeting is attended by research scientists and health professionals from around the world who are dedicated to genetics research, education and support.

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New Findings Highlight the Power and Accuracy of Good Start Genetics’ Carrier Screening Technologies

HAIFA, Israel, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, announced today that Pluristem's VP of Development, Ohad Karnieli PhD will present at Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy in Orlando, Florida on October 25, 2013 at 12:50pm. Dr. Karnieli's presentation will focus on Pluristem's approach on industrialized cell therapy manufacturing.

As previously announced, Pluristem's 3-dimensional cell production is manufactured in its state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot facility.

Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy 2013 is an event which brings together a unique and international mix of leading universities and cell therapy institutions making the congress a perfect platform to share experience. It paves a way to gather visionaries through the research talks and presentations and put forward many thought provoking strategies in emerging cell & gene therapies. The conference aims to serve as a catalyst for the advancement in cell & gene therapies by connecting scientists within and across disciplines at conferences held under a single roof that create an environment conducive to information exchange, generation of new ideas and acceleration of applications that benefit society.

About Pluristem Therapeutics

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.

Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit http://www.pluristem.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.

The Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6882

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; we may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing our clinical trials; our products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; we may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with our process; our products may wind up being more expensive than we anticipate; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; our patents may not be sufficient; our products may harm recipients; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Pluristem to Present at Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy

23 October 2013 Last updated at 15:50 ET By Michele Paduano BBC Midlands health correspondent

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Doctors at University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Trust have been working on the project for 15 years

Doctors in Birmingham have started a trial of a new gene therapy treatment they hope will help fight prostate cancer.

Injected directly into the tumour it is is designed to stimulate the body's own immune system.

Bernard Ward, 68, from Birmingham was the first patient in the world to receive the new procedure.

He is one of 20 patients taking part in the first phase of a trial by University Hospitals Birmingham.

The initial trial is designed to establish whether the treatment is safe for clinical use.

Mr Ward has suffered from prostate cancer for six years and standard treatments are no longer working.

"I just hope it works. I don't have any choice but to try this treatment because I haven't got anything else," he said.

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Doctors pioneer cancer gene therapy

MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Medgenics, Inc. (MDGN)(AIM:MEDU, MEDG) (the Company), the developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, announces that a poster highlighting the Companys second-generation EPODURE Biopump will be presented at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress, taking place in Madrid October 25-28.

Posters will be showcased in Poster Reception Halls A-C November 1-3 and will be available for viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time. Poster presentations will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The following Medgenics poster will be presented during Poster Session B on Sunday, October 27:

EPODURE is an autologous dermal Biopump capable of the sustained production of therapeutic erythropoietin (EPO) in the body using a small tissue explant from the patients own skin and processed to continuously produce EPO. Each EPODURE Biopump is subsequently implanted subcutaneously into the patient aiming to provide continuous delivery of EPO.

About The European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT)

The European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) promotes basic and clinical research in gene therapy, cell therapy and genetic vaccines by facilitating education, the exchange of information and technology and by serving as a professional adviser to stakeholder communities and regulatory bodies in Europe.

About Medgenics

Medgenics is developing and commercializing Biopump, a proprietary tissue-based platform technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins using the patient's own tissue for the treatment of a range of chronic diseases including anemia and hepatitis, among others. For more information, please visit http://www.medgenics.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including (without limitation) those regarding the Company's financial position, its development and business strategy, its product candidates and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such laws. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by their use of the terms and phrases such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning, "expect," "believe," "will," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may" or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. All such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those included within these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of these factors, the events described in the forward-looking statements contained in this release may not occur.

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Medgenics to Present Poster at European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress to Highlight Results from Second ...

Tom Avril, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 2:01 AM

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has invested $50 million in a new biotech start-up that seeks to be the nation's first commercial provider of gene therapy, company officials announced Tuesday.

Spark Therapeutics will assume control over two clinical trials that originated at the prominent teaching hospital - one in which patients with a rare form of blindness already have regained some vision, the other an early-stage effort to treat hemophilia B.

Jeffrey D. Marrazzo, Spark's CEO, said the goal was to tackle still more genetic diseases in the future, including other rare forms of blindness, blood disorders, and two neurodegenerative diseases that he declined to identify.

Children's Hospital has spun off companies before with the involvement of other investors, but this marks the hospital's first foray as a primary source of start-up funds, said hospital CEO Steven M. Altschuler.

The move marks a coming-of-age moment for gene therapy - the concept of treating disease by replacing or correcting faulty genes. Confined to the realm of research for decades, it now appears headed to the clinic on multiple fronts.

A gene-therapy treatment called Glybera has been approved in Europe for treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency, an affliction marked by increased levels of fat in the blood. And earlier this year, a Cambridge, Mass.-based gene-therapy company called bluebird bio Inc. raised more than $100 million in an initial public offering.

Gary J. Kurtzman, managing director for health care at Safeguard Scientifics, the Wayne-based technology and health-care investment company, said Spark's prospects looked promising. He cited the involvement of Children's Hospital researchers such as Katherine A. High, a primary force in the hemophilia and blindness trials and now one of Spark's scientific advisers.

"It's a bold move," Kurtzman said of the hospital's investment. "Based on the technology and the assets and the expertise that Dr. High and other people there have, I think it's a . . . very smart move."

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Children's Hospital of Phila. funds gene-therapy company

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

22-Oct-2013

Contact: Eileen Leahy e.leahy@elsevier.com 732-238-3628 Elsevier Health Sciences

San Francisco, CA, October 22, 2013 A study performed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found no evidence that stem cell therapy improves vision for children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Their results are reported in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

ONH, an underdevelopment of optic nerves that occurs during fetal development, may appear either as an isolated abnormality or as part of a group of disorders characterized by brain anomalies, developmental delay, and endocrine abnormalities. ONH is a leading cause of blindness in children in North America and Europe and is the only cause of childhood blindness that shows increasing prevalence. No treatments have been shown to improve vision in these children.

With no viable treatment options available to improve vision, ophthalmologists are becoming aware that families with children affected by ONH are travelling to China seeking stem cell therapy, despite lack of approval in the United States and Europe or evidence from controlled trials. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus has also expressed its concern about these procedures. In response to this situation, pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist Mark Borchert, MD, Director of both the Eye Birth Defects and Eye Technology Institutes in The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, realized that a controlled trial of sufficient size was needed to evaluate whether stem cell therapy is effective at improving optic nerve function in children with ONH. He agreed to conduct an independent study when asked by Beike Biotech, a company based in Shenzhen, China, that offers treatment for ONH using donor umbilical cord stem cells injected into the cerebral spinal fluid.

Beike Biotech agreed to identify 10 children with bilateral ONH (ages 7-17 years) who had volunteered to travel to China for stem cell therapy and who agreed to participate in the study; Children's Hospital was to find case matched controls from their clinic. However, only two case-controlled pairs were evaluated because Beike Biotech was only able to recruit two patients. Treatments consisted of six infusions over a 16-day period of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and daily infusions of growth factors. Visual acuity, optic nerve size, and sensitivity to light were to be evaluated one month before stem cell therapy and three and nine months after treatment.

No therapeutic effect was found in the two case-control pairs that were enrolled. "The results of this study show that children greater than 7 years of age with ONH may have spontaneous improvement in vision from one examination to the next. This improvement occurs equally in children regardless of whether or not they received treatment. Other aspects of the eye examination included pupil responses to light and optic nerve size; these did not change following treatment. The results of this research do not support the use of stem cells in the treatment of ONH at this time," says lead author Cassandra Fink, MPH, program administrator at The Vision Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Confounding the trial was that subjects received additional alternative therapies (acupuncture, functional electrical stimulation, and exercise) while receiving stem cell treatments, which was contrary to the trial protocol. The investigators could not determine the effect of these additional therapies.

"This study underscores the importance of scientifically testing these procedures to validate them and also to ensure their safety. Parents of afflicted children should be aware that the science behind the use of stem cell technology is unclear. This study takes a step toward testing this technology and finds no beneficial effect," says William V. Good, MD, Senior Associate Editor, Journal of AAPOS and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Senior Scientist at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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No evidence to support stem cell therapy for pediatric optic nerve hypoplasia

After two years on the varsity swim team at UNC, junior John Paul Gaylor retired from swimming to pursue a passion for gene therapy research inspired in part by his involvement with Honors Carolina.

But because of budget cuts, certain classes in the program might not be offered in the future.

Gaylor first became interested in gene therapy during his BIO 101 honors course with biology professor Jean DeSaix last spring.

She essentially walked us through the research process, Gaylor said. She even had us interview people working in the field.

Gaylor now works in a lab researching gene therapy for eyes.

DeSaix said she loves to teach her honors course, but due to budget cuts, the course was not offered this fall and will most likely not be in the spring.

Assistant Dean for Honors Carolina Ritchie Kendall said departmental and University budget cuts affect the number of faculty that can teach honors courses.

The UNC system has seen nearly half a billion dollars erased from its state funding since 2011, including about $65 million in fresh cuts in the 2013-14 budget.

There is no question that there is a much greater strain on departmental courses, Kendall said. Honors (classes) are, with very few exceptions, always faculty taught that is a strain.

Despite budget restraints on the University level, Kendall said in recent years Honors Carolina has doubled the number of new students because of fundraising gifts to the program.

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Cuts affect honors courses

Oct. 22, 2013

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Organofoam, right, is compared to Styrofoam.

Move over, Styrofoam theres a new kid in town. Cornell students have developed a genetic circuitry-based tool that could improve the production of an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic material.

Cornell University Genetically Engineered Machines (CU GEM), an undergraduate project team, took home a gold medal and the Best Human Practices Advance Award at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) North American regional competition for their project that genetically engineers specific fungi. The fungi are used in the production of a biodegradable Styrofoam substitute to confer resistance to pathogenic molds that can compromise entire batches of the material during production.

CU GEM faced off against 50 universities from around the world at the competition, held Oct. 4-6 in Toronto. Cornell was selected to advance to the International Jamboree, which will be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nov. 1-4.

The gold medal was awarded for the teams design, as well as their effective presentation of the project and its accessibility for other teams to use in the future. The Best Human Practices Advance Award recognized CU GEMs efforts to work with a corporation and for the steps they took to guarantee that their project was safe and practical.

CU GEM uses genetic modification to develop biotechnological tools. This relatively new field, known as synthetic biology, applies engineering concepts to biological processes to find solutions to industry and economic problems.The project this year was inspired by the Albany-area company Ecovative Design, which uses fungi and plant matter to produce a biodegradable substitute for Styrofoam. CU GEM decided to help the company by addressing a production concern: When contaminated with pathogenic molds, the fungi would stop growing, ruining the material.

CU GEM realized that a genetic circuit a design similar in concept to an electrical circuit in engineering, with specific genetic components used to perform a certain function could solve this problem. However, there are no standardized industrial tools for engineering fungi.

Provided

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CU GEM improves eco-friendly Styrofoam substitute

Its Farmers Week, and its the appropriate occasion to call attention to the dangers posed by genetically engineered crops in the Philippines.

Genetic engineering (GE) is a very new technology, its commercialization having begun only in the 1990s. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living things that have been conferred qualities or traits that they do not naturally have, and this is achieved through the random insertion of one or a few genes from another organism into the host organisms genetic make-up in a way that can never happen in nature.

Why GMOs are Controversial

GMOs are very controversial. The first reason is that genetic engineering disrupts the precise sequence of genetic codes and disturbs the functions of neighboring genes, which for food, may give rise to potentially toxic or allergenic molecules or even alter the nutritional value of food produced. An example of this is that the Bt toxin being used in GMO corn, for example, was recently detected in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, with possibly harmful consequences.

A second reason has to do with genetic contamination. A GMO crop, once released in the open, reproduces via pollination and interacts genetically with natural varieties of the same crop, producing what is called genetic contamination. An example of this is Bt corn, which was reported in a study published in Nature, one of the worlds leading scientific journals, to have contaminated indigenous varieties of corn in Oaxaca, Mexico.

A third reason is that a GMO, brought into natural surroundings, may have a toxic or lethal impact on other living things. Thus, it was found that Bt corn destroyed the larvae of the monarch butterfly, raising well grounded fears that many other natural plant and animal life may be impacted in the same way.

A fourth reason is that the benefits of GMOs have been oversold by the people or companies that benefit economically from it, like Monsanto or Syngenta. Most genetically engineered (GE) crops are either engineered to produce their own pesticide in the form of Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) or are designed to be resistant to herbicides, so that herbicides can be sprayed in massive quantities to kill pests. It has been shown, however, that insects are fast developing resistance to Bt as well as to herbicides, resulting in even more massive infestation by the new superbugs. There is also no substantial evidence that GM crops yield more than conventional crops; in fact several scientific studies have proven that the opposite is true. What GM crops definitely do lead to is higher pesticide use, which is harmful both to humans and the planet.

Bans on GMOs

Owing to the dangers and risks posed by genetically engineered organisms, many governments have instituted total or partial bans on their cultivation, importation and field testing. A few years ago, there were 16 countries that had GMO bans. Now there are at least 26, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Russia. Significant restrictions on GMOs exist in about 60 other countries.

Restraints on trade in GMOs based on phyto-sanitary grounds, which are allowed under the World Trade Organization, have increased. Already, American rice farmers face strict limitations on their exports to the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and bans from Russia and Bulgaria because unapproved GE rice escaped during open-field trials on GMO rice. Thai exports to Europe, particularly canned fruit salad/fruit cocktail containing papaya to Germany, and sardines in soy oil to Greece and the Netherlands, were banned due to threat of contamination by GMOs. And, closer to home, Japan stopped importation of organic corn from Ifugao following news that the corn was contaminated by GE corn.

Originally posted here:
The invasion of Bt talong and other GMOs

Newswise NYU School of Medicine announced today that Danny Reinberg, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and head of the Reinberg Lab at NYU School of Medicine, has been elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Seventy new members and ten foreign associates were named during the IOMs 43nd annual meeting on October 21, 2013. Dr. Reinberg is NYU School of Medicines 10th faculty member inducted into the IOM.

Dr. Reinbergs election into the IOM reflects the combination of intellect, effort, creativity, and excellence evident in his groundbreaking work and contributions to science and medicine, said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center. We congratulate Dr. Reinberg on receiving this extraordinary honor.

Dr. Reinberg is a leading expert in the fields of eukaryotic transcription and epigenetics. He and his collaborators have made fundamental discoveries uncovering the details of the intricate process of transcription during which information from DNA is transferred to RNA that directs protein production. In the field of epigenetics, the study of how genes are activated or deactivated by modifications to chromatin, changes in gene expression that can be passed on to future generations, his group has made major inroads including showing how transcription from genes are activated or inhibited based on modifications to the histone proteins that fold the DNA into open or closed structures. These features are epigenetic, because they affect the DNA structure, not the DNA sequence (genetic). Yet, these modifications are also passed on to future cell generations ensuring that the identical pattern of gene transcription is maintained.

Dr. Reinbergs forte is in the purification of the numerous array of individual proteins to identify exactly how they operate, alone and in conjunction with their partners, to work to ensure the correct transcription process occurs in the test tube. Over the years, his group detailed the required, fundamental steps in the transcription process, and their biological relevance in the cell. In an advance in the field, his group chartered the transcription process from more complex DNA in the form of chromatin, the spool-and-thread combination of DNA wrapped around histone proteins that mimics the intricate state of DNA in the cell.

The various, naturally occurring modifications to the histone proteins within chromatin lead to distinct assemblies/structures of the DNA making it either accessible or not to the transcription machinery in the cell and are key to dictating the cells precise transcription program, which lead to how cells develop to become different tissues of the body. His findings advanced our conceptual knowledge of the workings of the factors responsible for these modifications, how these modifications set the DNA structure, and why losing the integrity of this process can result in diseased states.

To study how these histone modifications set a program of transcription that distinguishes the behavior of a whole organism, Dr. Reinberg and collaborators focused on an experimentally approachable model organism, the ant. In 2008, Dr. Reinberg and his team attained a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to study features of chromatin (epigenetic differences) amongst distinct members of a colony of ants. As a result of the groundbreaking collaboration led by Dr. Reinberg, the Ant Genome Project sequenced the entire genome of two ant species and is in position to examine the epigenetic blueprints in ants that may provide clues to longevity, aging and behavior in humans.

Among his accolades, Dr. Reinberg was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) 2012 Class of Fellows and was the recipient of the HHMI Collaborative Innovation Award. He also received an NIH Merit Award and a Junior Faculty Research Award and a Faculty Research Award from the American Cancer Society. Dr. Reinberg has co-authored more than 230 works in journals that include Nature, Science, Cell, Genes & Development, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, among others, and co-edited an authoritative textbook on epigenetics. He received his doctorate in molecular biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Reinberg has made seminal contributions to our understanding of epigenetics and the mechanisms through which our genetic makeup evolves, said Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD, vice dean for science and chief scientific officer at NYU Langone. He continues to exemplify the passion for discovery that is the mark of the best scientific minds. We are thrilled to congratulate him on this latest, well-deserved honor.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM is recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

The newly elected members raise IOM's total active membership to 1,753 and the number of foreign associates to 120. With an additional 93 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 1,966. IOM's charter ensures diversity of talent among the Institute's membership by requiring at least one-quarter of the members to be selected from fields outside the health professions, such as engineering, social sciences, law, and the humanities.

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Danny Reinberg, PhD, Elected Member of Prestigious Institute of Medicine