Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

West Texas Genetics Concrete

By: Clint Halfmann

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West Texas Genetics Concrete - Video

Living with Gynaecological Cancer Part 2.1 -- Physical Aspects - Genetics
Living with Gynaecological Cancer A resource for Women and their families living with the impact of gynaecological cancer. Part 2.1 -- Physical Aspects - Genetics While the majority of gynecological cancers are sporadic, hereditary factors may play a role in diagnosis, particularly in the presence of ovarian and to a degree endometrial cancer. Genetic testing is a process in which a blood test may help to determine if you or your family members are at very high risk of gynecological cancers. Decisions about when these tests are undertaken cannot be taken lightly, both for practical and financial implications, but also because the results can impact significantly on future plans for things like childbearing and careers.

By: LifehouseatRPA

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Living with Gynaecological Cancer Part 2.1 -- Physical Aspects - Genetics - Video

DNA - Little Mix
DNA - Little Mix Does he tell you he loves you when you least expect it? Does he flutter your heart when he kisses your neck? No scientist or biology It #39;s obvious when he #39;s holding me It #39;s only natural that I #39;m so affected And my heart won #39;t beat again If I can #39;t feel him in my veins No need to question, I already know It #39;s in his DNA DDD-DNA It #39;s in his DNA And he just takes my breath away Bbb-breath away I feel it every day, And that #39;s what makes a man Not hard to understand Perfect in every way I see it in his face Nothing more to say It #39;s in his DDD-DNA It #39;s the blue in his eyes that helps me see the future Fingerprints that leave me covered for days, yeah, hey, yeah Now I don #39;t have any first degree But I know, what he does to me No need to work it out, it #39;s so familiar, ooh, ooh, ooh And my heart won #39;t beat again If I can #39;t feel him in my veins No need to question, I already know It #39;s in his DNA DDD-DNA It #39;s in his DNA And he just takes my breath away Bbb-breath away I feel it every day, And that #39;s what makes a man Not hard to understand Perfect in every way I see it in his face Nothing more to say It #39;s in his DDD-DNA It #39;s all about his kiss Contaminates my lips Our energy connects It #39;s simple genetics I #39;m the X to his Y It #39;s the colour of his eyes He can do no wrong No, he don #39;t need to try Made from the best He passes all the tests Got my heart beating fast It #39;s cardiac arrest He #39;s from a different strain That science can #39;t explain I guess that #39;s how he #39;s made In ...

By: LM1DFTW

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DNA - Little Mix - Video

EPXbody Review - By Dan Putnam CEO Of EPXBody
getepx.com There is nothing more exciting than sharing with others a true opportunity; an opportunity that was designed from the ground up to be like no other opportunity in the 60-year history of Network Marketing! EPXbody is that opportunity! EPX is short for Epigenetics; science has shown that with proper nutrition, diet and exercise, you can improve your genetics and the genetics of generations to follow. Our products are designed to give you better health the opportunity that leads to wealth. Please visit my site for more information: getepx.com

By: Lovette DePina

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EPXbody Review - By Dan Putnam CEO Of EPXBody - Video

Seattle Genetics Inc. (SGEN) recently commenced two phase I clinical studies with its oncology candidate, SGN-CD19A. The two trials will assess the safety and anti-tumor response of SGN-CD19A in CD19-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients.

Establishing the maximum tolerated dose and examining the safety of the candidate are the two primary endpoints of the trials. The trials will also assess antitumor activity, pharmacokinetics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (:OS).

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 70,000 cases of non-HL and roughly 6,000 cases of ALL were expected to be diagnosed in the US during 2012 and almost 19,000 people were expected to die from non-HL and more than 1,400 were expected to die from ALL.

Meanwhile, Adcetris recently received approval under Health Canada's Notice of Compliance with conditions (NOC/c) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory HL and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL).

For similar indications, Adcetris was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (:FDA) in Aug 2011 and in the EU in Oct 2012.

Adcetris, Seattle Genetics' only approved drug, generated revenues of $102.8 million for the nine months ending Sep 30, 2012.

In Jan 2013, a global phase III study (ECHELON-2) was initiated on Adcetris. In this study, Adcetris plus chemotherapy will be evaluated for the front-line treatment of CD30-positive mature T-cell lymphoma (:MTCL) including patients with sALCL and other types of peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Seattle Genetics currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Right now, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (PPHM), Agenus Inc. (AGEN) and Targacept, Inc. (TRGT) look more attractive with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Read the Full Research Report on TRGT

Read the Full Research Report on PPHM

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SGEN Starts SGN-CD19A Phase I Study

CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire - Feb 6, 2013) - Good Start Genetics, Inc., an innovative molecular diagnostics company developing the new gold standard in carrier screening, announced today that it will present at the 2013 BIO CEO & Investor Conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, NY. Don Hardison, president and CEO of Good Start Genetics, is scheduled to present Monday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. EST.

Mr. Hardison will provide an overview of Good Start Genetics and its groundbreaking next-generation DNA sequencing based carrier screening service, as well as highlights from its first year on the market.Mr. Hardison will be available for one-on-one meetings with investors and media attending the conference.

Good Start Genetics also is proud to announce that four separate abstracts related to its technology have been accepted for presentation at the upcoming annual meetings of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS) and the American Congress of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).

Since its national launch in April 2012, Good Start Genetics' high-complexity, CLIA- and CAP-accredited laboratory has processed tens of thousands of test orders. The GoodStart Select next-generation gene sequencing technology detects common mutations in carriers across all 23 diseases recommended for testing by major medical societies as well as rare mutations that would go undetected by laboratories using older, traditional genotyping-based technologies. For example, most genotyping technologies detect about 100 mutations for cystic fibrosis (CF), while GoodStart Select detects 550 mutations.

Event BIO CEO & Investor Conference

Date Monday, Feb. 11th

Time 2:00 p.m. EST

Place Waldorf Astoria NY, Park South 301 Park Ave New York, NY 10022

About Good Start Genetics, Inc.

Good Start Genetics is setting the new gold standard in carrier screening by making testing for the most comprehensive set of known and novel disease-causing mutations accessible for routine clinical practice. After years of development and rigorous validation, Good Start Genetics has harnessed the power of next-generation sequencing and other best-in-class technologies to provide highly accurate, actionable and affordable tests for all disorders recommended for genetic testing by ACOG and ACMG. For these reasons, fertility specialists and their patients can have a high degree of confidence in their carrier screening results, and no longer have to compromise accuracy for price. For more information, visitwww.goodstartgenetics.com.

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Good Start Genetics to Present at 15th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference Monday, February 11th

Do You Know Your Mesothelioma Treatment Options?
This week we bring to you a video infographic on the available treatment options for mesothelioma cancer patients. Have you tried any of these before? Have you found a combination of treatments that has worked for you? Let us know at http://www.asbestos.com or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themesocenter Transcript: "Did you know... That mesothelioma patients have a number of treatment options to extend their life expectancy and ease symptoms? The most common treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery has the best chance at extending survival, especially among patients with early stage cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy work best to relieve symptoms and help manage the cancer #39;s growth. When doctors combine two or more treatments, it #39;s called multimodal therapy -- which has the best history of extending survival. In one multimodal study, 45% of early stage patients survived five years or longer. Clinical trials are exploring treatments like gene therapy, immune therapy and photodynamic therapy with growing success. Also on the rise is the use of alternative therapies among mesothelioma survivors like acupuncture, dietary changes, massage and meditation to complement their traditional treatments. Even though no cure has been found yet, numerous survivor stories offer hope to newly diagnosed patients searching for treatment options. Simply knowing that mesothelioma survivors exist is inspiring, and knowing which treatments worked for them provides ...

By: TheMesoCenter

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Do You Know Your Mesothelioma Treatment Options? - Video

Biotech Showcase 2012_bluebird bio
bluebird bio is developing potentially transformative, one-time gene therapies for severe genetic diseases. bluebird bio has two clinical stage products in development for childhood cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CCALD) and beta-thalassemia/sickle cell disease, a world-class team and a broadly applicable gene therapy platform. http://www.bluebirdbio.com

By: AllianceRegenMed

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Biotech Showcase 2012_bluebird bio - Video

Sanctuary Season 4 Trailer
Stem cells, gene therapy, transplants, cloning... the very meaning of the word #39;humanity #39; changes daily in the modern world. But there is a darker side to the evolution of mankind, a truth only a few brave souls are willing to face: There are monsters loose in the world. And they are the key to the future of our race. Each one-hour episode of Sanctuary follows the adventures of the beautiful and enigmatic Dr. Helen Magnus and her team at the Sanctuary as they track down, study and try to help the strange and often terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world. Aided by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (ROBIN DUNNE), techno-whiz Henry Foss (RYAN ROBBINS), her fearless daughter Ashley (EMILIE ULLERUP) along with her butler, and dear friend Bigfoot (CHRISTOPHER HEYERDAHL), Magnus and her team use their unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting-edge science and technology to find the creatures that the world refuses to believe exist. Season two also introduces Kate Freelander (AGAM DARSHI) into the fold, a quick-talking con-artist who has more than a few tricks up her sleeve. Kate #39;s uneasy relationship to the Cabal could prove useful for Magnus in her search for Ashley, but her less-than-trustworthy track record may cause far more damage than her intel is worth. Sanctuary is helmed by Executive Producer/Creator/Writer Damian Kindler, Executive Producer/Lead Actor Amanda Tapping and Executive Producer/Director Martin Wood. In addition, for season two ...

By: TRICONFILMSANDTV

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Sanctuary Season 4 Trailer - Video

Marie McCullough, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Posted: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 9:08 PM

Two months ago, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia made international headlines for using an experimental gene therapy to save the life of a Pennsylvania girl who was dying of leukemia.

On Wednesday, the hospital made international headlines - and was denounced on Facebook as "cruel" "heartless," "greedy monsters" and worse - for appearing to tack on hundreds of thousands of dollars to the original price of treating a Croatian child, Nora Situm, 5, with the same breakthrough therapy.

The online outrage built all day before the hospital responded.

It refused to discuss the specific case because of "patient privacy," but implied in its statement that Nora's parents did not understand the difference between the hospital's charges, and what the parents may have to pay for follow-up care "either at CHOP or back in the patient's home country."

Children's "estimates the costs of treatment in advance and seeks payment at the time treatment begins," the statement said. "Additional follow-up clinical treatments are sometimes necessary and can be administered over several years..."

"CHOP does not charge for this follow-up clinical treatment at the time of initial treatment. If the child is not further treated at CHOP, CHOP will never charge for the follow-up treatment. However, CHOP does explain those potential costs to patient families at the outset so they understand the financial issues they may be facing."

Even so, Nora's parents may not understand.

Nora's mother, Dana Atanosovska Situm, held a news conference in Croatia on Wednesday to say the family had obtained visas and was leaving for Philadelphia on Thursday - a day earlier than planned because Nora is so gravely ill. (A Serbo-Croatian-speaking journalist translated the conference for The Inquirer.)

Situm also thanked support groups, celebrities, individual donors, and Croatia's capital city, Zagreb, for helping to raise $837,000 - an astronomical sum in the economically distressed Balkan country.

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CHOP cost estimate for girl’s therapy stirs online outrage

Marie McCullough, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Thursday, February 7, 2013, 5:41 AM

Two months ago, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia made international headlines for using an experimental gene therapy to save the life of a Pennsylvania girl who was dying of leukemia.

On Wednesday, the hospital made international headlines - and was denounced on Facebook as "cruel" and "heartless," as being "greedy monsters" and worse - for appearing to tack on hundreds of thousands of dollars to the original price of treating a Croatian child, Nora Situm, 5, with the same breakthrough therapy.

The online outrage built all day before the hospital responded.

It would not discuss the specific case because of patient privacy issues, but implied in its statement that Nora's parents did not understand the difference between the hospital's charges, and what the parents may have to pay for follow-up care "either at CHOP or back in the patient's home country."

Children's "estimates the costs of treatment in advance and seeks payment at the time treatment begins," the statement said. "Additional follow-up clinical treatments are sometimes necessary and can be administered over several years . . . .

"CHOP does not charge for this follow-up clinical treatment at the time of initial treatment. If the child is not further treated at CHOP, CHOP will never charge for the follow-up treatment. However, CHOP does explain those potential costs to patient families at the outset so they understand the financial issues they may be facing."

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Girl's gene-therapy estimate gives Children's Hospital a shiner

Autism after stem cell therapy
He is a known case of Autism with history of CIAB, but thereafter parents noticed delayed motor milestones in him along with delayed speech and hyperactivity. So at 2 ½ years, he was diagnosed to have Autism and put on rehabilitation program including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and speech therapy. Neurologically, he has near normal tone and reflexes. On examination, he has all sensation intact and no motor weakness. He has normal vision, hearing but bisyllable speech. He has social isolation. He has no bowel and bladder control and has bed wetting present. Functionally, he needs supervision in all ADL and wheel chair bound for mobility On FIM scores he scores 62 On ISAA he scores 130 Stem Cell Therapy done at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute Surana Sethia Hospital Sion-Trombay Rd, Suman Ngr Opp Corporate Park, Chembur, Mumbai -- 71. Tel : 022 - 25283706, 022 - 25281610, Mob : +91 9920 200 400 http://www.neurogen.in http://www.stemcellsmumbai.com

By: neurogenbsi

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Autism after stem cell therapy - Video

Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury
He is a paraplegic has history of fall from height in 1993, leading to fracture D4 and paraplegia with complete bowel bladder loss. He was managed conservatively and has been undergoing rehabilitation since then. Neurologically, he is hypertonic and hyperflexic. On examination: he has sensory loss below T4. He has grade 0 muscle power in bilateral lower extremity and near normal upper extremity. He has no bowel and bladder control and is on condom catheter. He has bilateral knee flexion contracture =10. On ASIA impairment scale he scores #39;A #39;. On investigation: MRI: 6/7/2012: Wedge compression of the D4 vertebral body with a focal area of scarring within the spinal canal involving the arachnoid and the spinal cord at D3-4 level. A large cord syrinx extending cranially upto C4vetebral level with a smaller syrinx extending caudally up to D7 vertebral level. EMG / SSEP: It is suggestive of a severe lesion affecting the posterior column conduction from both lower limbs. There is evidence of predominantly Upper motor neurone lesion affecting the lower limbs. Functionally, he needs assistance in most ADL and wheel chair bound for mobility. Stem Cell Therapy done at NeuroGen Brain and Spine Institute Surana Sethia Hospital Sion-Trombay Rd, Suman Ngr Opp Corporate Park, Chembur, Mumbai -- 71. Tel : 022 - 25283706, 022 - 25281610, Mob : +91 9920 200 400 http://www.neurogen.in http://www.stemcellsmumbai.com

By: neurogenbsi

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Stem Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury - Video

Stem Cell Therapy With Bob - Thomas Schwarzl - SBI - Runner up 2013
Tom is a science punk from the Alps doing his PhD with Systems Biology Ireland. He likes to challenge everything, discover patterns in high complex problems and making them clear for everyone to understand. Besides his scientific interest in stem cell therapy and cancer research, he likes Post Secret, street art, and is planning a start-up after his PhD.

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Stem Cell Therapy With Bob - Thomas Schwarzl - SBI - Runner up 2013 - Video

Newswise Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have identified a gene that may better predict survival for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Researcher Richard Kim, M.D., assistant member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program and colleagues from several other research institutions conducted a study that better defines the role of ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1). The RRM1 gene encodes the regulatory subunit of ribonucleotide reductase, the molecular target of gemcitabine, a commonly used chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

In the study, which appeared in the Jan. 1 issue of Cancer, the research team investigated the therapeutic predictive value of RRM1 expression for the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. They found that for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma removed by surgery, low RRM1 expression predicted an overall survival benefit with gemcitabine therapy. High RRM1 expression predicted benefit from non-gemcitabine therapy.

We previously hypothesized that low expression of RRM1 could predict the treatment success of gemcitabine, Kim said. This study was carried out to determine whether RRM1 expression correlates with better survival for patients receiving gemcitabine therapy.

The retrospective study included 122 patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma from 1999 to 2007. In the subgroup of patients who received gemcitabine therapy, those with low RRM1 expression had longer overall survival and a trend toward progression-free survival. Those patients with high RRMI expression who received non-gemcitabine therapy had significantly longer overall survival and progression-free survival.

Our findings indicate that to achieve the best survival after surgical resection, the level of RRM1 expression may be used to select which patients receive gemcitabine therapy and which do not, Kim said.

The authors noted that their findings were consistent with similar studies on the role RRM1 plays in chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, yet their conclusions should be interpreted with caution due to their small sample size and the therapeutic success of non-gemcitabine therapies after surgery.

A validation study should be carried out before the current findings can be clinically applied, Kim added.

Kim worked with researchers from Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Veridex, LLC, and Johnson & Johnson Company on this study.

About Moffitt Cancer Center Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitts excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Since 1999, Moffitt has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of Americas Best Hospitals for cancer. With more than 4,200 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on the state of nearly $2 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.

Media release by Florida Science Communications

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Gene May Help Predict Best Chemotherapy Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Microscopic Organisms - The World of Microbes.
A microorganism (from the Greek: mu; iota; kappa; rho; #972; sigmaf;, mikrós, "small" and #8000; rho; gamma; alpha; nu; iota; sigma; mu; #972; sigmaf;, organismós, "organism"; also spelled micro-organism, micro organism or microörganism) or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell (unicellular), cell clusters, or multicellular relatively complex organisms. The study of microorganisms is called microbiology, a subject that began with Anton van Leeuwenhoek #39;s discovery of microorganisms in 1675, using a microscope of his own design. Microorganisms are very diverse; they include all of the prokaryotes, namely the bacteria and archaea; and various forms of eukaryote, comprising the protozoa, fungi, algae, microscopic plants (green algae), and animals such as rotifers and planarians. Some microbiologists also classify viruses as microorganisms, but others consider these as nonliving. Most microorganisms are unicellular (single-celled), but this is not universal, since some multicellular organisms are microscopic, while some unicellular protists and bacteria, like Thiomargarita namibiensis, are macroscopic and visible to the naked eye. Microorganisms live in all parts of the biosphere where there is liquid water, including soil, hot springs, on the ocean floor, high in the atmosphere and deep inside rocks within the Earth #39;s crust. Microorganisms are critical to nutrient recycling in ecosystems as they act as decomposers. As some microorganisms can fix nitrogen, they are a vital part of the nitrogen cycle, and recent studies ...

By: shreyan chaubey

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Microscopic Organisms - The World of Microbes. - Video

Tomato paste from Iran
Remember, how long you haven #39;t eaten fresh tomatoes? Real, from the village? Still having the smell of the sun and keeping the strength of land and Mother Nature. Fragrant outside, with a playful unforgettable aroma inside. When you pick a ripe tomato, it seems that nature itself gives you its heart. So, probably, would say Omar Khayyam, if he had lived in our time in his motherland - in the picturesque north-east of Iran, near steeped in centuries Nishapur. It was there, where once lived the great sage; there are wonderful gardens and vegetable plantations in a mountain glen now. There is grown the heart of Iran, which we offer you. Environmentally clean product - the famous Iranian tomato paste, during production of which was used nothing but salt and fresh tomatoes. This taste came to us from childhood, along with the taste of dates and other dried fruit. We remember what delicious borshch our mothers and grandmothers cooked for us, adding to the main ingredients the pulp of Iranian tomatoes. Today, trying to diversify the home menu, we pamper ourselves by pizzas and fell in love with vegetable stew, mushrooms, meat, cabbage, Lagman, azu, bozbash. All this will not do without adding tomato paste. And what is our disappointment when, instead of the desired deep bright orange color and sweet flavor, we get the substance of undefined quality. That #39;s because the classical content of dry matter in the tomato paste should be from 25 to 40%. It is this percentage which ...

By: IAKazakhZerno

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Tomato paste from Iran - Video

Genetic engineering The world #39;s greatest scam ipad

By: ChexFinerFoods

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Genetic engineering The world's greatest scam ipad - Video

FAR CRY 3 (2014) Theatrical Fan Trailer
The Far Cry Experience : Exclusive Episode 4 is out and 5 as well by now. This is VERSION 2 with sound fix, this is a fan fake trailer. Far Cry 3 is an open world first-person shooter set on a tropical island unlike any other. This is a place where heavily armed warlords traffic in slaves. Where outsiders are hunted for ransom. And as you embark on desperate quest to rescue your friends, you realize that the only way to escape this darkness... is to embrace it. Far Cry 3 releases December 4th on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. For more information go to http://www.farcrygame.com. -- Story of the franchise: Far Cry is a first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek Studios and published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004, for Microsoft Windows. Far Cry sold 730000 units within four months of release.[1] It received positive reviews upon release. The original game has since spawned a series of sequels and spin-off games and a movie. The game #39;s story follows a former US Army Special Forces operative Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their boat was destroyed by mercenaries. The game includes thematic elements relating to the dangers of weaponizing genetic engineering and the genocide of local islanders as can be seen by the deformed creatures created by a mad scientist named Krieger. The terrain in Far Cry varies greatly. Set on a South Pacific archipelago, the landscape ...

By: Zelda Nintendo

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FAR CRY 3 (2014) Theatrical Fan Trailer - Video

Simple Steps to Having a Baby Girl - Baby Gender Planning
Plan to have a baby girl, here #39;s how: babygenderpicker.com Choose the gender of your baby... sound impossible? I might sound that way, especially if you are not engaging in genetic engineering. The following are several strategies you can apply that may serve to increase the odds of successful baby gender choic. You can increase the likelihood of having a baby boy or a baby girl if you follow these simple steps.

By: HaveaBabygirl

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Simple Steps to Having a Baby Girl - Baby Gender Planning - Video

By Shivani Shah

Let's talk about genetically engineered/modified (GE/GM) foods. And why the Indian Government is so adamant to have these foods commercialised in India. And why it has nothing to do with food security.

Genetic engineering is the artificial transfer of genes from one species to another plant or animal. This results in a genetically modified organism (GMO). As a result, the genetic makeup or the genetic blueprint of the organism is completely and permanently altered. The objective of modifying is to bring about a certain function for instance, in plants, producing toxic proteins to eliminate pests, developing a tolerance to agro-chemicals like herbicides, etc. In simple words it's about creating a new organism using molecular biology techniques, which will otherwise not be found in nature. So one might wonder whats wrong. Growing scientific evidence shows that GM crops are a potential threat to human health and natural biodiversity. Moreover, once released into the environment, GMOs cannot be either traced or recalled. There is also the issue of corporate control over farming by biotech seed companies.

Biotech companies such as Monsanto alter genes in a natural organism or life form like a seed and patent it. Farmers are compelled to buy their seeds and become dependent on them. Once dependent, the farmer will also have to use the associated products like herbicides as is the case with Monsanto's herbicide-tolerant crops, thus helping the company make money both from its patented seeds and trademark agro-chemicals. By controlling agriculture, companies can control food and, in fact, the whole political arena, especially in an agrarian country likes India.

In India Bt cotton is the first and only GM crop commercially cultivated. It is a patented product of Monsanto, the biggest biotech seed company in the world, also notorious for the manufacture of Agent Orange, Aspartame, and DDT among other things. It has been a decade since Bt cottons approval in India. Recent government reviews indicate that Bt cotton has neither helped increase yield nor reduce pesticide usage in cotton crops as claimed by the developers of the technology. It has in fact resulted in increasing the input costs, thereby fuelling the already existing agrarian crisis in the cotton belt of the country.

While Bt brinjal is still on hold, the industry has been trying hard to get other GM crops commercialised. GM corn is one of the 71 crops being genetically modified. It is next in the regulatory pipeline of GMOs, and could be up for commercialisation in India soon. It only seemed logical that the safety of this food product, which is going to be consumed all across India, be analysed and independently at that. This especially given that this corn is a product of Monsanto, which given its dubious history, cannot be taken at face value. Plus our regulatory system has been found wanting on many counts.

Greenpeace obtained the data on GM corn using the Right to Information Act and forwarded it to Testbiotech, an institute for independent assessment in biotechnology, for an independent analysis. In its analysis of Monsanto's corn, Testbiotech highlighted that there are many concerns about safety for human health and the environment. What was surprising was that our regulatory authorities have been permitting open release of this GM corn in the name of field trials based on the safety data generated by Monsanto in its own labs in the USA. This is a classic case of conflict of interest and what we obviously need is independent assessments. This has been pointed out innumerable times before, and reiterated in Testbiotech's report.

It also pointed out that Monsantos reports themselves were old, out-dated, and not relevant in the Indian context. The Indian government accepted tests done by Monsanto years ago on corn varieties from the US which were tested in fields in the US. The genetic makeup of corn varieties in India will certainly be different. Also, the agro-climatic conditions in the US will not be the same as here. It is impossible to know how the corn will respond in the Indian climate, on Indian soil. There are innumerable gaps in Monsantos study and it is something the Indian regulatory system needs to be extremely wary of.

This is not the first time problems of this nature have been pointed out. And this will certainly not be the last. This is because GMOs, when released into the environment, are inherently dangerous known to be damaging to the environment and to anyone who consumes it humans, animals, bees, butterflies or birds.

Yet, our government continues to bat for it spending crores of taxpayers money researching these crops by using food security as a justification. The fact of the matter is that there is no need for GM crops and the food crisis we face today is what one calls hunger in the times of plenty. Food scarcity is a result of faulty procurement policies, mismanagement of stocks, lack of adequate and proper storage, hoarding, lopsided distribution and massive leakages in the public distribution and delivery system. Today, India produces enough food for the entire population and more. In fact, we have a buffer stock of around 667 lakh tonnes, which is 2.5 times more than the government's benchmark. Where is all this food going?

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GM crops and the food security fig leaf

On the grocery store shelf they look plump, red and delicious. But the first bite can bring disappointment. Strawberries often dont taste as good as they look, but researchers hope to bring the flavor back to the berries.

The genome of the wild woodland strawberry offers scientists a gene parts list, within which they can look for the genetic underpinnings of flavor compounds produced in the berries, as well as many other things.

For decades, strawberries have been bred for traits that made them look good to consumers, grow well, and handle long shipment times. So, while certain traits, such as berry size, have increased, flavor has been neglected.

Kevin Folta, interim chairman of horticulture at the University of Florida, and colleagues are among those looking to change that.

Finding flavors

There are 21 species of strawberry, some with more complex genetics than others. The cultivated strawberry, first breed in 1765 in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Versailles, France, is among the more complex. Like both its ancestors, it carries eight copies of its genetic code. (By comparison, humans have two.)

In late 2010, researchers reported sequencing the genome of the woodland strawberry. With only two copies of genetic code, this once wild strawberry has become a lab rat for researchers who want to improve the more complex commercial berries.

Flavor is one area of interest. For instance, Foltas group is pursuing genes responsible for a molecule called methyl anthranilate, which has a grapelike flavor. Commercially cultivated strawberries dont produce this compound, while wild berries are rich in it.

To identify the genes and biochemistry responsible for this flavor compound, Folta and his colleaguesare tweaking the wild berrys genetic code, removing the suspect genes or prompting them to become unusually active, to see how production of the compound is affected. They have also attempted to move the flavor-producing trait into the commercial berries by breeding them with wild strawberries.

The results of these crosses indicate they are on to something: The berries smell wonderful, Folta said.

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Bland Strawberries Get a Genetic Tweak for Flavor

Not as simple as 'for' or 'against'

Whether you are pro or anti genetic engineering has become a divisive political issue, but remember that we are talking about technology; it shouldnt be an ideology.

Last week, BASF said it would stop seeking European regulatory approval for three genetically modified (GM) potato varieties, citing uncertainty in the regulatory environment. After a decade of research, its going elsewhere.

It was a decision welcomed by anti-GM campaigners. Jubilation exploded on various internet forums. But I think its a sad indictment of the scientific climate in Europe, when a company thats invested millions to produce potatoes that are resistant to late blight a major potato crop disease is driven out of Europe because regulators cant decide what to do about divisions in public and political opinion.

In the balance

Genetic engineering shouldnt be a political issue, no matter how much sci-fi-sensitive individuals might be reminded of the plot from The Day of the Triffids. Plants can be engineered in many ways, and their potential benefits should be balanced with an assessment of their potential detriments no matter what the technology.

Meanwhile, new GM crops are carefully considered by safety assessors around the world, including by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which, if youve been paying attention to its work on health claims, has an excellent record of telling the industry to go back to the drawing board if the science isnt solid enough.

From my perspective, the reaction from many people on internet forums underlines the need for better science education, not necessarily around genetic engineering, but in order to be better critical consumers of scientific knowledge. In other words, dont believe everything youre told.

Toxic genes

Continue reading here:
Genetic engineering: It’s a technology, not an ideology

VANCOUVER, Feb. 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Research shows the genetic make-up of a tumour can have a big impact on how a patient will respond to different treatment options.

In the most common type of lung cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), clinical trials have shown that people whose tumours exhibit the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation often respond better to certain targeted therapies, which can lead to better outcomes.

Approximately 10-20 per cent of all lung cancer cases have the EGFR gene mutation.i

Research also indicates that 45 per cent of Asians with NSCLC have the EGFR gene mutation,ii making genetic mutation testing in lung cancer even more relevant in BC where 12 per cent of the population is of East Asian descent.iii

East Asian, non-smoking women are at particular risk. One study showed 80 per cent of never-smoking Asian women with non-small cell lung cancer had EGFR gene mutations.iv

The BC Cancer Agency is at the forefront of lung cancer genetic testing. EGFR testing is a standard of care that is offered at the BC Cancer Agency for patients that fit the criteria.

Experts are gathering at the annual Canadian Lung Cancer Conference from February 7-8 in Vancouver to discuss EGFR mutation testing in lung cancer, among other issues that could improve patient outcomes.

Quotes:

Dr. Barbara Melosky, Chair of the Canadian Lung Cancer Conference, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, Medical Oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency

"Although lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer, with proper testing you can treat it quite effectively.

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Lung cancer patients can benefit from genetic testing

Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Hearing / Deafness Also Included In: Genetics Article Date: 05 Feb 2013 - 11:00 PST

Current ratings for: Tiny Genetic Patch Stops Deafness

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The animal study, which is still in its early stages, could eventually develop into new treatments for Usher syndrome, a congenital hearing disorder which usually goes hand-in-hand with blindness as well.

When the scientists injected the profoundly deaf mice with the genetic patch, they developed into partially hearing mice with no balance problems.

The authors explained that deafness is the most common sensory disorder. Approximately 1 in every 1,000 newborns is born with a hearing impairment. Congenital deafness is often the result of the improper development or degeneration of cochlear hair cells which form the tiny hairs in the ear that detect sound.

In one type of Usher syndrome - known as Type 1 Usher Syndrome - which French settlers brought to the USA hundreds of years ago, there is a problem with a protein called harmonin. Harmonin is required in order to form the cochlear hair cells. The same problem also causes gradual loss of vision.

In type 1 Usher syndrome, there is a mutation in the USH1C gene. This gene controls the production of harmonin. When USH1C has a fault (mutation), it produces truncated forms of harmonin.

They injected the mice, which had been genetically engineered to have Usher syndrome, with the genetic patch. Initially, they all grew up with no balance problems and reasonable hearing. This went on for a couple of months; their hearing was near-normal in the lower frequencies.

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Tiny Genetic Patch Stops Deafness