Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

By Chris Reidy, Globe Staff

bluebird bio, a Cambridge company that eschews capital letters, said in a Friday press release that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has approved a $9.3 million award to support the development one of bluebird bios gene therapies.

The award will support the testing of a gene therapy called LentiGlobin, said the company, which also has an office in San Francisco.

LentiGlobin is designed to treat beta-thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder that causes the body to have an inadequate amount of functional hemoglobin; in its most severe form, patients typically require life-long monthly supportive red blood cell transfusions to treat their severe anemia, according to bluebird bios website.

According to bluebird bio, LentiGlobin is a one-time transformative gene therapy for patients with beta-thalassemia.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine was established in November 2004 with the passage of Proposition 71, the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Act. The statewide ballot measure provided $3 billion in funding for stem cell research.

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bluebird bio is awarded $9.3m to support its gene therapy treatments

NEW YORK, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

RNA (miRNA, RNAi & siRNA) Therapy in Oncology Drug Pipeline Update 2012 http://www.reportlinker.com/p0933030/RNA-miRNA-RNAi--siRNA-Therapy-in-Oncology-Drug-Pipeline-Update-2012.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Drug_Discovery_and_Development

Potentially any disease-causing gene, cell type or tissue can be targeted with miRNA, RNAi or siRNA, including those not 'druggable' with small molecules or protein-based therapies. There are today 49 companies plus partners developing 70 RNA (miRNA, RNAi & siRNA) drugs in 95 developmental projects in cancer. In addition, the accumulated number of ceased drugs over the last years amount to another 25 drugs. Rna (Mirna, Rnai & Sirna) Therapy In Oncology Drug Pipeline Update lists all drugs and gives you a progress analysis on each one of them. Identified drugs are linked to 52 different targets. These targets are further categorized on in the software application by 24 classifications of molecular function and with pathway referrals to BioCarta, KEGG and NetPath.

How May Drug Pipeline Update Be of Use? * Show investors/board/management that you are right on top of drug development progress in your therapeutic area. * Find competitors, collaborations partners, M&A candidates etc. * Jump start competitive drug intelligence operations * Excellent starting point for world wide benchmarking * Compare portfolio and therapy focus with your peers * Speed up pro-active in-/out licensing strategy work * Fast and easy way of tracking drugs using search engines; just one click from inside the application and you may search the World Wide Web and PubMed for any drug.

Drug Pipeline Update is delivered to you as a downloadable application, which requires no installation on your computer. Please read more about application features and system requirements below.

Drug Pipeline Update at a Glance

Investigators Includes more than 49 principal investigators plus their collaborators. There is direct access from inside the application to web pages of all principal investigators.

Note: You are able to sort and find drugs according to investigators and partners from drop-down menus in the application. You may also sort and find drugs according to country of investigator.

Drug name & Synonyms Lists commercial, generic and code names for drugs.

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RNA (miRNA, RNAi & siRNA) Therapy in Oncology Drug Pipeline Update 2012

Connie K. Ho for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) recently revealed a new gene therapy method that can successfully prevent particular inherited diseases. The scientists worked under the colleges Oregon National Primate Research Center as well as the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at OHSU and were able to complete the procedure in human cells. With the findings of the study, the new gene therapy will provide new methods for clinical trials with human subjects in the future.

The gene therapy was originally developed as research in nonhuman primates to stop diseases associated with gene defects in the cell mitochondria.

Previous research conducted in the Mitalipov lab in 2009 using monkey egg cells proved that this procedure was possible and that healthy baby monkeys were the result. This research illustrates that the procedure is also possible in human cells and the resulting egg cells were normal and healthy upon observation, explained researcher Shoukhrat Mitalipov in a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section on the OHSU website.

The results of the study were recently featured in the online edition of the journal Nature as well as presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference in San Diego this past week.

Cell mitochondria contain genetic material just like the cell nucleus and these genes are passed from mother to infant, commented Mitalipov in a prepared statement. When certain mutations in mitochondrial DNA are present, a child can be born with severe conditions, including diabetes, deafness, eye disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, heart disease, dementia and several other neurological diseases. Because mitochondrial-based genetic diseases are passed from one generation to the next, the risk of disease is often quite clear. The goal of this research is to develop a therapy to prevent transmission of these disease-causing gene mutations.

In the study, 106 human eggs were obtained from study volunteers from OHSUs Division of Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology. The team of investigators transferred the nucleus from one cell to another with the help of a method developed during another research project with nonhuman primates. The cells cytoplasm that helps the mitochondria was swapped out and, by fertilizing the eggs, the researchers were able to observe whether the transfer was effective in helping the cells undergo normal development. The scientists then discovered that the method was successful in replacing defective mitochondria that had mutated DNA.

As described above, there are four steps to the new gene therapy. According to the Los Angeles Times, in the last step, the egg is fertilized when a sperm cell is injected into it and this process is known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The fertilized egg would develop into blastocyts, which are early-stage embryos. If the method was developed into a treatment, the blastocysts would then be re-implanted in the womb of the mother and forms into a healthy baby.

Using this process, we have shown that mutated DNA from the mitochondria can be replaced with healthy copies in human cells, noted Mitalipov in the statement. While the human cells in our study only allowed to develop to the embryonic stem cell stage, this research shows that this gene therapy method may well be a viable alternative for preventing devastating diseases passed from mother to infant.

According to the article in Nature, the method was successful when the researchers utilized frozen egg cells. A health baby monkey was born as a result of the replacement of mitochondria in a frozen/thawed monkey egg cells. The second part of the study focused on preservation through freezing. After being harvested from a donor, egg cells only stay viable for a short duration of time. Freezing allowed the donor cell and the mothers cell to be viable during the procedure. However, the process didnt work as smoothly for human eggs as it did for monkey eggs and the scientists believe that the method was effective enough to produce a minimum of two viable embryos from each treatment cycle.

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Mutated Mitochondrial DNA Can Be Replaced With Healthy Copies In Human Cells

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nuvilex, Inc. (NVLX), an international biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions, announced today a contract has been signed with ViruSure GmbH to perform the initial amplification of cells to ultimately be used in Nuvilex's treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.

ViruSure GmbH, located in Vienna, Austria, is an important biosafety company within the international biotechnology community as a result of its cell culture, virus, prion, and other infectious agents testing, growth and assessment capabilities. Dr. Robert Ryan, President and CEO of Nuvilex, recently visited the ViruSure GmbH facilities with Dr. Walter Gunzburg, Chairman of Nuvilex's subsidiary, Austrianova Singapore (ASPL). ViruSure has state-of-the-art facilities for amplification of any cells under GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) conditions. As a result of substantial planning, ViruSure will carry out the first amplification of the cells needed for the planned pancreatic cancer clinical trials designed to treat advanced, non-surgically removable pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Gunzburg commented, "We have been discussing and planning an agreement with ViruSure GmbH for some time so they can perform the initial amplification of these cells. These specially designed cells that were part of both the prior successful Phase 1/2 clinical trials are critical for our planned clinical trials in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Acquiring funding for this contract by Nuvilex represents a major and vital step in our preparations."

Nuvilex's pancreatic cancer treatment employs implantation of living cells encapsulated in a specially designed capsule, after which the patients are provided with the anticancer drug ifosfamide. The encapsulated cells are first implanted near the patient's pancreatic cancer tumor. The chemotherapeutic drug ifosfamide is given the following day into the blood stream. The implanted encapsulated live cells serve as "miniature factories" to convert ifosfamide into its active, cancer-killing, form. The present contract with ViruSure is the initial step in the process of preparing large numbers of cells for storage, ultimate encapsulation and use in the planned clinical trials.

Dr. Ryan, Head of Nuvilex, stated, "After visiting ViruSure I was satisfied with the facilities, personnel and their overall capabilities and was pleased to engage them for this important task. We feel that their expertise will provide us the best potential to perform this work successfully. Our efforts will continue to prepare the development of our pancreatic cancer treatment, clinical trials, and future direction of the Company. Funding by Nuvilex has enabled initiation of this project."

About Nuvilex

Nuvilex, Inc. (NVLX) is an international biotechnology provider of live therapeutically valuable, encapsulated cells and services for research and medicine. A great deal of work is ongoing to move Nuvilex forward, including preparations for the clinical trial and in addition to the ViruSure amplification, as we complete all other necessary activities for the Company which are moving toward completion. Our company's clinical offerings will include cancer, diabetes and other treatments using the company's cell and gene therapy expertise and live-cell encapsulation technology.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements described within the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act involving risks and uncertainties including product demand, market competition, and meeting current or future plans which may cause actual results, events, and performances, expressed or implied, to vary and/or differ from those contemplated or predicted. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Nuvilex is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, reflect events or circumstances afterward, or disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

The Nuvilex, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13494

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Nuvilex Initial Pancreatic Cancer Trial Preparations Underway

Nu Skin #39; s innovation with LifeGen Technologies
A partnership made in heaven - 30 years gene research with 27 years of compound R D - resulting in breakthrough product development. Will aging soon be optional?!From:Nu OutlookViews:259 2ratingsTime:03:53More inEducation

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Living to be 300
New gene research could allow people to expand life expectency - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tvFrom:WEZLCrewViews:9 0ratingsTime:04:22More inPeople Blogs

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Zebrafish Research at Lawrence University.mov
Lawrence University student Cameron Gmehlin #39;14 discusses gene research on zebrafish.From:LawrenceUNewsViews:183 0ratingsTime:00:47More inEducation

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WSU gene research aims for stem-free cherries
Stem-free cherries are well on their way to reaching consumers within seven to 10 years. Washington State University is working toward providing the cherry industry with this unique niche product. WSU received a $3.9 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative two years ago and is halfway through the project, said Amit Dhingra, WSU assistant professor and scientist. For more about this story, click the link news.wsu.eduFrom:washingtonstateunivViews:169 0ratingsTime:01:23More inEducation

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Half man half pig
Why gene research should be halted NOW!!!From:GlidermanukViews:46 1ratingsTime:00:18More inComedy

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Information Technology and Genetic Research: The Eighth White House Millennium Evening (1999)
thefilmarchive.org October 12, 1999 Genetics (from Ancient Greek gamma; epsilon; nu; epsilon; tau; iota; kappa; #972; sigmaf; genetikos, "genitive" and that from gamma; #941; nu; epsilon; sigma; iota; sigmaf; genesis, "origin"), a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms. Genetics deals with the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behavior in context of a cell or organism (eg dominance and epigenetics), patterns of inheritance from parent to offspring, and gene distribution, variation and change in populations,such as through Genome-Wide Association Studies. Given that genes are universal to living organisms, genetics can be applied to the study of all living systems, from viruses and bacteria, through plants and domestic animals, to humans (as in medical genetics). The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop plants and animals through selective breeding. However, the modern science of genetics, which seeks to understand the process of inheritance, only began with the work of Gregor Mendel in the mid-19th century. Although he did not know the physical basis for heredity, Mendel observed that organisms inherit traits via discrete units of inheritance, which are now called genes. Genes correspond to regions within DNA, a molecule composed of a chain of four different types of nucleotides mdash;the sequence of these nucleotides is the genetic information organisms inherit. DNA naturally occurs in a double stranded form, with nucleotides ...From:thefilmarchivedViews:3215 4ratingsTime:02:03:37More inEducation

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CF and genome research
Cystic fibrosis gene researchFrom:anandksrivastavaViews:3 0ratingsTime:03:11More inEducation

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CF and genome research - Video

Fourth Reich video Censored 68492 views blocked Worldwide
Watch The Fourth Reich on Vimeo vimeo.com mylesohowe.com Could the emerging world government be nothing more than a step towards space militarization and star wars? The 3rd Reich might have been defeated, except the same ideology continues to Thrive to this day. There is much that has been hidden and suppressed. History is written by the victors of war. Wernher von Braun was one of many nazi scientists, through project paperclip, who became an american citizen. Patterns from history are re-emerging. Will the Fourth Reich be the first Galactic Empire in history? Operation Paperclip was a massive undertaking of the American government, which had prepared a plan to sweep into Germany to find and bring all Nazi scientists, occult researchers, including medical doctors involved in gene research, mind control etc. to the United States. Thousands of Nazi war criminals were selected and secretly moved to the United States, where they were integrated into the Military Industrial Complex. Similiar operations took place, like the Vatican Rat Lines. During the dark ages, the Catholic Church not only hoarded the wealth they collected from the poor, but they hoarded knowledge. They kept the masses ignorant in the dark by denying them a basic education. The Vatican Umbrella corporation function under many different Catholic Orders so that no one can estimate their true worth, or piece together all the organized crime schemes they have implemented worldwide. The colossal wealth of the ...From:yellowecotecViews:291 2ratingsTime:00:46More inPeople Blogs

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Fourth Reich video Censored 68492 views blocked Worldwide - Video

Postface "Roll Out the Barrel"
"Roll Out the Barrel" tape by Postface from Deerfield Beach, Florida, 1994. Side Zero 00:00 two way fish food 02:32 reversed 05:15 space jacket 08:21 harvey Side Hero 10:42 dis-function 13:04 i already have 18:52 a fable 20:53 . . . from the creators of my left foot 22:46 saws Postface: Sheep Sr., Roy G. Biv, Wolfie Lovebot, Gene Research. Recorded by Bob WLOS at L7 Studio deerfield Bch May 1994. Bob also made screech and wail of dolphins on song 8. Here #39;s to Lou.From:blipworldTWOViews:43 2ratingsTime:26:00More inPeople Blogs

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Developing super soldiers
There are reports the US Defence Department is spending millions on gene research with the hopes of making super soldiers.From:SunriseOn7Views:39 1ratingsTime:02:40More inShows

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Victor Velculescu, MD, Ph.D. - Gene Research
Victor Velculescu, scientist at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, discusses his latest research findings on pancreatic and brain cancers.From:JohnsHopkinsMedicineViews:5 0ratingsTime:00:48More inScience Technology

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Victor Velculescu, MD, Ph.D. - Gene Research - Video

This article was updated at 10:15 p.m. ET

New York University Hospital has reportedly lost thousands of laboratory mice to Hurricane Sandy, a research setback that could take years to correct, according to scientists.

One of the university's three animal research facilities, the Smilow building, "was adversely impacted by the severity of the flood surge and the speed with which it came on," according to a statement released Wednesday (Oct. 31) by the NYU Langone Medical Center.

"Animal resource staff was on site continuously to mitigate the damage from the storm, but due to the speed and force of the surge, animal rescue attempts were unsuccessful," according to the statement.

The New York Daily News initially reported the loss, citing an unnamed source who also said power failure in the building took out freezers and refrigerators, likely destroying other biological research materials.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of these animals' lives and the impact this has on the many years of important work conducted by our researchers," NYU officials said in the statement. Other scientists contacted by LiveScience agreed the consequences for medical research could be far-reaching.

"It's really, really devastating," said Jacco van Rheenen, a medical physicist at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands who has worked with laboratory mice. The problem may go beyond NYU, van Rheenan told LiveScience.

"Some mice are unique, they're just made for certain research," he said. "So if [the researchers] didn't send it out to other labs, that line is just lost." [On the Ground: Hurricane Sandy in Images]

Making a lab mouse

Mice can breed several times a year, and they reach maturity quickly. But that doesn't mean that it's easy to keep a colony of lab mice going. Scientists use genetic engineering techniques to create and breed what are called transgenic mice strains where certain genes are "knocked out" or otherwise altered so researchers can pinpoint genetic variables in development and disease.

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Sandy Wiped Out NYU Lab Mice, Dealing Blow to Medical Research

Gene Research
Bangladeshi Researchers decoded the genetic sequence of a Fungus which effects Jute other crops production. This research will help to invent methods to prevent this fungus.From:Min EmundsenViews:4 1ratingsTime:02:02More inScience Technology

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Gene Research - Video

Public release date: 31-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society

The yeast used to make beer has yielded what may be the first gene for beer foam, scientists are reporting in a new study. Published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the discovery opens the door to new possibilities for improving the frothy "head" so critical to the aroma and eye appeal of the world's favorite alcoholic beverage, they say.

Toms G. Villa and colleagues explain that proteins from the barley and yeast used to make beer contribute to the quality of its foam. The foamy head consists of bubbles containing carbon dioxide gas, which yeast produces during fermentation. Proteins gather around the gas, forming the bubbles in the foam. Studies have shown that proteins from the yeast stabilize the foam, preventing the head from disappearing too soon. But until now, no one knew which yeast gene was responsible for making the foam-stabilizing protein.

The researchers identified the gene, which they call CFG1. The gene is similar to those already identified in wine and sake yeasts that also are involved in foaming. "Taken together all the results shown in the present paper make CFG1 gene a good candidate to improve the foam character in the brewing industry," they say.

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 164,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

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

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A heady discovery for beer fans: The first gene for beer foam could improve froth

Scientists in Singapore have helped identify an uncommon gene mutation which causes thick patches of skin to appear on the palms and soles of patients.

As the patients age, more of these very thick and rough skin patches appear on their hands and feet, and the patches often join to form larger lesions. In severe cases, the lesions can be painful and debilitating.

The disease, called punctate palmoplantar keratoderma (punctate PPK), is related to the more severe skin disorder suffered by Indonesian Tree Man Dede Koswara, who has areas of skin resembling tree bark.

There is no cure for punctate PPK, although some patients have been successfully treated with a drug called acitretin.

In Singapore, some forms of PPK affect about 25 families, according to records from the National Skin Centre and the Agency for Science, Technology and Researchs Institute of Medical Biology (IMB).

The research was a collaborative effort between IMB and hospitals and research centres in Britain, Japan and Tunisia. The scientists said identifying the gene mutation would lead to a better understanding of punctate PPK and to improved diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Their work was published this month in the online issue of science journal Nature Genetics.

The scientists analysed DNA samples from 18 families in Scotland, Ireland, Japan and Tunisia, some of whose members had punctate PPK. By using these samples, they found a link between the disease and a gene called AAGAB, which exists in the skin and helps control cell proliferation.

When AAGAB is reduced, more cells divide in the outer layers of the skin, causing the thick skin patches.

Dr Bruno Reversade, a senior principal investigator at IMB, said the teams discovery could help researchers understand some other diseases. For example, skin warts, a common side effect of the human papillomavirus (HPV) skin infection, produce similar lesions on hands and feet.

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Study identifies uncommon gene mutation

Public release date: 31-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Edward Brydon Ph.D. ebrydon@cshl.edu 917-476-6633 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Cancer cells grow fast. That's an essential characteristic of what makes them cancer cells. They've crashed through all the cell-cycle checkpoints and are continuously growing and dividing, far outstripping our normal cells. To do this they need to speed up their metabolism.

CSHL Professor Adrian Krainer and his team have found a way to target the cancer cell metabolic process and in the process specifically kill cancer cells.

Nearly 90 years ago the German chemist and Nobel laureate Otto Warburg proposed that cancer's prime cause was a change in cell metabolism i.e., in cells' production and consumption of energy. In particular cancer cells have a stubborn propensity to eschew using glucose as a source to generate energy. This is known as the Warburg Effect.

While metabolic changes are an important feature in the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells they are not now thought to be cancer's primary cause. Despite this, metabolic changes remain an attractive target for cancer therapy, as Krainer and colleagues show in a paper published online today in Open Biology, the open-access journal of Great Britain's Royal Society.

One difference between metabolism in cancer and normal cells is the switch in cancer to the production of a different version, or isoform, of a protein produced from the pyruvate kinase-M (PK-M) gene. The protein version produced in normal cells is known as PK-M1, while the one produced by cancer cells is known as PK-M2.

PK-M2 is highly expressed in a broad range of cancer cells. It enables the cancer cell to consume far more glucose than normal, while using little of it for energy. Instead, the rest is used to make more material with which to build more cancer cells.

PK-M1 and PK-M2 are produced in a mutually exclusive manner -- one-at-a-time, from the same gene, by a mechanism known as alternative splicing. When a gene's DNA is being copied into the messenger molecule known as mRNA, the intermediate template for making proteins, a cellular machine called the spliceosome cuts and pastes different pieces out of and into that mRNA molecule.

The non-essential parts that are edited out are known as introns, while the final protein-coding mRNA consists of a string of parts pasted together known as exons. The bit that fits into the PK-M1 gene-coding sequence is known as exon 9, while it is replaced in PK-M2 by exon 10. In this way alternative splicing provides the cell with the ability to make multiple proteins from a single gene.

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Team uses antisense technology that exploits gene splicing mechanism to kill cancer cells

Research from a leading New York infertility center suggests that the FMR1 gene influences the age at which a woman reaches menarche.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 22, 2012

The study, conducted by researchers from the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR), a leading fertility center in New York City, and the Medical University of Vienna in Austria, compared the age of menarche (start of menstruation) and the number of CGG tri-nucleotide repeats on the FMR1 gene. Among the 222 women studied, a significant relationship was identified between the age of menarche and CGG counts. Specifically, women with at least one FMR1 allele with CGG counts higher than 34 were more likely to reach menarche after age 13 compared to women with CGG counts on both FMR1 alleles below 34.

The FMR1 gene has long been associated with neuro-psychiatric conditions, but only in recent years it has been shown to have controlling effects on womens ovarian function. While for neuro-psychiatric risks, the FMR1 gene is considered normal up to CGG repeats of 55, the CHR investigators defined CGG counts between 26 and 34 as normal (norm) in regards to ovarian function, with CGG counts higher than 34 being defined as high and those lower than 26 as low. In a number of prior publications, the same group demonstrated genotypes and sub-genotypes of the FMR1 gene to be statistically associated with different ovarian aging patterns and IVF pregnancy rates.

This study revealed that women with at least one high FMR1 allele tend to start their reproductive life later than women with low or norm alleles, explains Norbert Gleicher, MD, Medical Director and Chief Scientists of CHR. The finding further strengthens our hypothesis that the FMR1 gene has a significant influence on how a womans ovaries reach maturity, and then decline with age, defining her reproductive life cycle over her lifetime.

Further studies are needed to better define how to predict a womans reproductive potential as she moves through life, based on FMR1 genotypes and sub-genotypes. Currently, prediction of female reproductive potential is difficult, and often impossible. Utilization of FMR1 genotypes and sub-genotypes may potentially open up new opportunities.

About Center for Human Reproduction

The Center for Human Reproduction (CHR, http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/), located in New York City, is one of the worlds leading fertility centers. Because of its worldwide reputation as "fertility center of last resort, CHR has a worldwide patient following among women with DOR, whether due to advanced age, or due to premature ovarian aging (POA). Dr. Gleicher is available for further comments.

Communications Manager Center for Human Reproduction (212) 994-4400 Email Information

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FMR1 Gene May Control Women’s Fertility Life Cycle, According to Research from Center for Human Reproduction

Latest Prevention & Wellness News

TUESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share a common genetic risk factor, and childhood ADHD may increase the likelihood of smoking later in life, a new study suggests.

People with ADHD are more likely to start smoking early and to smoke twice as much as those without ADHD, the researchers noted.

For the new study, the investigators took blood samples from more than 450 children with ADHD, aged 6 to 12, and their siblings and parents. The samples were tested for five genetic variations strongly associated with different aspects of smoking, such as the number of cigarettes smoked every day, and taking up and quitting smoking. The researchers also asked the mothers about their smoking habits during pregnancy.

A genetic variant associated with the number of cigarettes smoked by mothers during pregnancy was more likely than other variants to be associated with ADHD. It was also more likely to be passed on from parents to children and to be associated with more severe ADHD.

This variant was as likely to be found in children whose mothers smoked as it was in those whose mother's did not smoke during pregnancy, which suggests that exposure to tobacco smoke in the womb is not a factor.

The findings suggest that this genetic variant may increase the risk of both ADHD and smoking by prompting behaviors and impaired higher brain function that are typical of childhood ADHD, and which could lead to smoking later in life, concluded Dr. Ridha Joober, of the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal, and colleagues.

The study was published online Oct. 29 in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Although these are intriguing findings, further research is needed to determine whether there are actually shared genetic risks for smoking and ADHD, Miriam Cooper and Anita Thapar, of Cardiff University School of Medicine in Wales, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

Such research could lead to a better understanding about developmental and psychiatric disorders in children, the editorialists added in a journal news release.

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Gene May Be Tied to Both Smoking and ADHD, Study Suggests

SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 31, 2012) - NVIDIA Tesla GPU accelerators are enabling Life Technologies Corporation's new Ion Proton System to accelerate primary genome-sequence analysis -- the computation that generates DNA base pairs -- by over 16 times. This will dramatically reduce the cost to sequence an entire human genome from about $1 billion a decade ago to $1,000 in the near future.

"GPU acceleration and other advanced Ion Proton features enable every laboratory in the world to take advantage of human genome sequencing quickly and easily, without costly IT investments," said Alan Williams, vice president of software and engineering in the Ion Torrent unit at Life Technologies Corporation. "By democratizing genome sequencing, we expect to see an unprecedented wave of innovation in life sciences and the advancement of clinical research."

The Ion Proton System's technology builds on the rapid advances in increasing throughput, accuracy and read-length achieved with the Life Technologies Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) Sequencer, which also uses GPUs to accelerate primary analysis. The Ion PGM sequencer was the first to decode the deadly 2011 E. coli bacteria outbreak in Germany because of its exceptional speed.

Setting new standards for performance, ease of use and affordability, the Ion Proton System enables researchers to rapidly go from multiplex sample sequencing to genome-scale sequencing on a single platform. At one-fifth the cost of light-based genome-scale sequencing systems, it can save researchers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"GPU acceleration has become pervasive in all aspects of computing for life science applications and will enable research to push the envelope of scientific discovery," said Sumit Gupta, general manager of the Tesla accelerated computing business unit at NVIDIA. "The pace of research has fundamentally been accelerated by the use of GPUs for everything from gene sequencers and sequence analysis to molecular modeling and diagnostic imaging."

About NVIDIA Tesla GPUs NVIDIA Tesla GPUs are massively parallel accelerators based on the NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing platform and programming model. Tesla GPUs are designed from the ground up for power-efficient, high performance computing, computational science, and supercomputing, delivering dramatically higher application acceleration for a range of scientific and commercial applications than a CPU-only approach.

More information about NVIDIA Tesla GPUs is available at the Tesla website. To learn more about CUDA or download the latest version, visit the CUDA website. More NVIDIA news, company and product information, videos, images and other information is available at the NVIDIA newsroom. Follow us on Twitter at @NVIDIATesla.

About NVIDIA NVIDIA ( NASDAQ : NVDA ) awakened the world to computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Today, its processors power a broad range of products from smartphones to supercomputers. NVIDIA's mobile processors are used in cell phones, tablets and auto infotainment systems. PC gamers rely on GPUs to enjoy spectacularly immersive worlds. Professionals use them to create 3D graphics and visual effects in movies and to design everything from golf clubs to jumbo jets. And researchers utilize GPUs to advance the frontiers of science with high performance computing. The company has more than 5,000 patents issued, allowed or filed, including ones covering ideas essential to modern computing. For more information, see http://www.nvidia.com.

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New Gene Sequencer to Break $1,000 Cost Barrier With NVIDIA Tesla GPU Acceleration

Posted on October 20, 2012, Saturday

ADELAIDE: Young University of Adelaide researcher Natasha McInnes is working on a gene that fights breast cancer and helps keep cells healthy.

She has worked out how the gene can be turned off. Now she has to find a way to turn it back on, the Herald Sun reported.

The research promises to restore the breast cancer cells, turn them back into healthy cells or cause them to die (before they multiply and spread).

While the prospect of a new type of treatment still is a fair while down the track, McInnes said the results to date were quite exciting.

A lot of the drugs that are currently available do target the bad genes, so they basically switch things off, whereas this would be the other way around where were trying to switch a gene on, she said.

The gene, FOXP3, is found in normal breast cells, but is less active, mutated or lost in breast cancer cells.

McInnes uncovered how the good gene FOXP3 regulates a bad gene, called SATB1, which promotes metastasis the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body.

Its very interesting to look at what is actually controlling those genes and what happens when a normal cell turns into a breast cancer cell, because obviously those good genes are getting switched off, she said.

If we can track whats happening in those early stages, it really gives us a better understanding of why breast cancer develops.

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Gene research may help fight breast cancer

Coast to Coast AM - Sept 12 2012 - GMO Health Dangers C2CAM
Date: 09-12-12 Host: George Noory Guests: Jeffrey M. Smith, Robert Shapiro Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, and the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of genetically modified foods, Jeffrey Smith discussed evidence that GMO foods are contributing to health problems in those who consume them. Crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton, and sugar beets are now primarily genetically modified, and a lot of the corn and soybean in particular goes into animal feed. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine reviewed studies of lab animals being fed GM foods and reported that the diet was causing problems with their immune, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems, contributing to organ damage, and they were aging faster, Smith reported. "We see similar categories improving in pets and livestock when they get off GMOs," but for humans that are increasingly eating such foods, these kinds of problems are on the rise, he noted. The big player in the GMO industry is Monsanto. They embarked on the process in 2000, when their popular weedkiller Round Up was going off patent, so they developed patented seeds that would only work with Round Up, Smith explained. Among the symptoms associated with GMO consumption are fatigue, allergies, weight problems, infertility, stomach issues, and migraines, he noted, adding that doctors who #39;ve prescribed non-GMO foods to their patients say that GMOs cause inflammation and increase allergic responses. One doctor in ...From:C2CPlanetViews:45 0ratingsTime:02:30:01More inEducation

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Coast to Coast AM - Sept 12 2012 - GMO Health Dangers C2CAM - Video