Genetics,chromosomeCreated and produced by QA International. QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.qa-international.comstudy of heredity in general and of genes in particular. Genetics forms one of the central pillars of biology and overlaps with many other areas such as agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.

Since the dawn of civilization, humankind has recognized the influence of heredity and has applied its principles to the improvement of cultivated crops and domestic animals. A Babylonian tablet more than 6,000 years old, for example, shows pedigrees of horses and indicates possible inherited characteristics. Other old carvings show cross-pollination of date palm trees. Most of the mechanisms of heredity, however, remained a mystery until the 19th century, when genetics as a systematic science began.

Crick, Francis Harry Compton: proposed DNA structureEncyclopdia Britannica, Inc.Genetics arose out of the identification of genes, the fundamental units responsible for heredity. Genetics may be defined as the study of genes at all levels, including the ways in which they act in the cell and the ways in which they are transmitted from parents to offspring. Modern genetics focuses on the chemical substance that genes are made of, called deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, and the ways in which it affects the chemical reactions that constitute the living processes within the cell. Gene action depends on interaction with the environment. Green plants, for example, have genes containing the information necessary to synthesize the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll that gives them their green colour. Chlorophyll is synthesized in an environment containing light because the gene for chlorophyll is expressed only when it interacts with light. If a plant is placed in a dark environment, chlorophyll synthesis stops because the gene is no longer expressed.

Genetics as a scientific discipline stemmed from the work of Gregor Mendel in the middle of the 19th century. Mendel suspected that traits were inherited as discrete units, and, although he knew nothing of the physical or chemical nature of genes at the time, his units became the basis for the development of the present understanding of heredity. All present research in genetics can be traced back to Mendels discovery of the laws governing the inheritance of traits. The word genetics was introduced in 1905 by English biologist William Bateson, who was one of the discoverers of Mendels work and who became a champion of Mendels principles of inheritance.

Although scientific evidence for patterns of genetic inheritance did not appear until Mendels work, history shows that humankind must have been interested in heredity long before the dawn of civilization. Curiosity must first have been based on human family resemblances, such as similarity in body structure, voice, gait, and gestures. Such notions were instrumental in the establishment of family and royal dynasties. Early nomadic tribes were interested in the qualities of the animals that they herded and domesticated and, undoubtedly, bred selectively. The first human settlements that practiced farming appear to have selected crop plants with favourable qualities. Ancient tomb paintings show racehorse breeding pedigrees containing clear depictions of the inheritance of several distinct physical traits in the horses. Despite this interest, the first recorded speculations on heredity did not exist until the time of the ancient Greeks; some aspects of their ideas are still considered relevant today.

Hippocrates (c. 460c. 375 bce), known as the father of medicine, believed in the inheritance of acquired characteristics, and, to account for this, he devised the hypothesis known as pangenesis. He postulated that all organs of the body of a parent gave off invisible seeds, which were like miniaturized building components and were transmitted during sexual intercourse, reassembling themselves in the mothers womb to form a baby.

Aristotle (384322 bce) emphasized the importance of blood in heredity. He thought that the blood supplied generative material for building all parts of the adult body, and he reasoned that blood was the basis for passing on this generative power to the next generation. In fact, he believed that the males semen was purified blood and that a womans menstrual blood was her equivalent of semen. These male and female contributions united in the womb to produce a baby. The blood contained some type of hereditary essences, but he believed that the baby would develop under the influence of these essences, rather than being built from the essences themselves.

Aristotles ideas about the role of blood in procreation were probably the origin of the still prevalent notion that somehow the blood is involved in heredity. Today people still speak of certain traits as being in the blood and of blood lines and blood ties. The Greek model of inheritance, in which a teeming multitude of substances was invoked, differed from that of the Mendelian model. Mendels idea was that distinct differences between individuals are determined by differences in single yet powerful hereditary factors. These single hereditary factors were identified as genes. Copies of genes are transmitted through sperm and egg and guide the development of the offspring. Genes are also responsible for reproducing the distinct features of both parents that are visible in their children.

In the two millennia between the lives of Aristotle and Mendel, few new ideas were recorded on the nature of heredity. In the 17th and 18th centuries the idea of preformation was introduced. Scientists using the newly developed microscopes imagined that they could see miniature replicas of human beings inside sperm heads. French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck invoked the idea of the inheritance of acquired characters, not as an explanation for heredity but as a model for evolution. He lived at a time when the fixity of species was taken for granted, yet he maintained that this fixity was only found in a constant environment. He enunciated the law of use and disuse, which states that when certain organs become specially developed as a result of some environmental need, then that state of development is hereditary and can be passed on to progeny. He believed that in this way, over many generations, giraffes could arise from deerlike animals that had to keep stretching their necks to reach high leaves on trees.

British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace originally postulated the theory of evolution by natural selection. However, Charles Darwins observations during his circumnavigation of the globe aboard the HMS Beagle (183136) provided evidence for natural selection and his suggestion that humans and animals shared a common ancestry. Many scientists at the time believed in a hereditary mechanism that was a version of the ancient Greek idea of pangenesis, and Darwins ideas did not appear to fit with the theory of heredity that sprang from the experiments of Mendel.

Before Gregor Mendel, theories for a hereditary mechanism were based largely on logic and speculation, not on experimentation. In his monastery garden, Mendel carried out a large number of cross-pollination experiments between variants of the garden pea, which he obtained as pure-breeding lines. He crossed peas with yellow seeds to those with green seeds and observed that the progeny seeds (the first generation, F1) were all yellow. When the F1 individuals were self-pollinated or crossed among themselves, their progeny (F2) showed a ratio of 3:1 (3/4 yellow and 1/4 green). He deduced that, since the F2 generation contained some green individuals, the determinants of greenness must have been present in the F1 generation, although they were not expressed because yellow is dominant over green. From the precise mathematical 3:1 ratio (of which he found several other examples), he deduced not only the existence of discrete hereditary units (genes) but also that the units were present in pairs in the pea plant and that the pairs separated during gamete formation. Hence, the two original lines of pea plants were proposed to be YY (yellow) and yy (green). The gametes from these were Y and y, thereby producing an F1 generation of Yy that were yellow in colour because of the dominance of Y. In the F1 generation, half the gametes were Y and the other half were y, making the F2 generation produced from random mating 1/4 Yy, 1/2 YY, and 1/4 yy, thus explaining the 3:1 ratio. The forms of the pea colour genes, Y and y, are called alleles.

Mendel also analyzed pure lines that differed in pairs of characters, such as seed colour (yellow versus green) and seed shape (round versus wrinkled). The cross of yellow round seeds with green wrinkled seeds resulted in an F1 generation that were all yellow and round, revealing the dominance of the yellow and round traits. However, the F2 generation produced by self-pollination of F1 plants showed a ratio of 9:3:3:1 (9/16 yellow round, 3/16 yellow wrinkled, 3/16 green round, and 1/16 green wrinkled; note that a 9:3:3:1 ratio is simply two 3:1 ratios combined). From this result and others like it, he deduced the independent assortment of separate gene pairs at gamete formation.

Mendels success can be attributed in part to his classic experimental approach. He chose his experimental organism well and performed many controlled experiments to collect data. From his results, he developed brilliant explanatory hypotheses and went on to test these hypotheses experimentally. Mendels methodology established a prototype for genetics that is still used today for gene discovery and understanding the genetic properties of inheritance.

Mendels genes were only hypothetical entities, factors that could be inferred to exist in order to explain his results. The 20th century saw tremendous strides in the development of the understanding of the nature of genes and how they function. Mendels publications lay unmentioned in the research literature until 1900, when the same conclusions were reached by several other investigators. Then there followed hundreds of papers showing Mendelian inheritance in a wide array of plants and animals, including humans. It seemed that Mendels ideas were of general validity. Many biologists noted that the inheritance of genes closely paralleled the inheritance of chromosomes during nuclear divisions, called meiosis, that occur in the cell divisions just prior to gamete formation.

heredity: sex-linked inheritance in Drosophila fliesEncyclopdia Britannica, Inc.It seemed that genes were parts of chromosomes. In 1910 this idea was strengthened through the demonstration of parallel inheritance of certain Drosophila (a type of fruit fly) genes on sex-determining chromosomes by American zoologist and geneticist Thomas Hunt Morgan. Morgan and one of his students, Alfred Henry Sturtevant, showed not only that certain genes seemed to be linked on the same chromosome but that the distance between genes on the same chromosome could be calculated by measuring the frequency at which new chromosomal combinations arose (these were proposed to be caused by chromosomal breakage and reunion, also known as crossing over). In 1916 another student of Morgans, Calvin Bridges, used fruit flies with an extra chromosome to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the only way to explain the abnormal inheritance of certain genes was if they were part of the extra chromosome. American geneticist Hermann Joseph Mller showed that new alleles (called mutations) could be produced at high frequencies by treating cells with X-rays, the first demonstration of an environmental mutagenic agent (mutations can also arise spontaneously). In 1931 American botanist Harriet Creighton and American scientist Barbara McClintock demonstrated that new allelic combinations of linked genes were correlated with physically exchanged chromosome parts.

In 1908 British physician Archibald Garrod proposed the important idea that the human disease alkaptonuria, and certain other hereditary diseases, were caused by inborn errors of metabolism, suggesting for the first time that linked genes had molecular action at the cell level. Molecular genetics did not begin in earnest until 1941 when American geneticist George Beadle and American biochemist Edward Tatum showed that the genes they were studying in the fungus Neurospora crassa acted by coding for catalytic proteins called enzymes. Subsequent studies in other organisms extended this idea to show that genes generally code for proteins. Soon afterward, American bacteriologist Oswald Avery, Canadian American geneticist Colin M. MacLeod, and American biologist Maclyn McCarty showed that bacterial genes are made of DNA, a finding that was later extended to all organisms.

DNAEncyclopdia Britannica, Inc.A major landmark was attained in 1953 when American geneticist and biophysicist James D. Watson and British biophysicists Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins devised a double helix model for DNA structure. This model showed that DNA was capable of self-replication by separating its complementary strands and using them as templates for the synthesis of new DNA molecules. Each of the intertwined strands of DNA was proposed to be a chain of chemical groups called nucleotides, of which there were known to be four types. Because proteins are strings of amino acids, it was proposed that a specific nucleotide sequence of DNA could contain a code for an amino acid sequence and hence protein structure. In 1955 American molecular biologist Seymour Benzer, extending earlier studies in Drosophila, showed that the mutant sites within a gene could be mapped in relation to each other. His linear map indicated that the gene itself is a linear structure.

In 1958 the strand-separation method for DNA replication (called the semiconservative method) was demonstrated experimentally for the first time by American molecular biologist Matthew Meselson and American geneticist Franklin W. Stahl. In 1961 Crick and South African biologist Sydney Brenner showed that the genetic code must be read in triplets of nucleotides, called codons. American geneticist Charles Yanofsky showed that the positions of mutant sites within a gene matched perfectly the positions of altered amino acids in the amino acid sequence of the corresponding protein. In 1966 the complete genetic code of all 64 possible triplet coding units (codons), and the specific amino acids they code for, was deduced by American biochemists Marshall Nirenberg and Har Gobind Khorana. Subsequent studies in many organisms showed that the double helical structure of DNA, the mode of its replication, and the genetic code are the same in virtually all organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. In 1961 French biologist Franois Jacob and French biochemist Jacques Monod established the prototypical model for gene regulation by showing that bacterial genes can be turned on (initiating transcription into RNA and protein synthesis) and off through the binding action of regulatory proteins to a region just upstream of the coding region of the gene.

Technical advances have played an important role in the advance of genetic understanding. In 1970 American microbiologists Daniel Nathans and Hamilton Othanel Smith discovered a specialized class of enzymes (called restriction enzymes) that cut DNA at specific nucleotide target sequences. That discovery allowed American biochemist Paul Berg in 1972 to make the first artificial recombinant DNA molecule by isolating DNA molecules from different sources, cutting them, and joining them together in a test tube. These advances allowed individual genes to be cloned (amplified to a high copy number) by splicing them into self-replicating DNA molecules, such as plasmids (extragenomic circular DNA elements) or viruses, and inserting these into living bacterial cells. From these methodologies arose the field of recombinant DNA technology that presently dominates molecular genetics. In 1977 two different methods were invented for determining the nucleotide sequence of DNA: one by American molecular biologists Allan Maxam and Walter Gilbert and the other by English biochemist Fred Sanger. Such technologies made it possible to examine the structure of genes directly by nucleotide sequencing, resulting in the confirmation of many of the inferences about genes originally made indirectly.

DNA fingerprinting: polymerase chain reactionEncyclopdia Britannica, Inc.In the 1970s Canadian biochemist Michael Smith revolutionized the art of redesigning genes by devising a method for inducing specifically tailored mutations at defined sites within a gene, creating a technique known as site-directed mutagenesis. In 1983 American biochemist Kary B. Mullis invented the polymerase chain reaction, a method for rapidly detecting and amplifying a specific DNA sequence without cloning it. In the last decade of the 20th century, progress in recombinant DNA technology and in the development of automated sequencing machines led to the elucidation of complete DNA sequences of several viruses, bacteria, plants, and animals. In 2001 the complete sequence of human DNA, approximately three billion nucleotide pairs, was made public.

A time line of important milestones in the history of genetics is provided in the table.

Time line of important milestones in the history of genetics

Classical genetics, which remains the foundation for all other areas in genetics, is concerned primarily with the method by which genetic traitsclassified as dominant (always expressed), recessive (subordinate to a dominant trait), intermediate (partially expressed), or polygenic (due to multiple genes)are transmitted in plants and animals. These traits may be sex-linked (resulting from the action of a gene on the sex, or X, chromosome) or autosomal (resulting from the action of a gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome). Classical genetics began with Mendels study of inheritance in garden peas and continues with studies of inheritance in many different plants and animals. Today a prime reason for performing classical genetics is for gene discoverythe finding and assembling of a set of genes that affects a biological property of interest.

Cytogenetics, the microscopic study of chromosomes, blends the skills of cytologists, who study the structure and activities of cells, with those of geneticists, who study genes. Cytologists discovered chromosomes and the way in which they duplicate and separate during cell division at about the same time that geneticists began to understand the behaviour of genes at the cellular level. The close correlation between the two disciplines led to their combination.

Plant cytogenetics early became an important subdivision of cytogenetics because, as a general rule, plant chromosomes are larger than those of animals. Animal cytogenetics became important after the development of the so-called squash technique, in which entire cells are pressed flat on a piece of glass and observed through a microscope; the human chromosomes were numbered using this technique.

Today there are multiple ways to attach molecular labels to specific genes and chromosomes, as well as to specific RNAs and proteins, that make these molecules easily discernible from other components of cells, thereby greatly facilitating cytogenetics research.

Microorganisms were generally ignored by the early geneticists because they are small in size and were thought to lack variable traits and the sexual reproduction necessary for a mixing of genes from different organisms. After it was discovered that microorganisms have many different physical and physiological characteristics that are amenable to study, they became objects of great interest to geneticists because of their small size and the fact that they reproduce much more rapidly than larger organisms. Bacteria became important model organisms in genetic analysis, and many discoveries of general interest in genetics arose from their study. Bacterial genetics is the centre of cloning technology.

Viral genetics is another key part of microbial genetics. The genetics of viruses that attack bacteria were the first to be elucidated. Since then, studies and findings of viral genetics have been applied to viruses pathogenic on plants and animals, including humans. Viruses are also used as vectors (agents that carry and introduce modified genetic material into an organism) in DNA technology.

Molecular genetics is the study of the molecular structure of DNA, its cellular activities (including its replication), and its influence in determining the overall makeup of an organism. Molecular genetics relies heavily on genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology), which can be used to modify organisms by adding foreign DNA, thereby forming transgenic organisms. Since the early 1980s, these techniques have been used extensively in basic biological research and are also fundamental to the biotechnology industry, which is devoted to the manufacture of agricultural and medical products. Transgenesis forms the basis of gene therapy, the attempt to cure genetic disease by addition of normally functioning genes from exogenous sources.

The development of the technology to sequence the DNA of whole genomes on a routine basis has given rise to the discipline of genomics, which dominates genetics research today. Genomics is the study of the structure, function, and evolutionary comparison of whole genomes. Genomics has made it possible to study gene function at a broader level, revealing sets of genes that interact to impinge on some biological property of interest to the researcher. Bioinformatics is the computer-based discipline that deals with the analysis of such large sets of biological information, especially as it applies to genomic information.

The study of genes in populations of animals, plants, and microbes provides information on past migrations, evolutionary relationships and extents of mixing among different varieties and species, and methods of adaptation to the environment. Statistical methods are used to analyze gene distributions and chromosomal variations in populations.

Population genetics is based on the mathematics of the frequencies of alleles and of genetic types in populations. For example, the Hardy-Weinberg formula, p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, predicts the frequency of individuals with the respective homozygous dominant (AA), heterozygous (Aa), and homozygous recessive (aa) genotypes in a randomly mating population. Selection, mutation, and random changes can be incorporated into such mathematical models to explain and predict the course of evolutionary change at the population level. These methods can be used on alleles of known phenotypic effect, such as the recessive allele for albinism, or on DNA segments of any type of known or unknown function.

Human population geneticists have traced the origins and migration and invasion routes of modern humans, Homo sapiens. DNA comparisons between the present peoples on the planet have pointed to an African origin of Homo sapiens. Tracing specific forms of genes has allowed geneticists to deduce probable migration routes out of Africa to the areas colonized today. Similar studies show to what degree present populations have been mixed by recent patterns of travel.

Another aspect of genetics is the study of the influence of heredity on behaviour. Many aspects of animal behaviour are genetically determined and can therefore be treated as similar to other biological properties. This is the subject material of behaviour genetics, whose goal is to determine which genes control various aspects of behaviour in animals. Human behaviour is difficult to analyze because of the powerful effects of environmental factors, such as culture. Few cases of genetic determination of complex human behaviour are known. Genomics studies provide a useful way to explore the genetic factors involved in complex human traits such as behaviour.

Some geneticists specialize in the hereditary processes of human genetics. Most of the emphasis is on understanding and treating genetic disease and genetically influenced ill health, areas collectively known as medical genetics. One broad area of activity is laboratory research dealing with the mechanisms of human gene function and malfunction and investigating pharmaceutical and other types of treatments. Since there is a high degree of evolutionary conservation between organisms, research on model organismssuch as bacteria, fungi, and fruit flies (Drosophila)which are easier to study, often provides important insights into human gene function.

Many single-gene diseases, caused by mutant alleles of a single gene, have been discovered. Two well-characterized single-gene diseases include phenylketonuria (PKU) and Tay-Sachs disease. Other diseases, such as heart disease, schizophrenia, and depression, are thought to have more complex heredity components that involve a number of different genes. These diseases are the focus of a great deal of research that is being carried out today.

Another broad area of activity is clinical genetics, which centres on advising parents of the likelihood of their children being affected by genetic disease caused by mutant genes and abnormal chromosome structure and number. Such genetic counseling is based on examining individual and family medical records and on diagnostic procedures that can detect unexpressed, abnormal forms of genes. Counseling is carried out by physicians with a particular interest in this area or by specially trained nonphysicians.

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Scientists have discovered a new type of stem cell in the skin that acts surprisingly like certain stem cells found in embryos: both can generate fat, bone, cartilage, and even nerve cells. These newly-described dermal stem cells may one day prove useful for treating neurological disorders and persistent wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, says Freda Miller, an HHMI international research scholar.

Miller and her colleagues first saw the cells several years ago in both rodents and people, but only now confirmed that the cells are stem cells. Like other stem cells, these cell scan self-renew and, under the right conditions, they can grow into the cell types that constitute the skins dermal layer, which lies under the surface epidermal layer. We showed that these cells are, in fact, the real thing, says Miller, a professor at the University of Toronto and a senior scientist in the department of developmental biology at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The dermal stem cells also appear tohelp form the basis for hair growth.The new work was published December 4, 2009, in the journal Cell Stem Cells.

Stem cell researchers like to talk about building organs in a dish. You can imagine, if you have all the right playersdermal stem cells and epidermal stem cellsworking together, you could do that with skin in a very real way.

Freda D. Miller

Though this research focuses on the skin, Miller has spent her career searching for cures for neurological diseases such as Parkinsons. About a decade ago, she decided to find an easily accessible cell that could be coaxed into making nerves. Brain stem cells, some of which can grow into nerves, lie deep in the middle of the organ and are too difficult to reach if the scientists eventually wanted to cultivate the cells from individual patients. I thought, This is blue sky stuff, but you never know. She searched the literature and found that amphibians can regenerate nerves in their skin. She also found published hints that mammalian nerve cells could do the same.

Her team looked in the dermal layer of the skin in both mice and people. Hair follicles and sweat glands are rooted in the dermis, a thick layer of cells that also help support and nourish blood vessels and touch-perceiving nerves. In 2001, Millers team hit paydirt when they discovered cells that respond to the same growth factors that make brain stem cells differentiate. She named them skin-derived precursors (SKPs, or skips).

Miller soon discovered that the cells act like neural crest cells from embryosstem cells that generate the entire peripheral nervous system and part of the headin that they could turn into nerves, fat, bone, and cartilage.That gave us the idea that these were some kind of embryonic-like precursor cell that migrated into the skin of the embryo, Miller said. But instead of disappearing as the embryo develops, the cells survive into adulthood.

Even though the SKPs acted like stem cells in Petri dishes, Miller didnt know if they behaved the same way in the body. We were obviously very excited about these cells, she said. The problem was, cells can do all kinds of weird things in culture dishes that look right but really arent. We thought, Maybe were being deceived.So lab member Jeffrey Biernaskie put the cells through their paces, performing a series of experiments to test whether the SKPs indeed acted like stem cells in the body.

Earlier work in the lab had shown that the SKPs produce a transcription factor called SOX2, which is produced in many types of stem cells. The team used genetically engineered mice with SOX2 genes tagged with green fluorescent protein, which allowed them to track where SOX2 was expressed in the animals. They found that about 1% of skin cells from adult mice contained the SOX2-making cells, and they were concentrated in the bulb at the base of hair follicles.When the team cultured these cells, they began behaving like SKPs.

Next, the scientists decided to see if the cells would not just settle at the base of hair follicles but grow new hair. They took the fluorescent cells, mixed them with epidermal cellswhich make up the majority of cells in a hair follicleand transplanted the mixture under the skin of hairless mice. These mice began growing hair, and analysis showed the green cells migrated to their home base in the bulb of the new hair follicles. The team also transplanted rat SKP cells under the skin of mice. The cells behaved exactly like dermal stem cellsthey spread out through the dermis and differentiated into various dermal cell types, including fat cells and dermal fibroblasts, which form the structural framework of the dermal layer. Intriguingly, the mice that carried transplanted rat SKPs also grew longer, thicker,rat-like hair, instead of short, thin mouse hair. These cells are instructive, they tell the epidermal cellswhich form the bulk of the hair follicleto make bigger, rat-like hair follicles, Miller said. There are a lot of jokes in my lab about bald men running around with rat hair on their heads.

Finally, the team gave mice small puncture wounds and then transplanted their fluorescent SKPs next to the wound. Within a month, many transplanted cells appeared in the scar, showing they had contributed to wound healing. The SKPs were also found in new hair follicles in the healed skin.

The cells behavior both in wound healing and hair growth led the team to conclude that the SKPs are, in fact, dermal stem cells. Miller said the finding complements work by HHMI investigator Elaine Fuchs, who found epidermal stem cells, which help renew the top layer of skin. Combining the evidence from the two labs suggests a possible path to baldness treatments, Miller saidthe dermal stem cells at the base of the hair follicle seem to be signaling the epidermal cells that form the shaft of the follicle to grow hair. But much about the signaling mechanism remains unknown.

Miller wants to investigate less cosmetic applications, such as treating nerve and brain diseases. Experiments she published between 2005 and 2007 showed that SKPs can grow into nerves and help repair spinal cord damage in rats. Her lab is continuing to pursue that research. She is also searching for signals that could trigger the dermal stem cells to rev up their innate wound-healing ability. If such a signal can be found and mimicked, Miller can envision one day treating chronic woundssuch as diabetic ulcerswith a topical cream. Such a treatment is years or decades away, she said, but now researchers know which cell types to focus on. Another possibility: improving skin grafts, which today consist of only epidermal, not dermal, cells. While skin grafts can dramatically help burn victims, those grafts dont function like normal skin.

Stem cell researchers like to talk about building organs in a dish, said Miller. You can imagine, if you have all the right playersdermal stem cells and epidermal stem cellsworking together, you could do that with skin in a very real way.

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Research News: New Skin Stem Cells Surprisingly Similar to ...

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At a Glance

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Our skin is an extremely important and multi-faceted organ. It protects our insides by providing a cover for our body and is responsible for preventing pathogens entering our organism. The skin also fulfills other important roles by regulating body temperature, in the area of metabolism, and for our sensitivity to touch and stimuli.

In addition, our skin also contains a large quantity of autologous stem cells (so-called adult stem cells). Autologous stem cells are on the one hand relevant for the external appearance of the skin, and on the other hand they offer a great deal of positive therapeutic potential in the area of regenerative medicine.

If we bear in mind what kind of functions our skin has, it becomes obvious why we should be paying special attention to its health.

Already in the traditional European medicine there was the tenet As inside, so outside. Even in modern science we know that it is important to distinguish between cause and effect and that many degenerative processes inside the body manifest externally.

For example, various factors can lead to a massive acceleration of the per se normal skin aging: Stress, overload and unhealthy diet can cause hormonal dysfunction, which in turn leads to premature aging and tissue slackening. Certain lifestyle habits such as tanning booths as well as smoking can cause skin damages over time, which can often make people concerned look more than 10 years older than they actually are.

Our therapeutic approach is not only to treat the symptom (= premature aging of the skin), but the cause (= e.g., hormone deficiency) as far as possible. Combinations of both the therapy of the cause and targeted local treatments can be useful, especially when a large distress is present and/or the skin damages are very advanced.

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We use the autologous substances for our skin treatments. We never use artificial fillers (e.g., silicone) or Botox, because their side effects often lead to a worsening of skin quality.

When we are young, the body still has enough stem cells and produces sufficient growth factors and hormones, however, as the years pass, the body produces less of them. This wear process can be accelerated by stress, overwork, poor nutrition and certain lifestyle habits. The external signs of premature aging appear, such as wrinkles, slackening of tissue, sagging cheeks and greying of the skin.

All types of treatment offered by our clinic serve the purpose of giving your skin back a certain amount of quality, elasticity and freshness by targeted application of the autologous substances or substances similar to the bodys own.

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Skin Regeneration with Stem Cells, Growth Factors ...

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Highlights

iPSC-derived rejuvenated CTLs are effective against EBV-induced tumors invivo

Rejuvenated CTLs are implemented with an inducible caspase-9 (iC9)-based suicide system

Upon induction, the iC9 system efficiently leads to apoptosis in rejuvenated CTLs

The iC9-based system provides a safeguard for future iPSC-mediated cell therapy

The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has created promising new avenues for therapies in regenerative medicine. However, the tumorigenic potential of undifferentiated iPSCs is a major safety concern for clinical translation. To address this issue, we demonstrated the efficacy of suicide gene therapy by introducing inducible caspase-9 (iC9) into iPSCs. Activation of iC9 with a specific chemical inducer of dimerization (CID) initiates a caspase cascade that eliminates iPSCs and tumors originated from iPSCs. We introduced this iC9/CID safeguard system into a previously reported iPSC-derived, rejuvenated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (rejCTL) therapy model and confirmed that we can generate rejCTLs from iPSCs expressing high levels of iC9 without disturbing antigen-specific killingactivity. iC9-expressing rejCTLs exert antitumor effects invivo. The system efficiently and safely induces apoptosis in these rejCTLs. These results unite to suggest that the iC9/CID safeguard system is a promising tool for future iPSC-mediated approaches to clinical therapy.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can unlimitedly self-renew and differentiate into various cell types (Takahashi etal., 2007). Their pluripotency makes iPSCs a promising tool for therapy in a wide range of diseases at present refractory to treatment (Inoue etal., 2014). Recent studies, however, reported the tumorigenic potential of contaminated undifferentiated iPSCs and the malignant transformation of differentiated iPSCs (Lee etal., 2013aandNori etal., 2015). The tumorigenic risks of iPSCs could be reduced by several strategies, such as sorting out undifferentiated cells with antibodies targeting surface-displayed biomarkers (Tang etal., 2011), killing undifferentiated cells with cytotoxic antibodies (Choo etal., 2008), or elimination of remaining undifferentiated pluripotent cells with chemical inhibitors (Ben-David etal., 2013andLee etal., 2013b). However, these strategies may not suffice to lower risk to acceptable levels, because the tumorigenic risk of iPSC-based cell therapy arises not just from contamination with undifferentiated iPSCs but also from other unexpected events associated with long-term culture for reprogramming and redifferentiation. There is always a chance of unexpected issues associated with first-in-human clinical studies.

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A Safeguard System for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell ...

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Genetic counselors are health care professionals trained in genetics and counseling.They have graduate degree training and are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. Genetic counselors practice in several subspecialty areas of genetics including assisted reproduction technologies, infertility genetics, and prenatal diagnosis.Our genetic counselors will help patients understand the complex information they will be facing in their PGD or CCS cycle, and encourage their own decision making according to whats best for them. They will also serve as a liaison between our patients, their fertility doctor, and the PGD/CCS laboratory regarding the embryo testing portion of their cycle.

What is PGD or CCS?

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is the testing of embryos for a specific genetic disease known in the family.

Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) is the testing of embryos for general chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome.

For those patients who are considering PGD or CCS, their IVF doctor will recommend they have a consultation with our genetic counselors prior to beginning their treatment cycle. Patients may feel like this is one more step in a daunting process.As well, they may have already discussed this option with their doctors and know why they are considering PGD/CCS. But a thorough understanding of the process of how genes are important in human embryos is a basis for understanding what the PGD/CCS process can and cannot tell patients about their embryos.

Common Reasons For Considering PGD/CCS:

What Happens During A Genetic Counseling Visit?

There are two main objectives in genetic counseling for PGD/CCS:

At our Northern California San Francisco Bay Area fertility center, our genetic counselors will guide patients through this process mentally before they are actually in cycle so that, hopefully, there are no unanticipated outcomes. It is also critical to review the consent form before signing it.Our genetic counselors are available to answer questions regarding its content.Consent forms are designed to inform and protect patients. Important information is contained in the consent form, including risks and limitations of PGD/CCS, as well as the purpose of the procedure and the diagnostic technique.

Lauri Black, MS, LCGC, Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor, PFC Director of Clinical Genetics Lauri has been a practicing genetic counselor since 1998 prior to completing her graduate program at the University of California Berkeley, and has been board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling since 1999.Lauri has worked in reproductive genetics for her entire career, providing genetic counseling for male and female factor infertility, preimplantation genetic testing, and prenatal diagnosis.Most of that time, she has worked directly with many of the physicians at Pacific Fertility Center. She began her career at University of California San Franciscos Medical Center and then moved to California Pacific Medical Center in late 2001.In December of 2010, Lauri started a private practice and is now working more closely with the providers and patients at PFC as an in-house genetic counselor.

Carmela Thompson, MS, LCGC, Licensed Certified Genetic Counselor Carmela has been a practicing genetic counselor since 2011 prior to completing her graduate program at California State University, Stanislaus, and has been board certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling and licensed by the state of California since 2012. Carmela started her career in genetics in 1997 creating custom genes in Operon Technologys laboratory, followed by joining Qiagen Co. as a Field Application Scientist in diagnostic genetic testing. In January of 2012, Carmela started a private genetic counseling practice, and came to PFC as an in-house genetic counselor in 2013.

Genetic testing of embryos is the main reason your physician would refer you to Lauri or Carmela for a consultation. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is the testing of embryos for a specific genetic disease known in the family. Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) is the testing of embryos for general chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Lauri and Carmela provide the required consultation for each of these services prior to the start of your cycle. The information and discussion from this consult fosters full informed consent of these complex procedures and the possible outcomes.

Lauri also provides genetic risk assessment for all of the prospective ovum donors for Pacific Fertility Centers Egg Donor Agency.

Our genetic counselors are available to provide genetic risk assessment by request, even if a patient is not including embryo testing or using an ovum donor in their cycle.Some patients may have questions about conditions in their families, and what impact that history may have on their or their childrens future health.For questions or concerns about family health history, review them with an infertility doctor and they may feel the option of a genetic risk assessment consultation is appropriate.

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Sex Selection & Genetic Counseling | San Francisco Bay ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

NIH Home

Sign up to receive the NIH Health Information newsletter and get email updates twice a month about healthy living and wellness from across NIH.

If youve ever wondered if youre at risk for developing diabetes, you should know that diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful.

Thyroid trouble can cause a range of seemingly unrelated problems, including drastic changes to your weight, energy, digestion, or mood.

Learn about breast cancer prevention, screening, treatment options, statistics, and more.

Talking to Your Doctor You can play an active role in your health care by talking to your doctor. Browse short videos on how to make the most of your medical appointment and learn tips that can help you have an open dialogue.

Check out these popular recent stories from our monthly newsletter, which brings you practical health news and tips based on NIH research:

Editor: Carol Torgan, Ph.D., Science Communication Branch, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health.

This page last reviewed on Thursday, October 01, 2015

Here is the original post:
Health Information - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Dr. Lang Li, Associate Director of the IIPM, namedDirector ofIU Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Read more...

IIPM Member Dr. Janet Carpenter named Indiana University Distinguished Professor.Read more...

Posted on August 12, 2014 IIPM Member receives Conquer Cancer Foundation grant Dr. Costantine Albany, IIPM member, has received a Conquer Cancer Foundation grant. Read more...

Posted on July 25, 2013 Educational Conference on Personalized Medicine and Pharmacogenomics "Pharmacogenomics in Clinical PracticeWhat you need to know" Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 8:30am 3:00pm The Indiana Institute of Personalized Medicine is offering a didactic and case-study oriented educational conference focusing on pharmacogenomics and its application in clinical practice.The IIPM, led by Dr. Flockhart and a select group of clinicians and pharmacogenomic experts, will conduct a CME and ACPE qualified program addressing the use of pharmacogenomics in clinical practice. The program will be held at the IU Health Neuroscience Center Auditorium at 355 West 16th Street Indianapolis IN 46202. Read more...

To assist with the recognition of these medications, Dr. Malaz A. Boustani and an interdisciplinary team developed the Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden (ACB) list as a practical tool that identifies the severity of anticholinergic effects on cognition of both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Read more...

Read more:
Welcome to the Indiana Institute for Personalized Medicine

Recommendation and review posted by sam

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hrgdr7/cell_therapy) has announced the addition of Jain PharmaBiotech's new report "Cell Therapy - Technologies, Markets and Companies" to their offering.

This report describes and evaluates cell therapy technologies and methods, which have already started to play an important role in the practice of medicine. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is replacing the old fashioned bone marrow transplants. Role of cells in drug discovery is also described. Cell therapy is bound to become a part of medical practice.

The number of companies involved in cell therapy has increased remarkably during the past few years. More than 500 companies have been identified to be involved in cell therapy and 296 of these are profiled in part II of the report along with tabulation of 280 alliances. Of these companies, 167 are involved in stem cells. Profiles of 72 academic institutions in the US involved in cell therapy are also included in part II along with their commercial collaborations. The text is supplemented with 62 Tables and 17 Figures. The bibliography contains 1,200 selected references, which are cited in the text.

Stem cells are discussed in detail in one chapter. Some light is thrown on the current controversy of embryonic sources of stem cells and comparison with adult sources. Other sources of stem cells such as the placenta, cord blood and fat removed by liposuction are also discussed. Stem cells can also be genetically modified prior to transplantation.

Cell therapy technologies overlap with those of gene therapy, cancer vaccines, drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Pharmaceutical applications of stem cells including those in drug discovery are also described. Various types of cells used, methods of preparation and culture, encapsulation and genetic engineering of cells are discussed. Sources of cells, both human and animal (xenotransplantation) are discussed. Methods of delivery of cell therapy range from injections to surgical implantation using special devices.

Cell therapy has applications in a large number of disorders. The most important are diseases of the nervous system and cancer which are the topics for separate chapters. Other applications include cardiac disorders (myocardial infarction and heart failure), diabetes mellitus, diseases of bones and joints, genetic disorders, and wounds of the skin and soft tissues.

Regulatory and ethical issues involving cell therapy are important and are discussed. Current political debate on the use of stem cells from embryonic sources (hESCs) is also presented. Safety is an essential consideration of any new therapy and regulations for cell therapy are those for biological preparations.

The cell-based markets was analyzed for 2014, and projected to 2024.The markets are analyzed according to therapeutic categories, technologies and geographical areas. The largest expansion will be in diseases of the central nervous system, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Skin and soft tissue repair as well as diabetes mellitus will be other major markets.

Key Topics Covered:

Part I: Technologies, Ethics & Regulations

0. Executive Summary

1. Introduction to Cell Therapy

2. Cell Therapy Technologies

3. Stem Cells

4. Clinical Applications of Cell Therapy

5. Cell Therapy for Cancer

6. Cell Therapy for Neurological Disorders

7. Ethical, Legal and Political Aspects of Cell therapy

8. Safety and Regulatory Aspects of Cell Therapy

Part II: Markets, Companies & Academic Institutions

9. Markets and Future Prospects for Cell Therapy

10. Companies Involved in Cell Therapy

11. Academic Institutions

12. References

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/hrgdr7/cell_therapy

Source: Jain PharmaBiotech

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Research and Markets: Global Cell Therapy Technologies ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

On July 1, 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted 'breakthrough therapy' designation to CTL019, the anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy developed at the University of Pennsylvania. This is the first personalized cellular therapy for cancer to be so designated and occurred 25 years after the first publication describing genetic redirection of T cells to a surface antigen of choice. The peer-reviewed literature currently contains the outcomes of more than 100 patients treated on clinical trials of anti-CD19 redirected T cells, and preliminary results on many more patients have been presented. At last count almost 30 clinical trials targeting CD19 were actively recruiting patients in North America, Europe, and Asia. Patients with high-risk B-cell malignancies therefore represent the first beneficiaries of an exciting and potent new treatment modality that harnesses the power of the immune system as never before. A handful of trials are targeting non-CD19 hematological and solid malignancies and represent the vanguard of enormous preclinical efforts to develop CAR T-cell therapy beyond B-cell malignancies. In this review, we explain the concept of chimeric antigen receptor gene-modified T cells, describe the extant results in hematologic malignancies, and share our outlook on where this modality is likely to head in the near future.

2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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Going viral: chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Formerly Orthopedic Stem Cell Institute We put the power of your own body to work for you.

Our team of board certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic and spine surgeons work with patients from around the world using the newest and most advanced technology to treat orthopedic injuries and bone and joint pain, as well as relieving symptoms and improving the lives of patients with a multitude of illnesses.

The Premier Stem Cell Institute is a leading research and treatment facility in Colorado providing the most innovative and proven techniques and therapies using the bodys natural healing power of stem cells.

A stem cell is a basic cell constantly produced by your body to heal injuries, build new skin, even grow your hair. However, your body wont refix a chronic injury or illness by continuing to attack it with new stem cells unless those cells are extracted and reintroduced into your body via stem cell therapies.

We are a leading research and treatment facility providing the most innovative and proven techniques and therapies using the bodys natural healing power of stem cells. Our services are performed by fellowship-trained surgeons using the most state-of-the-art equipment and technology in the field.All stem cell treatments are not alike. AtPremier Stem Cell Institute, we extract your stem cells from your bone marrow because they are higher quality and result in better outcomes than stem cells from fat (adipose). We treat each patient with the utmost respect and our concierge service makes you feel incredibly well cared for from the first phone call to follow up visits.

They're very personable, they're very helpful..nice people. Bottom line is there's no pain where there was a lot of pain before.

Jon Hoffman, Former NFL Player

I used to dread doing simple things like putting on a coat, a seat belt or reaching for things. I can now do those things without nearly as much difficulty. I want to thank everyone at the clinic for performing the procedure on me. They are making peoples' lives much more enjoyable.

Bob Hyland, Former NFL Player

It's amazing! You're awake the whole time, it's virtually painless, and within an hour you're walking out.

Don Horn, Former NFL Player

of Patients are 70% Better Within 1 Year!

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Stem Cell Therapy - Premier Stem Cell Institute

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

A patient has become the first in the UK to receive an experimental stem cell treatment that has the potential to save the sight of hundreds of thousands of Britons.

By December, doctors will know whether the woman, who has age-related macular degeneration, has regained her sight after a successful operation at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London last month. Over 18 months, 10 patients will undergo the treatment.

The transplant involves eye cells, called retinal pigment epithelium, derived from stem cells and grown in the lab to form a patch that can be placed behind the retina during surgery.

Related: Stem cell therapy success in treatment of sight loss from macular degeneration

The potential is huge. Although the first patients have the wet form of macular degeneration, the doctors believe it might also eventually work for those who have the dry form, who are the vast majority of the UKs 700,000 sufferers.

The surgery is an exciting moment for the 10-year-old London Project to Cure Blindness, a collaboration between the hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and the National Institute for Health Research, which was formed to find a cure for wet age-related macular degeneration, the more serious but less common form of the disease.

Prof Pete Coffey of UCL, one of the founders of the London Project, said he would not be working on the new treatment if he did not believe it would work. He hopes it could become a routine procedure for people afflicted by vision loss, which is as common a problem among older people as dementia.

It does involve an operation, but were trying to make it as straightforward as a cataract operation, he said. It will probably take 45 minutes to an hour. We could treat a substantial number of those patients.

First they have to get approval. The trial is not just about safety, but also efficacy. There will be a regulatory review after the first few transplants to ensure all is going well.

The group of patients chosen have the wet form of the disease and experienced sudden loss of vision within about six weeks. The support cells in the eye, which get rid of daily debris and allow the seeing part to function have died.

There is a possibility of restoring their vision, said Coffey. The aim of the transplant is to restore the support cells so the seeing part of the eye is not affected by what would become an increasingly toxic environment, causing deterioration and serious vision loss. The surgery is being performed by retinal surgeon Prof Lyndon Da Cruz from Moorfields, who is also a co-founder of the London Project.

The team chose people with this dramatic vision loss to see whether the experimental stem cell therapy would reverse the loss of vision. But in those with dry macular degeneration, said Coffey, the process is far slower, which would mean doctors could choose the time to intervene if the treatment works.

Helping people to regain their sight has long been one of the most hopeful prospects for stem cell transplantation. Other research groups have been trialling the use of stem cells in people with Stargardts disease, which destroys the vision at a much earlier age.

Stem cells have moved from the drawing board into human trials with incredible speed, scientists say. The first embryonic stem cell was derived in 1989. Using them in eyes was always going to have a big advantage over other prospects, because it is possible to transplant them without an all-out attack by the immune system, as would happen in other parts of the body. Most people who have any sort of transplant have to take drugs that suppress the immune system for the rest of their lives.

Just like conventional medicines, stem cell therapies will very likely have to be developed and marketed by large commercial concerns. The London Project has the US drug company Pfizer on board.

Link:
First UK patient receives stem cell treatment to cure loss ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

By Dr Dale Baird

Hormones are chemicals the body uses to direct our cells to perform various tasks. The tasks performed involve almost every function, from insulin production to brain intellectual development. They are in most abundance in our earlier years of life. When we are young, we dont really know how lucky we are to have fully functioning hormones. But at age 47-53 for most women, they start going away, its called in Menopause(for men its andropause). Symptoms of waxing and waning hormones are; weight gain, low or no energy, sleep disruption, no sexual desire, osteoporosis, heart disease, looking as if youre rapidly aging. There are many hormones (even Vit D is considered a hormone in some circumstances) but the main ones we usually deal with are the following; Estrogen, Testosterone, Progesterone, DHEA, Melatonin, and Cortisol. Both Estrogen and testosterone are derived from progesterone and DHEA. A healthy cholesterol level is important because all hormones are derived from it.

Estrogen is what makes a women different from a man, like wise Testosterone is what makes a man a man. Both of them are involved with the osteoporosis as is progesterone. All of these are very necessary for a healthy heart, brain, lungs, hormone system, digestive system.

As we age these hormones become less plentiful leading to the aging process. Hormone Replacement is the medical process of re-establishing normal known hormone levels. These levels are just about the same no matter what age you are! So when you use hormones to establish normal levels, we are essentially rolling back the clock, 20 to 30 years in most cases.

Hormone levels are dropping in younger age groups more than ever before. Our clinic sees the equivalent of a 70 year old levels with males and females in their mid twenties. More now than ever before, younger people are needing hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

HRT is not for everyone, some illnesses preclude hormones and hormone replacement. Call an HRT specialty Doctor to see if you need your hormones levels measured.

Follow this link:
What are Hormones? - Hormone Replacement Therapy Denver

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Genetic diversity in native switchgrass populations will benefit new varieties developed for biofuel production and ecosystem services.

Identification of gene pools and their geographic patterns will help in the development of new switchgrass varieties for biofuels, and for ecosystem services such as conservation and restoration. Identifying these gene pools relies on answering several questions: Where did the remnants of the genotypes originate? How much genetic diversity do they contain? Has there been transfer of genes between the genotypes?

Glaciation that covered much of the northern United States during the last ice age removed all vegetation and buried seeds under tons of silt and rock from a large portion of the country. When the glaciers retreated, plants returned to this region but with some distinct patterns.

Michael Casler, a research plant geneticist for the USDAs Agricultural Research Service and CenUSA collaborator, and his colleagues are developing a system of classifying gene pools of switchgrass that could provide germplasm for improvement of varieties for biofuels and ecosystems services.

For a bioenergy crop, high yields of biomass, which rely on traits such as height, tillering capability, persistence, and resistance to disease and insects, is the most important improvement they could provide. The desirability of other traits, such as efficient fermentation or high energy content, would depend on the intended final biofuel product.

Adaptability to marginal soils and conditions is also an important goal for improved varieties. A sustainable bioenergy production would not compete with food crops but would utilize land impractical for producing food for humans. Through DNA research, the researchers have identified the origins and the genetic diversity of the two switchgrass ecotypes, upland and lowland, in their native habitats. Because the two ecotypes are adapted to different environments, that identification is important in the classification of gene pools.

Crossing selected switchgrass plants in the field. Photo: Michael Casler, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center.

In a related research project, Casler and his associates did DNA sequencing on 480 plants to look at possible gene flow between upland and lowland ecotypes.

Caslers research identified eight gene pools of switchgrass across the United States that could be a rich source of germplasm to improve commercial switchgrass varieties for biofuel, and in restoration and conservation work. These gene pools harbor a great deal of genetic variety, a potential source of new varieties that can respond better to climate change and improve germplasm.

As the climate gradually warmed after glaciation, what was left behind may have been a very close representation to what survives today hundreds to perhaps thousands of small, fragmented populations of switchgrass, representing a huge array of genetic and phenotypic diversity [2].

Research has turned up several other discoveries:

Research continues, using new genomic technologies to accelerate development of new varieties and genetically modified switchgrass, and to improve winter survival in southern types of switchgrass.

The strong diversity and wide adaptation of switchgrass is good news for those developing new commercial varieties of the perennial grass for bioenergy. Improved varieties would produce more biomass for biofuel production. Through adaptation to a single annual harvest, switchgrass will be more useful for commercial bioenergy production and harvest. If that harvest is delayed until after post-senescence dry-down, more nutrients will be recycled back into the plants' roots.

Switchgrass diversity is also a benefit for those working in conservation, who need not be so limited in the varieties they can use. Weve been trying to help people working in restoration and conservation of prairielands to define what local means, Casler said. What weve found and other studies have found is that "local", from a practical standpoint is pretty broad. If Im trying to restore a native prairie in central Iowa, then germplasm from eastern Nebraska to eastern Indiana is going to work without any problem at all.

The genetic diversity of plants from different sources across a wide geographic area will also help growers with switchgrass production on marginal lands, and to better respond to climate change.

Authors

Peer Reviewer

CenUSA Bioenergy is a coordinated research and education effort investigating the creation of a regional system in the Central US for producing advanced transportation fuels from perennial grasses on land that is either unsuitable or marginal for row crop production. In addition to producing advanced biofuels, the proposed system will improve the sustainability of existing cropping systems by reducing agricultural runoff of nutrients in soil and increasing carbon sequestration.

CenUSA is supported by Agriculture and Food Research InitiativeCompetitive Grant no. 2011-68005-30411 from theUSDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Originally posted here:
Research Summary: Research Finds Strong Genetic Diversity ...

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

The health sciences career group covers a diverse range of professions, ranging from those directly involved with patients, to those that support, manufacture, and produce medical and health related products and innovations.

Jobs in the health sciences careers include: doctors, nurses, surgeons, medical personnel, hospital administration, medical scientists, disease management professionals, and any number of related careers. In general, any job which has its focus in helping to cure or prevent disease and/or ailment falls into this cluster of jobs.

Provide treatment of symptoms and disorders using needles and small electrical currents. May provide massage treatment. May also provide preventive treatments.

Most have a master's degree

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent allergic diseases and disease processes affecting the immune system.

Assist anesthesiologists in the administration of anesthesia for surgical and non-surgical procedures. Monitor patient status and provide patient care during surgical treatment.

Physicians who administer anesthetics prior to, during, or after surgery or other medical procedures.

Most have post doctoral training

Evaluate and advise individuals to assist recovery from or avoid athletic-related injuries or illnesses, or maintain peak physical fitness. May provide first aid or emergency care.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Apply knowledge of engineering, biology, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation,...

Most have a bachelor's degree

Conduct tests on pulmonary or cardiovascular systems of patients for diagnostic purposes. May conduct or assist in electrocardiograms, cardiac catheterizations, pulmonary functions, lung capacity, and similar tests....

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Assess, treat, and care for patients by manipulation of spine and musculoskeletal system. May provide spinal adjustment or address sacral or pelvic misalignment.

Most have a doctoral degree

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Diagnose or evaluate mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Most have post doctoral training

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and...

Most have a bachelor's degree

Assess and evaluate individuals' problems through the use of case history, interview, and observation and provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal,...

Most have a doctoral degree

Analyze chromosomes found in biological specimens such as amniotic fluids, bone marrow, and blood to aid in the study, diagnosis, or treatment of genetic diseases.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Stain, mount, and study cells to detect evidence of cancer, hormonal abnormalities, and other pathological conditions following established standards and practices.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Assist dentist, set up equipment, prepare patient for treatment, and keep records.

Most have a vocational certificate

Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. May educate patients on oral hygiene, take and develop x rays, or apply fluoride or sealants.

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Construct and repair full or partial dentures or dental appliances.

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances...

Most have a doctoral degree

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases or other conditions of the skin.

Produce ultrasonic recordings of internal organs for use by physicians.

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel...

Most have less than a high school diploma

Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs to assist in the promotion of health and control of disease. May supervise activities of a department providing quantity food services, counsel individuals, or...

Most have a post-baccalaureate certificate

Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.

Most have a master's degree

Physicians who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and injuries that commonly occur in the general population. May refer patients to specialists when needed for further diagnosis or treatment.

Most have a doctoral degree

Provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles. Collect and analyze data to identify community needs prior to planning,...

Most have a bachelor's degree

Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. May assist in research studies.

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Provide routine individualized healthcare such as changing bandages and dressing wounds, and applying topical medications to the elderly, convalescents, or persons with disabilities at the patient's home or in a care...

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Provide inpatient care predominantly in settings such as medical wards, acute care units, intensive care units, rehabilitation centers, or emergency rooms. Manage and coordinate patient care throughout treatment.

Most have post doctoral training

Physicians who diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs.

Most have post doctoral training

Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered...

Most have some college

Provide therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities. May train patients in activities such as computer use, communication skills, or home management skills.

Most have a master's degree

Apply standardized mathematical formulas, principles, and methodology to technological problems in engineering and physical sciences in relation to specific industrial and research objectives, processes, equipment, and...

Perform routine medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May work under the supervision of a medical technologist.

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Perform complex medical laboratory tests for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. May train or supervise staff.

Most have a bachelor's degree

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for...

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Prepare, sterilize, install, or clean laboratory or healthcare equipment. May perform routine laboratory tasks and operate or inspect equipment.

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. Process,...

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities. Includes physicians,...

Most have a doctoral degree

Transcribe medical reports recorded by physicians and other healthcare practitioners using various electronic devices, covering office visits, emergency room visits, diagnostic imaging studies, operations, chart...

Most have some college

Assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case...

Most have a master's degree

Provide prenatal care and childbirth assistance.

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases using a system of practice that is based on the natural healing capacity of individuals. May use physiological, psychological or mechanical methods. May also use natural...

Most have a doctoral degree

Conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and disorders of the nervous system.

Apply theories and principles of neuropsychology to diagnose and treat disorders of higher cerebral functioning.

Most have post doctoral training

Diagnose and treat diseases using radioactive materials and techniques. May monitor radionuclide preparation, administration, and disposition.

Most have post doctoral training

Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be...

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Physicians who provide medical care related to pregnancy or childbirth and those who diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases of women, particularly those affecting the reproductive system. May also provide general...

Most have a doctoral degree

Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or...

Most have a master's degree

Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment...

Most have a high school diploma or GED

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with State laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity...

Most have an associate's or 2-year degree

Continued here:
Local Jobs and Info for Health Science Careers

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Health care is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic industries in the world, and GCCs Health Science option is an excellent opportunity to find out if a health care career is for you!One of our most popular programs, Health Science gives you a solid foundation in liberal arts, a broad survey of health care jobs, and an emphasis on continued study in health science with options for transfer into one of our professional health occupations programs or a bachelors degree program.

A passion for science and technology, combined with a commitment to care, enables health care providers to respond to the needs of millions of individuals around the world, from newborns to the critically ill. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, employment growth in health care is expected to account for about 3 million new wage and salary jobs20 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 2006-16 period.

Rapidly changing demand due to an aging population, combined with new possibilities with advancements in technology, make health care the fastest growing and most dynamic career field of our time. Clinical developments, such as infection control, less invasive surgical techniques, advances in reproductive technology, and gene therapy for cancer treatment, continue to increase longevity and improve the quality of life of many Americans.

The basic Liberal Arts degree, which offers flexibility of focus alongside a breadth of academic fields, is supplemented with a grounding in health-related sciences in this option. Youll learn about how Biology, Chemistry, or Physics underlies our understanding of human health. In addition, youll take a Survey of Health Careers course to understand the career options that might lie ahead of you. You may also bring academic experience in Emergency Medical Services, Massage Therapy, or Nursing to bear in this option.

Curriculum documents

To plan degree completion, see the course descriptions in the academic catalog which specify the planned semester(s) in which required classes are to be scheduled.

This is just one way you might complete the Health Science program in 4 semesters over 2 years of full-time study, or 8 semesters over 4 years of part-time study. (Sample course sequences assume that all pre-requisites have been satisfied and the student is prepared for college-level work.) For a detailed list of required courses, optional electives and program information, download the Health Science program description from our official academic catalog.

Course descriptions are also available in the catalog. Find courses

Transfer to a Baccalaureate program related to health science, or a certificate or associate degree health occupation program such as clinical laboratory science or radiologic technology.

By taking classes in a Liberal Arts option, students complete courses that help develop 100 and 200 course level knowledge and skills in a particular field. If you dont satisfy the requirements of a specific Liberal Arts option, you may still be able to fulfill the requirements of another option, or fulfill the requirements of the Liberal Arts General degree. Students are advised to work closely with their GCC advisor to select the specific courses that will help meet their career or transfer goals. Note: Students who complete a Liberal Arts option will graduate with the degree Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts. Your area of concentration is reflected only in your transcript, not your diploma.

Original post:
Health Science - Academics

Recommendation and review posted by sam

The 11th Annual Personalized Medicine Conference will be held the third Wednesday and Thursday of November at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School, Boston Massachusetts. We look forward to seeing you there!

The Personalized Medicine Conference is an annual two-day event co-hosted and presented by Partners HealthCare Personalized Medicine, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Medical School in association with the American Association for Cancer Research; American Medical Association; American Society for Human Geneticsand Personalized Medicine Coalition. Widely considered the most prestigious event in the field, this conference attracts hundreds of national and international thought leaders across multiple disciplines as speakers, panelists, and attendees.

Taking place atHarvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Enjoy your stay.

Plan your travel

Thelatest session descriptions, program speakers, and times to plan your schedule

View this year's agenda

A cross-industry, cross-disciplinary panel committed to personalized medicine

View the list

Scott WeissPartners Personalized Medicine

Robert Higgins Harvard Business School

Raju KucherlapatiHarvard Medical School

Be part of the conversation as Personalized Medicine moves into the 2nd decade

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Personalized Genetic Medicine Conference | Partners ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

By analyzing your genes, doctors can identify certain drugs that may be dangerous or completely ineffective for you, and they can calculate personalized dosages that match your DNA. Image courtesy of Jane Ades, NHGRI.

NIH research is working hard to solve the puzzle of how genes and lifestyle connect to affect our lives and our health. Today, researchers can scan and compare entire genomes very quickly. These studies have already turned up disease signatures for type 2 diabetes, heart disorders, prostate cancer, Crohns disease, Parkinsons disease, and age-related macular degeneration. More disease-related gene variants are identified every few months.

The Human Genome Project and thousands of follow-on studies are helping scientists to develop gene-targeted treatments. A poignant example is the case of a woman with lung cancer that had spread to her brain. Diagnosed in 2002, this 44-year-olda vegetarian who had never smokedunderwent various therapies to stave off what seemed inevitable. Then came a miracle: she learned of a clinical trial testing a new drug, getfitinib, that for some tumors appeared to work as a genetic smart weapon. Her tumor was one of those, and she is alive today because of medical research.

Thanks to NIH-funded basic research that gave us genetic engineering and launched the $40 billion biotech industry, DNA is a household name. Virtually every biomedical research lab and pharmaceutical company throughout the world uses the power of the genomic revolution every day to demystify diseases and find new cures. Within 5 years, the complete DNA instruction bookor whole genomeof an individual will read out for less than $1,000, making genetic analysis a routine part of medical care.

These colored bands on a computer screen represent the various building blocks of DNA that make up just a small portion of the human genome.

One recent study provides a glimpse of how whole-genome sequencing might eventually be used in the clinic. Scientists evaluated the entire genome of a 40-year-old man to determine his risk for dozens of diseases and his likely response to common drugs. They pinpointed gene variants linked to several diseases in the mans family, including vascular disease and early sudden death. They also found variants linked to conditions not known to be in his family, such as thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Other gene variants predicted the patients likely responses to certain heart medicationsinformation thats especially relevant since hes at risk for cardiovascular disorders.

Remarkable advances in the field of pharmacogenomicshow individuals react differently to medicinesindicate that we are moving away from one-size-fits-all medicine. Scientists can now identify glitches in our DNA scripts that reveal what drugs may be dangerousor completely ineffectivefor certain people. This information will help doctors calculate precise dosages that match a persons DNA.

Collectively, research results in this important area of biomedicine are prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider changing the labeling requirements for important medicines taken by millions of Americans. Already, pharmacogenomic information is contained in about 10% of labels for drugs approved by the FDA to treat a range of conditions including HIV/AIDS, cancer, seizures, and cardiovascular disorders.

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Personalized Medicine - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Recommendation and review posted by sam

By Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.

The difference between science and science fiction is a line that seems ever harder to distinguish, thanks in part to a host of astonishing advances in medical science that are helping to create a new age of promise and possibility for patients.

Today cancer drugs are increasingly twinned with a diagnostic devicethat can determine whether a patient will respond to the drug based on their tumors genetic characteristics; medical imaging can be used to identify the best implantable device to treat a specific patient with clogged coronary arteries; and progress in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy using a patients own cells could lead to the replacement or regeneration of their missing or damaged tissues. Given these trends, the future of medicine is rapidly approaching the promising level of care and cure once imagined by Hollywood in futuristic dramas like Star Trek.

But these examples are not science fiction. They are very real achievements that demonstrate the era of personalized medicine where advances in the science of drug development, the study of genes and their functions, the availability of increasingly powerful computers and other technologies, combined with our greater understanding of the complexity of disease, makes it possible to tailor treatments to the needs of an individual patient. We now know that patients with similar symptoms may have different diseases with different causes. Individual patients who may appear to have the same disease may respond differently (or not at all) to treatments of that disease.

FDA has been playing a critical role in the growth of this new era for a number of years. Even before I became FDA Commissioner the agency was creating the organizational infrastructure and putting in place the regulatory processes and policies needed to meet the challenges of regulating these complex products and coordinating their review and oversight. It has been my pleasure to serve at FDA during this next exciting period and to help ensure that the agency continues to prioritize this evolution by anticipating, responding to, and encouraging scientific advancements.

I am very pleased to be able to present a new report by FDA as part of our ongoing efforts in this field. Paving the Way for Personalized Medicine: FDAs Role in a New Era of Medical Product Development describes many of the exciting developments and looming advances in personalized medicine, lays out the historical progress in this field, and examines FDAs regulatory role: from ensuring the availability of safe and effective diagnostic devices, to addressing the challenges of aligning a drug with a diagnostic device, to post-market surveillance.

Outside collaboration and information sharing is essential for this field to flourish. On Tuesday, the American Association for Cancer Research and AdvaMedDX held a fruitful daylong conversation on personalized medicine to treat cancer. I was one of the speakers, participating in a conversation with Dr. Francis Collins, the head of the National Institutes of Health. Our discussion focused in part on current status of drug and diagnostic co-development and the challenges and potential of whole genome sequencing, where data can be collected on a patients entire genetic makeup at a reasonable cost in a reasonable amount of time.

FDA is committed to fostering these cooperative efforts, as it will require the full force of government, private industry, academia and other concerned stakeholders to maximize our efforts and fully realize the promise of personalized medicine. Our new report outlines that commitment, and helps chart the way forward so that more people can live long and prosper.

Margaret A. Hamburg is the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration

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Personalized Medicine: The Future is Now | FDA Voice

Recommendation and review posted by sam

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Psoriasis Journey

Regardless of severity, patients with the often disfiguring skin condition psoriasis face an elevated risk for depression, new research suggests.

By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) Two experimental drugs show promise in treating psoriasis and a related condition, psoriatic arthritis, new studies report. The drugs, brodalumab and secukinumab (Cosentyx), represent a new approach to treatment, said Michael Siegel, director of research programs at the National Psoriasis Foundation. These studies show how targeting [...]

People with psoriasis may be twice as likely to experience depression as those without the common skin condition, regardless of its severity, a new study suggests.

By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) Preliminary trial results suggest that an experimental psoriasis drug may control the chronic skin disease better than the current standard treatment. The drug, guselkumab, was compared to the commonly used medication adalimumab (Humira, Enbrel) in a study involving nearly 300 patients with plaque psoriasis. Up to 86 [...]

TUESDAY, June 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) Many patients with the skin disease psoriasis showed significant improvement when taking an experimental drug called ixekizumab, according to a late-stage, phase 3 clinical trial. The visible effects of psoriasis can have a major and life-ruining impact on peoples confidence and self-esteem, study leader Chris Griffiths, a professor of [...]

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Psoriasis Condition Center - Health.com

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

Colorado Clinic offers multiple regenerative medicine stem cell treatments. These treatments are provided as an outpatient by a Double Board Certified Doctor. Each treatment maintains minimal risk, with the possibility of providing repair and healing of injured tendons, ligaments, cartilage and muscle.

Click on the Treatments on the Left Tabs for more information.

Stem Cell Treatments at Colorado Clinic

Traditional therapies for osteoarthritis, ligament injury and tendonitis maintain certain commonalities. They help provide excellent pain relief, however, they do not alter the condition or help with the healing process. They act as an excellent band aid, but they do not REPAIR the problem!

The newest treatments for helping repair the damage involve Regenerative Medicine. The therapies are cutting edge and include stem cells, platelets, growth factors and cytokines.

Here is an example of what regenerative medicine offers. When a football player sustains a rotator cuff tendon injury, it may heal by itself in six to 10 weeks. Healing of damaged tendons or ligaments may occur naturally. However, it does not reach 100% strength like it was before.

With regenerative medicine, this situation may be very different. Healing of the rotator cuff injury may occur much faster, and it may reach 100% normal strength. This can help prevent future injury and get patients back on the field faster.

Regenerative treatments may permit patients to avoid or delay the need for surgery when it comes to all sorts of injury. The most common of these is degenerative arthritis. Joint replacement surgery is not without risk, therefore, stem cell treatments may help repair some of the cartilage damage while providing substantial pain relief.

With minimal risk, outpatient stem cell treatments offer a substantial upside. Make your appointment at Colorado Clinic today!

Amniotic Stem Cell Injections

Life comes from birth. Its one of the most commonly accepted rules in our society. But can the birth process offer even more? As research and science evolved over time, studies have shown that amniotic stem cells can have a revolutionary effect on the human recovery process.

First, lets look at what amniotic stem cells are. Stem cells are the basic components (cells) of our human body. One of their most amazing characteristic is that they can become almost any type of cell, from muscle to bone or skin cell.

Amniotic stem cells are obtained from the amniotic fluid, which is produced during a caesarean birth. During pregnancy, the amniotic fluid protects the fetus and it feeds it with the necessary supplements needed to sustain life and development. A while back, this fluid was normally discarded, but once researchers got to understand its amazing therapeutic benefits, now its collected and stored because of its high concentration of pluripotent stem cells.

Amniotic derived stem cell fluid comes from consenting donors and is processed at an FDA regulated lab. It is checked for all sorts of diseases prior to being accepted for use in others.

Although stem cells have been used for decades, regenerative therapy is fairly new, and sometimes pushes the boundaries of human imagination and perception. Following the use of amniotic stem cell injections, more evidence reveals exciting results in muscle repair and pain relief which has made amniotic stem cells possibly the holy grail in treatment.

Amniotic stem cell injections offer the ability to heal damaged tissue naturally. The tissue regeneration and repair properties of the amniotic stem cell fluid are an effective anti-inflamatory that relieves pain and contains natural growth factors that assist in healthy tissue growth. Moreover, the hyaluronic acid that is also in amniotic fluid is an important component of the joint fluid that helps cartilage growth. Amniotic fluid is also a great source of stem cells, found in a much higher concentration than the adult bone marrow. And just like when one uses their own stem cells, the use of amniotic fluid doesnt cause rejection or allergic reaction when injected into a patient.

Amniotic stem cell injections have been getting more attention since they have been openly used by prominent athletes with impressive results and even a few saved careers! The ability to safely and effectively treat painful and debilitating injuries and conditions of the knees, elbows, and shoulders without lengthy rehabilitation or recovery time isnt just appealing to professional athletes, but to anyone who wants relief from pain and to return to their favorite activities.

Initial small studies are showing that amniotic stem cell injections work well for the following indications: 1) Tendonitis 2) Ligament Injury 3) Arthritis 4) Sports Medicine Injuries 5) Cartilage Defects

Dr. Sisson at Colorado Clinic is an expert in regenerative medicine treatments. Call the practice today for an appointment!

Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Injections for Musculoskeletal Problems

What are Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Injections?

There are many types of stem cell injections that are currently in research mode. One type of stem cell injection currently used for many types of degenerative conditions is the bone marrow derived stem cell injection. This type of stem cell treatment is excellent for degenerative disc disease, joint arthritis, ligament injuries, spinal arthritis, and tendonitis. Studies have shown that therapy using regenerative treatment, such as bone marrow stem cell injections, work well for degenerative conditions.

Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Collection and Injection

Bone marrow derived stem cell injections are an outpatient procedure where a patients bone marrow is harvested. It is then processed and injected into the area of concern in the same setting. In bone marrow derived stem cell injections, collection is done in an outpatient procedure which takes about 30 minutes. The bone marrow derived stem cells are collected using a catheter and local anesthetic.

The bone marrow derived stem cells are removed from the body in the blood, circulated through a machine with the filtered blood, and returned to the patients body in the same procedure. The stem cells are filtered out of the blood using the aspheresis machine, which retains only the stem cells.

What is the Future of Bone Marrow Derived Stem Cell Injections?

The future of bone marrow derived stem cell injections is a bright one. There are two types of bone marrow stem cells that can be derived from the tissue composing the middle of the bones, mesenchymal, and hematopoietic stem cells. It is the hematopoietic stem cells that differentiate back into blood cells among other things, and the mesenchymal cells that differentiate into skeletal and vertebral tissues.

Bone marrow derived stem cell injections are showing excellent results for tendonitis, ligament injuries and degenerative arthritis. This can help produce great results for athletes and individuals who desire to avoid or delay the need for joint replacement surgery.

Dr. Sisson at Colorado Clinic is at the forefront of regenerative medicine treatments with stem cells. You will be in good hands!

PRP Therapy at Colorado Clinic

The Facts about PRP Injections

Platelet-rich (PRP) therapy is a form of therapy that is used for damage that occurs within the tendons, ligaments, and joints. This type of therapy works by stimulating repair within the areas that are damaged, while also providing pain relief for the area where the therapy is used. PRP therapy has been around for quite some time, but has only recently become a more common method of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions.

Due to the ease of application, and the very few side-effects present with PRP therapy, it is commonly replacing other treatments that are more invasive, such as surgical procedures.

What exactly is PRP Therapy?

PRP therapy is often called platelet-rich plasma therapy, and this type of therapy is provided in the form of an injection. Initially, about 30-60cc of blood is drawn from the patients arm. It is placed into a centrifuge machine and separates into several layers. The middle layer contains concentrated platelets and growth factors and is used in the treatment for injection into the problem area.

Your blood is composed of several different parts, and when the blood is put into a medical machine that spins it at a fast rate, the platelets are separated from the blood, collected, and then put into a vial in a concentrated amount. The collected platelets are then injected into the area that is damaged, which provides the pain relief and repairing effects for the area. This allows the patient to get the platelets and growth factors needed for healing, while also using the bodys own resources, which eliminates the possibility of side-effects occurring due to the body rejecting the injection that is made.

The platelets that are removed from the blood are the same ones within the blood that stick to one another when we are injured and the blood clots. While the blood as a whole is known to have great healing powers, the platelets are one of the most effective healing components of the blood. When injected into the different damaged areas of the body, they are able to call in stem cells, and also allow for regeneration of the soft tissue.

How does PRP Therapy Work?

When the PRP injection is made, the solution goes directly into the area that is damaged, and also into the areas surrounding the damage. The therapy is known to provide pain relief within a week for patients in up to 80% of cases, due to the ability ofthe injections to stimulate healing in the area at a much faster rate than what your body is able to provide. Platelet rich plasma also contains significant amounts of growth factors, and even severe damage can be healed over time with the use of this form of therapy.

Where can PRP be Used?

PRP therapy can be used in all of the joints within the body, and even areas of soft tissue that are damaged such as the shoulder, elbow, achilles, etc. This may include tendonitis, ligament injury or degenerative arthritis.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy at Colorado Clinic is offered by the top pain management and regenerative medicine doctor in Northern Colorado, Dr. Sisson. He has extensive experience with regenerative medicine including PRP therapy, make your appointment today!

Continued here: Regenerative Medicine Colorado Clinic

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StemCell Therapy MD

Recommendation and review posted by simmons

CDC Social Media posted a photo:

Disclaimer:
Please note that the personal stories in this album describe each individual’s experience with Lynch syndrome or Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and are not meant to offer medical advice. Decisions about medical care should be made taking into consideration the facts, the science, and the patient’s values. The right decision for one patient may not be right for someone else.

Georgia’s Story
I want you to know that I am grateful every single day of my life that I do not have cancer. However, I am writing this to let you know that for some women, having their ovaries removed is not a cakewalk. I was extremely unprepared and felt very alone – I am writing this so you feel neither.

My strong family history of early onset colorectal cancer prompted me to seek out genetic counseling and genetic testing, although I was healthy and cancer-free. At the age of 40, I tested positive for Lynch syndrome, a hereditary cancer syndrome that makes it more likely that I will get colorectal and other cancers, including uterine (endometrial) and ovarian cancer. The words “ovarian cancer” are two of the scariest words for any woman to hear. Screening for ovarian cancer at this time is poor and usually by the time it is discovered, it is too late. Current recommendations for women with Lynch syndrome do not agree on one course of action, and the evidence is limited on which option results in better outcomes. Other women might choose to have more intense and more frequent screenings. I opted for surgery to remove my ovaries and uterus. I was 9 years old when my mother died, and the thought of leaving my 12-year-old son motherless horrified me.
Ovaries are not just for reproduction. The estrogen they create protects the heart and bones, prevents many forms of cancer from developing, and is necessary for high cognitive functioning. Estrogen also impacts skin elasticity, libido, and mood. The removal of my ovaries would have enormous psychological and physical implications for me and would impact how I view myself. The moment I awoke from my surgery, I found myself in the abyss of forced menopausal hell. With the passage of time and decreasing estrogen levels, my situation worsened. Two months following my surgery, I found myself on a downward spiral into a very dark and frightening place. I found myself becoming more introverted, quiet, and disconnected from things, people, and many of my passions. What I struggled with the most was the decline of my maternal instinct: I had to make a concerted effort to continue my role as a mother.

Fortunately, the passage of time, combined with a dedicated doctor, helped improve many of the negative side effects of my hysterectomy and oophorectomy. I was fortunate to find a doctor who understood the importance of using hormone replacement therapy that is specific for each individual. The psychological and psychiatric interventions I received were also helpful. While I do feel better, I will never be the same woman. While researching Lynch syndrome and other hereditary cancer syndromes, I noticed tremendous symmetry between them. Although the mutations may be different, the psychological and some physical aspects of hereditary cancers share more parallels than disparities. After speaking with many other women who have undergone prophylactic oophorectomy, I have discovered that I am not alone. We may have prevented the potential development of ovarian cancer, but at a huge cost. Removing body parts holds implications for the emotional and psychological aspects of one’s being. Still, after reading a great deal about ovarian cancer, I am confident I made the right decision.

Learn more about Lynch syndrome:

Disclaimer: Linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by CDC, HHS, or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site.

http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/LynchSyndrome/
http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lynch-syndrome

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Living with Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and Lynch Syndrome: Georgia

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

General Genetics Clinics

The General Genetics Clinic at the University of Miami offers evaluation, management and genetic counseling for children and adults with known or suspected genetic conditions. This clinic welcomes children, adults, families, and couples. Common indications for referral to the general genetics clinic include developmental delays or learning problems, birth defects, growth disorders, vision or hearing impairment, muscular dystrophies, and metabolic disorders. Other individuals who may benefit from a genetic evaluation include those who have a known genetic condition, families that have multiple individuals with the same condition and parents who are concerned about passing on a condition to their children.

Comprehensive care and ongoing follow-up is provided by our team of board-certified geneticists and genetic counselors, as well as our registered dietician. Our physicians utilize state-of-the-art genetics laboratories to ensure patients are provided with the most up-to-date testing options. The clinical team is involved in a variety of research projects and collaborations allowing for the incorporation of the most current scientific advances into clinical care.

Director: Mustafa Tekin, M.D., FACMG,. Attending Physicians: Deborah Barbouth M.D., Stephanie Sacharow M.D. Genetic Counselors: Talia Donenberg, M.S., CGC Clinic locations: UM Mailman Center Medical Center Downtown, UM Kendall Clinic, Miami Childrens Hospital

Clinic hours:

Referral: Typically patients are referred through their primary care or specialty physicians. However, self-referrals are also welcomed. Please speak with your physician or your childs pediatrician about a referral to the clinic. An appointment can be made by calling 305-243-6006.

What can I expect from a visit to the general genetics clinic?

Before your visit:

During your visit: Please plan on arriving 10-15 minutes early for the registration process. A visit to the genetics clinic typically includes a review of the medical, family and developmental history, a physical examination, and a discussion of possible genetic conditions. The physician may order blood work, X-rays or other procedures. Genetics appointments are comprehensive and typically last 1-2 hours so please plan according.

After your visit: After your visit a detailed summary will be sent to your referring physician. If you would like to obtain a copy of the summary please let us know during your visit.

Contact us at: 1601 NW 12th St., Miami 33136 fax number (305-243-3919)

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General Genetics Clinics - University of Miami

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Type of Physician: Geneticist, Ph.D.

What is a Geneticist, Ph.D.? A certification by the Board of Medical Genetics; practitioners work in association with a medical specialist, are affiliated with a clinical genetics program, or serve as a consultant to medical and dental specialists.

Specialty: Genetics: Medical (Ph.D.)

Common Name:

Miami is a major city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida, in the United States. Miami is the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida. Miami is well-known as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, culture, fashion, print media, entertainment, the arts and international trade. An international center for popular entertainment in television, music, fashion, film, and the performing arts, Miami also has a powerful influence internationally. The city is also home to the largest concentration of international banks in the United States, as well as home to many international company headquarters, and television studios. The city's Port of Miami is the number one cruise/passenger port in the world and is known for accommodating the largest volume of cruise ships in the world, and is home to many major cruise line headquarters. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami)

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Miami FL Geneticist, Ph.D. Doctors - Genetic Counseling ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam

Cells are the building blocks of tissue, and tissues are the basic unit of function in the body. Generally, groups of cells make and secrete their own support structures, called extra-cellular matrix. This matrix, or scaffold, does more than just support the cells; it also acts as a relay station for various signaling molecules. Thus, cells receive messages from many sources that become available from the local environment. Each signal can start a chain of responses that determine what happens to the cell. By understanding how individual cells respond to signals, interact with their environment, and organize into tissues and organisms, researchers have been able to manipulate these processes to mend damaged tissues or even create new ones.

The process often begins with building a scaffold from a wide set of possible sources, from proteins to plastics. Once scaffolds are created, cells with or without a cocktail of growth factors can be introduced. If the environment is right, a tissue develops. In some cases, the cells, scaffolds, and growth factors are all mixed together at once, allowing the tissue to self-assemble.

Another method to create new tissue uses an existing scaffold. The cells of a donor organ are stripped and the remaining collagen scaffold is used to grow new tissue. This process has been used to bioengineer heart, liver, lung, and kidney tissue. This approach holds great promise for using scaffolding from human tissue discarded during surgery and combining it with a patients own cells to make customized organs that would not be rejected by the immune system.

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Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine | National ...

Recommendation and review posted by sam