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New effort to produce standardized DNA parts for reducing development time of synthetic biology in labs

With seed money from the National Science Foundation (NSF), bioengineers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Stanford University are ramping up efforts to characterize the thousands of control elements critical to the engineering of microbes so that eventually, researchers can mix and match these "DNA parts" in synthetic organisms to produce new drugs, fuels or chemicals.

21 Jan 2010

Researchers explain how HSV dismantles host's defense systems

A viral infection is like an uninvited, tenacious houseguest in the cell, using a range of tricks to prevent its eviction. Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have identified one of the key proteins allowing herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA to fly under the radar of their hosts' involuntary hospitality.

21 Jan 2010

ChromoCure's aneuploidy theory of cancer further validated

ChromoCure, Inc. -- The Company announces that its long-held theory of cancer, aneuploidy, has been further validated by a study published in the January 15, 2010 issue of Cancer Research (Volume 70, Issue 2).

21 Jan 2010

Mouse sperm can discriminate between its brethren and competing sperm, says study

Some mouse sperm can discriminate between its brethren and competing sperm from other males, clustering with its closest relatives to swim faster in the race to the egg. But this sort of cooperation appears to be present only in certain promiscuous species, where it affords an individual's sperm a competitive advantage over that of other males.

21 Jan 2010

Quorum sensing offers a dynamic approach to increase sensitivity to external signals

Researchers at UC San Diego who last year genetically engineered bacteria to keep track of time by turning on and off fluorescent proteins within their cells have taken another step toward the construction of a programmable genetic sensor. The scientists recently synchronized these bacterial "genetic clocks" to blink in unison and engineered the bacterial genes to alter their blinking rates when environmental conditions change.

21 Jan 2010

New research reveals grid cells in human brain provide a cognitive, spatial map

'Grid cells' that act like a spatial map in the brain have been identified for the first time in humans, according to new research by UCL scientists which may help to explain how we create internal maps of new environments.

21 Jan 2010

Study indicates size of brain structures may predict performance and learning rates

Researchers can predict your performance on a video game simply by measuring the volume of specific structures in your brain, a multi-institutional team reports this week.

21 Jan 2010

Study: PrEP treatment offers protection against HIV transmission in humanized mice

Systemic pre-exposure administration of antiretroviral drugs provides protection against intravenous and rectal transmission of HIV in mice with human immune systems, according to a new study published January 21, 2010 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

21 Jan 2010

Discovery of new class of compounds may help fight hepatitis C

Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have discovered a novel class of compounds that, in experiments in vitro, inhibit replication of the virus responsible for hepatitis C. If these compounds prove effective in infected humans as well, they may dramatically accelerate efforts to confront this virus’s propensity to rapidly acquire drug resistance, while possibly skirting some of the troubling side effects common among therapies in current use and in late-stage development.

21 Jan 2010

Life sciences and healthcare segments support nanotech venture capital investments

The heyday for nanotech venture capital (VC) likely saw its peak in 2008, when overall investment reached $1.4 billion. Last year, the sector raised only $792 million, signifying a 42% decline from 2008. But while overall nano VC backing is down, it's not out, according to a new report from Lux Research.

21 Jan 2010

New class of HCV inhibitors discovered by Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company developing antiviral therapies, announced today the publication of research from the labs of Stanford scientist and Eiger Founder, Dr. Jeffrey Glenn, M.D., Ph.D. and colleagues entitled, "Identification of a Novel Class of HCV Inhibitors". Published in the January 20th edition of Science and Translational Medicine, the research validates a domain, termed 4BAH2, within the non-structural protein (NS4B) of the HCV genome, as essential for HCV replication and describes the development of a high-throughput screen leading to the identification of small molecule inhibitors of 4BAH2.

21 Jan 2010

Study identifies new mechanism that causes allergic response in people

WHAT: A new study in human cells has singled out a molecule that specifically directs immune cells to develop the capability to produce an allergic response. The signaling molecule, called thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), is key to the development of allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema) and food allergy.

21 Jan 2010

Study shows nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system

Bonn researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune functions in healthy people. In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body's cells, the body releases more antimicrobial peptides in order to protect itself. The scientists will publish their results in the journal Nature.

21 Jan 2010

Blueberries may help boost memory in older adults

Scientists are reporting the first evidence from human research that blueberries - one of the richest sources of healthful antioxidants and other so-called phytochemicals - improve memory.

21 Jan 2010

Research shows brain abnormalities develop years before Parkinson's symptoms appear

Scientists who have identified brain networks damaged in Parkinson's disease have new evidence that these systems become abnormal a few years before symptoms appear. And what's more, parts of the network appear to respond in a last ditch attempt to rescue the brain.

21 Jan 2010

Research provides new insights on VEGF receptor function

Researchers at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Villigen, Switzerland, have determined the crystal structure of the ligand binding domain of a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor in complex with one of its ligands (VEGF-C).

21 Jan 2010

Maturation disorders of nerve terminals may trigger autism

For brain cells to communicate, the contacts to each other must function. The protein molecule neuroligin-1 plays an important role in this as it stimulates the necessary maturation processes at the contact sites (synapses) of the nerves.

21 Jan 2010

Ambry Genetics introduces new StemArray product and services utilizing aCGH technology

Ambry Genetics today introduces their new StemArray™ product and services utilizing aCGH technology to cover the entire genome. The Ambry StemArray™ offers a higher resolution approach to standard karyotyping for stem cells at comparable costs.

20 Jan 2010

SCF to host "Accelerate the Cure" fundraiser

On Thursday, January 21, 2010, the Sabrina Cohen Foundation for Stem Cell Research (SCF) is hosting “Accelerate the Cure,” a fundraiser with Dr. Joshua Hare, Louis Lemberg Professor of Medicine, Director, Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.

20 Jan 2010

DNA testing can help individuals make more-informed health and lifestyle decisions

Mention the term “genetic testing” and reactions can vary widely—from curiosity, to reticence or anxiety, to enthusiastic acceptance. The reality is, DNA testing has been used for decades, primarily to determine the paternity of children and to obtain forensic evidence for police investigations and legal trials.

20 Jan 2010

Medical Science News

New effort to produce standardized DNA parts for reducing development time of synthetic biology in labs

Researchers explain how HSV dismantles host's defense systems

ChromoCure's aneuploidy theory of cancer further validated

Mouse sperm can discriminate between its brethren and competing sperm, says study

Quorum sensing offers a dynamic approach to increase sensitivity to external signals

New research reveals grid cells in human brain provide a cognitive, spatial map

Study indicates size of brain structures may predict performance and learning rates

Study: PrEP treatment offers protection against HIV transmission in humanized mice

Discovery of new class of compounds may help fight hepatitis C

Life sciences and healthcare segments support nanotech venture capital investments

New class of HCV inhibitors discovered by Eiger BioPharmaceuticals

Study identifies new mechanism that causes allergic response in people

Study shows nutrition has a direct influence on the immune system

Blueberries may help boost memory in older adults

Research shows brain abnormalities develop years before Parkinson's symptoms appear

Research provides new insights on VEGF receptor function

Maturation disorders of nerve terminals may trigger autism

Ambry Genetics introduces new StemArray product and services utilizing aCGH technology

SCF to host "Accelerate the Cure" fundraiser

DNA testing can help individuals make more-informed health and lifestyle decisions

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

How GLP‑1 Agonists Are Shaping the Future of Obesity Treatment With Dr Bryony Henderson

Flow chemistry, AI, and NMR: A next-gen approach to scalable API production

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