Walnut Creek, CA (Scicasts) – The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI) is among the world leaders in sequencing the genomes of microbes, focusing on their potential applications in the fields of bioenergy and environment.
Baltimore, MD (Scicasts) – Johns Hopkins researchers have succeeded in teaching computers how to identify commonalities in DNA sequences known to regulate gene activity, and to then use those commonalities to predict other regulatory regions throughout the genome.
London, UK (Scicasts) – Researchers from Queen Mary, University of London have developed a new gene test that can detect pre-cancerous cells in patients with benign-looking mouth lesions. The test could potentially allow at-risk patients to receive earlier treatment, significantly improving their chance of survival.
Rehovot, Israel (Scicasts) – Since the sequencing of the human genome in 2001, all our genes – around 20,000 in total – have been identified. But much is still unknown – for instance where and when each is active.
Raleigh, North Carolina (Scicasts) – New research from North Carolina State University finds that gold nanoparticles with a slight positive charge work collectively to unravel DNA’s double helix. [Video]
New York, NY (Scicasts) – Chromosomes are strands of DNA that contain the blueprint of all living organisms. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes that instruct how genes are regulated during development of the human body. While scientists have developed an understanding of the one-dimensional structure of DNA, until today, little was known about how different parts of DNA are folded next to each other inside the nucleus.
Arlington, VA (Scicasts) - Scientists have synthesized from scratch a so-called chromosome 'arm' -- 1 of the largest DNA molecules ever synthesized, and developed a new method for shuffling an organism's genetic deck, according to a report by the National Science Foundation.
New Orleans, LA (Scicasts) - GenoVive has announced the launch of a personalized approach to weight loss and sustained healthy eating. This new program, created by the GenoVive scientists and chefs, tailors home-delivered meal programs and exercise plans to each unique metabolism and empowers consumers to achieve their weight loss goals. GenoVive provides a long-term lifestyle solution to healthy weight management and a better quality of life.
Berkeley, CA (Scicasts) - DNA construction, also known as DNA cloning or recombinant DNA technology - among a host of other terms - is one of the principal tools of modern biotechnology, used for a wide variety of purposes, including genetic studies, medical research, and the development of advanced biofuels.
Seattle, WA (Scicasts) - The Allen Institute for Brain Science has released the world's first anatomically and genomically comprehensive human brain map, a previously unthinkable feat made possible through leading-edge technology and more than four years of rigourous studies and documentation. The unprecedented mappings are the foundation for the Allen Human Brain Atlas, an online public resource developed to advance the Institute's goal to accelerate understanding of how the human brain works and fuel new discovery among the global research community.
London, UK (Scicasts) - Research being presented today (01 April) at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science conference provides another piece in the puzzle of why it can be so hard to produce large numbers of the same type of cell in the lab – a process that is vital for scaling up stem cell production for therapeutic use. This knowledge will help researchers to develop strategies for obtaining the desired cell type for use in either research or medicine.
Detroit, MI (Scicasts) - A Wayne State University School of Medicine physician-researcher has developed a personalized therapy to treat a wide range of cancers. According to the report from the university, the treatment is based on a naturally occurring human enzyme that has been genetically modified to fool cancer cells into killing themselves.
Victoria, Australia (Scicasts) – According to a report from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, scientists have begun to unravel how blood stem cells regenerate themselves, identifying a key gene required for the process.
Munich, Germany (Scicasts) - Defects in the genome are the cause of many diseases. Gene therapy – direct replacement of mutant genes by intact DNA copies – offers a means of correcting such defects.
San Francisco, CA (Scicasts) - Researchers at The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have tackled a decade-long scientific conundrum, and their discovery is expected to lead to significant advances in using stem cells to treat genetic diseases before birth. Through a series of mouse model experiments, the research team determined that a mother's immune response prevents a foetus from accepting transplanted blood stem cells, and yet this response can be overcome simply by transplanting cells harvested from the mother herself.
Edinburgh, Scotland and London, UK (Scicasts) – According to research performed by scientists at the Roslin Institute and Cambridge University, a Bird flu epidemics could be prevented by a new strain of chickens that do not spread avian flu to other birds.
Austin, TX (Scicasts) - The source of HIV infection in two separate criminal cases in which men were convicted of intentionally infecting their female sexual partners was confirmed by scientists from The University of Texas at Austin and Baylor College of Medicine using evolutionary forensics.