Genetics News And Research - July 2008 Archives

Searching for shut eye: Penn study identifies possible sleep gene (7/31/2008)

In a recent study of fruit flies, they identified a gene that controls sleep ...> Full Article

Bacteria reveal secret of adaptation at Evolution Canyon (7/30/2008)

Bacteria living on opposite sides of a canyon have evolved to cope with different temperatures by altering the make-up of their 'skin', or cell membranes. ...> Full Article

Defining DNA Differences to Track and Tackle Typhoid (7/29/2008)

New-technology genome sequencing study reveals new genetic signatures ...> Full Article

UI and ISU establish shared DNA sequencing instrumentation (7/28/2008)

Two universities are pooling their resources to significantly enhance both institutions' genetic research capabilities. ...> Full Article

Eye Movement Disorder Caused by Improper Development of Motor Neurons (7/27/2008)

An international team of researchers has identified a gene mutated in Duane syndrome, a common disorder that restricts the movement of the eyes. ...> Full Article

1 missing gene leads to fruitless mating rituals (7/26/2008)

Male fruit flies missing a gene for one particular odor receptor become clueless in matters of love ...> Full Article

Consortium develops new method to manipulate genetic material (7/25/2008)

'Open source' strategy should be valuable tool for genomic research, gene therapy ...> Full Article

Broken DNA must find right partners quickly amid repairs (7/24/2008)

Gene called ATM suppresses break-induced chromosome translocations, study shows ...> Full Article

Microbes beneath sea floor genetically distinct (7/23/2008)

Tiny microbes beneath the sea floor, distinct from life on the Earth's surface, may account for one-tenth of the Earth's living biomass ...> Full Article

Class of antibiotics can enhance gene-silencing tool (7/22/2008)

Researchers have discovered that antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones can make RNA interference more effective in the laboratory and reduce potential side effects ...> Full Article

Researchers discover a gene that regulates and blocks ovulation (7/21/2008)

Researchers collaborate with European scientists to unlock mysteries of Lrh1 gene ...> Full Article

Strong New Measures Against Gene Doping in Sports (7/20/2008)

As the field of gene therapy matures, the techniques used to manipulate genetic material for therapeutic purposes are poised to join steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing drugs used in sports ...> Full Article

Brain scientists spot nature/nurture gene link (7/19/2008)

Neuroscientists have found that a previously unsuspected set of genes links nature and nurture during a crucial period of brain development. ...> Full Article

Newly Identified Role For 'Power Plants' In Human Cells Could Lead To Targeted Therapies (7/18/2008)

Scientists have determined that human cells are able to shift important gene products into their own mitochondria, considered the power plants of cells. The finding could eventually lead to therapies for dozens of diseases. ...> Full Article

Research Finds Further Evidence for Genetic Contribution to Autism (7/17/2008)

Some parents of children with autism evaluate facial expressions differently than the rest of us--and in a way that is strikingly similar to autistic patients themselves ...> Full Article

Epigenetics could promote obesity in next generation (7/16/2008)

Overweight mothers give birth to offspring who become even heavier, resulting in amplification of obesity across generations ...> Full Article

Relaxation response can influence expression of stress-related genes (7/15/2008)

Genomic study finds common biological basis for effects of mind/body practices ...> Full Article

Researchers unveil near-complete protein catalog for mitochondria (7/14/2008)

Work flows from advanced large-scale methods for measuring proteins; inventory includes nearly 300 novel proteins, highlights basis of rare metabolic disease ...> Full Article

Review article provides tools for the Rosaceae genomics community (7/13/2008)

Comprehensive overview of the genomics tools and resources available for the rapidly growing Rosaceae scientific community ...> Full Article

RNA emerges from DNA's shadow (7/13/2008)

EUROCORES program RNAQuality holds first conference ...> Full Article

Scientists discover key patterns in the packaging of genes (7/12/2008)

An effort to detect patterns of chemical changes in histones and their impact on gene expression ...> Full Article

DNA sewing machines (7/12/2008)

Japanese scientists have made a micro-sized sewing machine to sew long threads of DNA into shape ...> Full Article

Enzyme key to 'sister act' that maintains genome stability (7/11/2008)

Keeping the genome stable is a "sister act" of matched chromatids - the pairs of the double helix DNA molecule that exist during the chromosome duplication in the S phase of the cell cycle. ...> Full Article

Deep sequencing study reveals new insights into human transcriptome (7/10/2008)

Project takes the first step towards a new picture of the mammalian genome annotation ...> Full Article

Researchers find new mode of gene regulation in mammals (7/10/2008)

Researchers have discovered a type of gene regulation never before observed in mammals--a "ribozyme" that controls the activity of an important family of genes in several different species. ...> Full Article

Keeping genetic order (7/9/2008)

Scientists pinpoint body's system for preventing chromosomal defects ...> Full Article

Duckweed genome sequencing has global implications (7/9/2008)

Pond scum can undo pollution, fight global warming and alleviate world hunger ...> Full Article

Creating a new approach to archiving human genetic information (7/8/2008)

Scientists create wiki style system for gene annotation. ...> Full Article

Researchers identify new targets for RNAs that regulate genes (7/7/2008)

Tiny strands of genetic material called RNA â€" a chemical cousin of DNA â€" are emerging as major players in gene regulation, the process inside cells that drives all biology and that scientists seek to control in order to fight disease. ...> Full Article

Genomics Research Focuses on Rice Variety Improvement (7/7/2008)

Crop varieties can be improved through the study of genomics without creating genetically transformed varieties. ...> Full Article

Mate choice in plants (7/6/2008)

A newly-identified self-incompatibility factor in tobacco helps maintain genetic diversity ...> Full Article

Complexity of Crohn's disease revealed as 'gene' count tops 30 (7/6/2008)

New research has trebled the number of genetic regions known to be implicated in Crohn's disease, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, to over thirty ...> Full Article

Plants in the fourth dimension (7/5/2008)

The molecular basis and regulation of circadian rhythms in plants ...> Full Article

US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute announces new genome sequencing projects (7/5/2008)

Pine tree, boat-boring bivalve 'bugs,' duck weed, oil-producing microalgae, stinkbird gut, 40 others top 2009 targets ...> Full Article

Inelegant Worms Provide New Clues About Gene Required for Development (7/4/2008)

The normal nematodes in Fern Finger’s lab move in beautiful S-shaped curves across their Petri dish. In fact, it was these elegant movements that gave the tiny, clear worms the Latin name Caenorhabditis elegans. But the dish also contains worms with a very specific genetic defect, a mutant unc-85 gene, which are easily identified as the clumsiest dancers on the tiny dance floor. ...> Full Article

Sunburn alert: UVB does more damage to DNA than UVA (7/4/2008)

New report may lead to independence from skin cancer ...> Full Article

Researchers Develop Tool To Study Genes (7/4/2008)

Researchers have developed a computational tool that will help scientists more accurately study complex units of clustered genes, called operons, in bacteria. ...> Full Article

Homosexual behavior due to genetics and environmental factors (7/3/2008)

Homosexual behaviour is largely shaped by genetics and random environmental factors, according to findings from the world's largest study of twins. ...> Full Article

Political Participation Is Partially Rooted in Genetic Inheritance and Specifically Associated with Two Genes (7/3/2008)

The decision to vote is partly genetic ...> Full Article

To branch or not to branch (7/2/2008)

RAMOSA gene network influences grain architecture and yield in maize ...> Full Article

The 21st century tomato (7/2/2008)

Using systems biology to model the metabolic networks in tomato fruit development ...> Full Article

New Electrostatic-based DNA Microarray Technique Could Revolutionize Medical Diagnostics (7/1/2008)

Researchers have invented a technique in which DNA or RNA assays can be read and evaluated without the need of elaborate chemical labeling or sophisticated instrumentation. ...> Full Article