your information resource in human molecular genetics
2008-05-28
A Critical Factor For Maintaining Blood Stem Cells A gene whose altered expression has previously associated with human leukaemias and Ewing's sarcoma -- a type of malignant bone tumour found in young adults -- is required for the proper functioning of blood stem cells.
Genetic Clue To 'Clubbing' Scientists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes digital clubbing, a deformity of the fingers and fingernails that is associated with a number of diseases of the heart and lungs.
Understanding Cocaine Craving After withdrawal from cocaine, the number of certain receptors in the brain linked to cocaine cravings increase over time.
Target Identified For Dengue Therapy Scientists have identified a molecule targeted by dengue virus in mice to bring about the haemorrhagic fever associated with lethal disease.
How A Vaccine Enhancer Works A paper finally reveals how alum boosts the biological agent's effect in stimulating a protection response by the recipient's immune system for different vaccines.
Getting To Grips With Self-Renewal Embryonic stem cell (ESC) renewal does not rely on instructions from outside the cell and can be enabled by eliminating internal factors that induce differentiation.
Fighting Glioma-Associated Edema Excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain can be prevented by inhibiting glutamate transport to prolong survival.
Strength In Numbers A large number of signalling motifs in the receptor complex expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes helps prevent autoimmunity.
Generating Human Autoimmune Cells The essential 'ingredients' for producing a type of human immune cell involved in both mucosal immunity and autoimmunity are reported online.
Genetic Susceptibility To Obesity Scientists have discovered genetic variants that increase the risk of obesity and insulin resistance in the general population.
Stem-Cell Regeneration Of The Breast Relies On Adhesion Interaction of basal stem cells in the breast with their cellular environment is crucial for their function, and helps towards the regeneration of the mammary glands during pregnancy.
Insight Into Devastating Pregnancy Condition A paper published online has identified two culprits likely to trigger pre-eclampsia if they are in short supply, opening up the possibilities of early diagnosis and even treatment of the disorder.
Why We Are All Different A paper takes a close look at the larger DNA variations that influence differences between individual humans and their potential origins and evolutionary history.
A Rogue Neighbourhood Gene expression changes in the tissue microenvironment in which a tumour arises can be used to predict outcome in patients with breast cancer.
Focus On Natural Killer Cells A series of articles explore the behaviour of the enigmatic lymphocytes (natural killer - NK - cells), and reflect on their transition from outcasts of mainstream immunology to prominent players in innate immunity.
Sequencing Sheds Light On The Cancer Genome The rearrangement of genomes in people with lung cancer can be identified using an approach called 'massively parallel sequencing.'
Breast Cancer Risk Variants Two common genetic variants on chromosome 5 increase susceptibility to certain types of breast cancer breast cancer.
Why We Are All Different A paper takes a close look at the larger variations within human DNA and their potential origins and evolutionary history.
Test-Tube Recipe Makes Functioning Heart Cells A Canadian, US and British research team has successfully grown three types of human heart cells from cultures derived from embryonic stem cells.
Sequencing Gets Personal Two months and less than $1 million is all it takes to sequence an individual genome.
Helping The Immune System Researchers identify a protein involved in blood circulation in tumours and demonstrate that deleting it opens up the tumour to the immune system.