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news archive April 2004

your information resource in human molecular genetics

2004-04-27

Raising The Dead
Resurrecting ancient genes is now allowing scientists to peer into the genetic causes of primeval evolutionary processes.
Should Healthy People Take Mind-Boosting Drugs?
Is it safe, fair and morally acceptable to use drugs originally created for mental dysfunctions to improve the minds of normal, healthy people? The time to answer these social and ethical questions is now, says a group of leading neuroscientists.
Understanding HIV Drug Resistance
A study reports two related structures of reverse transcriptase (RT) with bound tenofovir. The results explain the unusually low resistance of HIV to tenofovir.
Harnessing The Activity Of A Detox Enzyme
Researchers have determined the structure of an enzyme that inactivates the nerve agent sarin and related toxic molecules.
Noticing The Mistakes Of Others
The same brain region is active both when people make errors and when they watch other people making errors.
Tan, Then Transplant
A dose of ultraviolet (UV) radiation staves off graft vs. host disease (GVHD) after a bone marrow transplant.
Suppressing The Bad
Autoimmunity is normally prevented in most people, possibly because of a population of CD8 suppressor cells, whose existence has now been proven by scientists.
A New Mode For Killing Cancer Cells
The p53 protein performs a more direct role in cell suicide (apoptosis) by interacting with one of the pro-death proteins.
HIV/Polio Vaccine Theory Refuted
The data should help to end speculation that the immunodeficiency virus jumped to humans after polio vaccines became contaminated with a simian form of the virus.
No Need For Men?
Researchers have produced live mice by parthenogenesis, in which the unfertilized egg retains two sets of chromosomes and begins to develop as if it had been fertilized.

2004-04-20

World’s oldest mouse reaches milestone birthday
U-M’s geriatric mouse colony helps scientists learn about human aging.
When 'Switched On' Muscle Stem Cells Morph To Resemble Nerve Cells
An artificial gene activates a panel of genes that are normally silent in the muscle cells, causing them to morph into neuronal cells.
A New Hypothesis About Autoimmunity—Is it Possible to be Too Clean?
Connection between poor T cell survival in the body and the development of autoimmunity.
New Hereditary Gene Linked To Parkinson's Disease
UCL scientists have discovered a new gene implicated in the early development of Parkinson's disease.
Rewriting Textbooks On DNA Crossover
Key decisions in the genetic shuffling that occurs before eggs or sperm are formed are made earlier than thought.

2004-04-13

A New Mode For Killing Cancer Cells
REsearch suggests that the p53 protein performs a more direct role in cell suicide (apoptosis) by interacting with one of the pro-death proteins.
What Was That Guy Thinking?
Patients with damage to a particular brain area find it impossible to interpret the thoughts and beliefs of others based on their actions
A New Mouse Model For Cystic Fibrosis
Study unveils a new mouse model of cystic fibrosis (CF), revealing a key aspect of the disease's mechanism.
New Genes Linked To Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Two studies describe the identification of genes associated with susceptibility to Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, the two most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Turning Pounds Into Bare Bones
Stem cells hiding in those extra pounds could soon be used by doctors to heal injuries to tissues like muscle and bone.
Skin Gene Controls Bone Development
Researchers have identified a gene that aids bone development when active in skin.
Genes Predict Adverse Drug Reaction
A certain type of adverse drug reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) could be predicted by using gene screening
Human Chromosomes 13 And 19 In The Spotlight
Researchers have deciphered the sequences of human chromosomes 13 and 19. The information should help to shed light on human diseases, such as cancer and diabetes.
SARS Vaccine Yields Promising Results In Mice
An experimental vaccine against the SARS coronavirus has yielded promising results in mice.
Rat Genome Unveiled
The rodent's DNA has been deciphered and analysed by a collaborative network of researchers, known as the Rat Genome Sequencing Project Consortium, who hope that their work will stimulate progress in medicine.