news archive genetic news - April 21, 2003

April 21, 2003

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Young Neurons In Old Brains The functional properties of adult-born neurons develop in a different order than that seen in young animals.
-	Organ Alchemy: Producing Insulin In The Liver Introducing pancreatic genes into cells in the adult liver directs those cells to produce insulin and reverses diabetes in a mouse model of the disease.
-	Lost Genes Lend New Strength To TB Vaccine Reinforcing the existing tuberculosis (TB) vaccine with new genes from the microbe that causes the disease makes the vaccine more effective.
-	Smart Bone Repair 'Smart' material may eventually be useful for healing injured bone or other tissues in human patients.
-	Suicidal Gene Therapy Fights Hepatitis C Scientists demonstrate that adenoviral gene therapy can lead to significant reductions in levels of hepatitis C virus in mice containing virally infected human liver cells.
-	Stem Cell Injections Improve Paralysis In Mouse Model Of Multiple Sclerosis Researchers hope that, in future, similar therapies will be used to treat human MS and other autoimmune diseases.
-	Understanding How Blood Is Made A key gene involved in the production and growth of blood stem cells, Bmi-1, regulates the activity of normal and cancerous blood stem cells.