news archive genetic news - July 12, 2005

July 12, 2005

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Synthetic Biology Will Help Manage Nature's Biothreats Synthetic biology may help to manage even greater biological threats from nature, so banning this technology is likely to cause more harm than good.
-	Genetic Influences On Anxiety Brain areas involved in anxiety have abnormal activity in individuals with Williams syndrome.
-	Understanding A Side Effect Of TZDs Mechanism underlying the side effect of Thiazolidinediones - systemic fluid retention - is explained.
-	SARS Receptor Identified In Vivo Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a crucial receptor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus in vivo.
-	Growth Factor Brings Back Hope To Parkinson Patients Infusion of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) into the brain of people with Parkinson disease induces the growth of nerve fibers in one of the brain regions affected by this disorder.
-	Adding up Tolls for Immune Cell Researchers show that human immune cells integrate multiple signals obtained by 'tasting' their microbial invader through sensors known as Toll-like receptors (TLRs).
-	TACI Is Mutant In Common Variable Immunodeficiency And IgA Deficiency Two research studies present evidence for a new genetic factor underlying two human immunodeficiency syndromes.
-	Fibrous Genetics The identification of a gene contributing to the proliferation of fibrous tissue in the liver has been reported.
-	Mechanism Of Motor Neuron Disease A study reports a new mechanism underlying motor neuron disease.
-	An Amplified Difference In Melanoma Cells Scientists have found a distinct amplification of the gene encoding MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) in melanoma cells.
-	Cigarette Brain Boost Inseparable From Addiction New research in mice shows that the same brain system is involved in both stimulation and addiction, meaning that the two are unlikely to be separable.
-	A Global View Of Cancer Specific modifications of histones are linked to changes in gene expression, and have been found to be altered in cancer.
-	The Dynamics Of A Human Cancer Revealed A team of researchers has developed a mathematical model based on the biology of blood cell formation to describe how certain cancer cells respond to a molecularly targeted therapy.