news archive genetic news - May 31, 2007

May 31, 2007

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	The Dual Role Of BRCA2 In DNA Repair The dual role of the gene BRCA2 in DNA repair is described in two independent studies.
-	A Red-Letter Day For Brain Connectivity Insights into grapheme-colour synesthesia are presented.
-	Deciphering The Histone Code A method to identify all modifications on histones, the proteins around which DNA is packed, is presented.
-	Checking Immune Activation Armed 'killer' cells can re-enter lymph nodes to destroy dendritic cells -- a specialized type of immune cell.
-	DNA Breakage In Living Color Spontaneous breaks of replicating DNA in bacteria occur at a rate much lower than suspected.
-	Gene Copy Number And Risk Of Autoimmunity Individuals with fewer than two copies of the gene FCGR3B are more susceptible to a variety of autoimmune disorders, including lupus.
-	Control Of All Fates Study investigates how pluripotency, the ability of a stem cell to differentiate into every cell type of the adult organism, is regulated.
-	Skin Barrier Formation And Caspase-14 A protein known as caspase-14 has been identified as the enzyme involved in the protection of the skin against UVB damage and water loss.
-	Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes Identified These findings increase our knowledge of the genetic component of breast cancer risk, much of which has remained uncharacterised.
-	Modelling Instability A mouse model that for the first time mimics the levels of genomic instability in human cancers is presented.
-	Successful Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy In Pregnancy A pregnant woman with cervical cancer has been treated successfully with neoadjuvant cisplatin chemotherapy, in order to stabilize her cancer.