news archive genetic news - August 22, 2007

August 22, 2007

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	A Sponge To Soak Up Regulatory RNAs Genetically encoded inhibitors that soak up microRNAs in mammalian cells are presented.
-	Positive Selection During Human Evolution Sequences in the human genome that have undergone positive selection are found in abundance in regions that regulate the expression of genes involved in neural or nutritional processes.
-	Prevention And Treatment Of Craniosynostosis Two successful strategies for the prevention and treatment of craniosynostosis -- premature fusion of the sutures in the skull -- are reported.
-	How West Nile Virus Became Dangerous A single causative mutation has been identified in the virulent strain of West Nile virus that has been responsible for deadly outbreaks of human encephalitis in recent years.
-	Henrietta's Legacy In a review, Toren Finkel and colleagues not only offer a historical perspective, but also describe the more recent research linking cancer biology to normal ageing.
-	Ubiquitin Is Ubiquitous In Huntington's Disease The link between Huntington's disease and a protein known as ubiquitin may be greater than previously thought.