news archive genetic news - May 28, 2008

May 28, 2008

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	A Critical Factor For Maintaining Blood Stem Cells A gene whose altered expression has previously associated with human leukaemias and Ewing's sarcoma -- a type of malignant bone tumour found in young adults -- is required for the proper functioning of blood stem cells.
-	A new program for analysis of genomic data A paper describes a new program for analysis of chromosomal regions and genome-wide expression data
-	Genetic Clue To 'Clubbing' Scientists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes digital clubbing, a deformity of the fingers and fingernails that is associated with a number of diseases of the heart and lungs.
-	Genetic Variants Affect Cancer Risk In Alcohol Drinkers Variants in certain genes lower the risk of various types of cancers in individuals who consume alcohol.
-	Searching For Cancer's 'Achilles' Heel' A new approach to finding genes important in the onset of cancer is described.
-	Understanding Cocaine Craving After withdrawal from cocaine, the number of certain receptors in the brain linked to cocaine cravings increase over time.
-	Target Identified For Dengue Therapy Scientists have identified a molecule targeted by dengue virus in mice to bring about the haemorrhagic fever associated with lethal disease.
-	How A Vaccine Enhancer Works A paper finally reveals how alum boosts the biological agent's effect in stimulating a protection response by the recipient's immune system for different vaccines.
-	Getting To Grips With Self-Renewal Embryonic stem cell (ESC) renewal does not rely on instructions from outside the cell and can be enabled by eliminating internal factors that induce differentiation.
-	Molecular Clues To Appetite And Drug Addiction Researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that underpins the brain's responses to food and drugs of abuse, such as cocaine.
-	Towards A Model For Huntington's Disease Progress towards developing a non-human primate model for Huntington's disease is reported online.