news archive genetic news - June 12, 2008

June 12, 2008

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	A new program for calculation of statistical power in genetic association studies A paper describes a new program for analysis of statistical power in genetic association studies
-	Preventing Amyloid Formation Epigallocatechin gallate, an antioxidant popularly known as EGCG, can prevent the formation of amyloid fibrils, toxic protein aggregates associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
-	Helping Seizures With Acidity Activation of certain acid-sensing molecules in the brain can interrupt severe seizures associated with epilepsy, reports a study published online.
-	Mapping And Quantifying Mammalian Transcriptomes By RNA-Seq Researchers have applied next-generation sequencing to monitor the messenger RNA output of the mammalian genome.
-	A Drug Against Blood Cancer May Also Fight Lupus A drug used to treat multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells, could also be useful for the treatment of the chronic autoimmune disease lupus erythematosus.
-	Zipping To Sites Of Infection The way in which immune cells focus in on invading bacteria within infected tissues is reported online.
-	Fighting Infection From An Unlikely Source A rare type of white blood cell has been shown to play an important role in long term immunity to infections.
-	Multi-Part Bacterial Sensor One process through which immune cells "sense" the presence of dangerous bacteria is revealed online.
-	Rare 'de novo' Mutations Contribute To Schizophrenia Risk Individuals who have a non-familial form of schizophrenia are approximately eight times more likely than those without the disease to harbour copy number mutations in their genomes.
-	New Prognostic Marker For Breast Cancer Scientists have identified a genetic variant that strongly predicts poor survival among women with breast cancer, particularly after treatment with a commonly used form of chemotherapy.
-	Cellular Senescence And Ageing Two tumour suppressor genes with crucial effects on the ability of cells to divide and replicate have been found to affect the ageing process in mice.
-	Sequence Of Response Immunologists have uncovered a molecular mechanism that alerts the immune system to the presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
-	Cell Discovery Helps Understanding Of Heart Growth Cell biologists have identified a protein that helps to direct the development of heart cells early in embryonic development.