news archive genetic news - June 26, 2008

June 26, 2008

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Enzyme Variant May Contribute to Off-task Behaviour in ADHD A single genetic change to an enzyme that regulates dopamine in the brain could account for the difficulties some children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have staying on task.
-	Prenatal Test for Devastating Skin Disorder A rare genetic disorder that causes extremely fragile skin and mucosa can be easily diagnosed in a first trimester fetus thanks to a non invasive immunofluorescence procedure.
-	Improving Stroke Therapy The mechanism that may cause the undesirable bleeding associated with blood clot 'dissolving' enzymes is described in a paper published online.
-	Arthritis Drug May Help Combat Kidney Disease A drug currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis could be used to treat people with a genetic kidney disease.
-	Cut Off the Food to Spite the Tumour Researchers have uncovered the important role of a molecule in directing the formation of blood supply to tumours.
-	Gene Addiction Reveals Cancer's Achilles' Heel Blood cancer cells are hooked on the expression of a normal gene.
-	New Heart Progenitors Found A new type of heart stem cell is described online.
-	Muscle Degeneration Researchers have identified a molecule that is involved in muscle ageing, and show that a balance between this and another known factor interferes with regeneration.