news archive genetic news - November 14, 2008

November 14, 2008

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	A Window on Breast Cancer Researchers have developed a technique to track individual breast cancer cells as they metastasize and invade other regions of the body.
-	Souped-Up T Cells Researchers have engineered killer T cells that are better able to limit the spread of HIV in cell culture.
-	Making an Impact on Reproduction The November 2008 issue of Nature Medicine reveals the papers that the reproduction community has chosen as the most important of the past three years.
-	Fighting Neuroblastoma A strategy to treat neuroblastoma using the patient's immune cells is published online.
-	Neuronal Contribution to Risk of Multiple Sclerosis The first risk variant for multiple sclerosis in a gene expressed specifically in neurons has been identified.
-	Risk Variants for Intracranial Aneurysm Scientists have identified two new genetic risk factors for intracranial aneurysm.
-	Duplicitous Role for Classic Cancer Molecule A molecule previously thought to promote cancer may in some circumstances play a part in slowing it down.
-	Monkey Vaccine Fights Off AIDS A study in monkeys demonstrates that T cells can be commandeered to provide protection against an HIV-like virus.
-	Engineered DNA 'Scissors' Show Promise A molecular 'pair of scissors' that snips out specific chunks of DNA has yielded promising results both in vitro and in cells.
-	Cancer Genome Sequenced An individual cancer genome has been sequenced for the first time, identifying mutated genes that probably have a role in the development of acute myeloid leukaemia.
-	The Promise of Personal Genomics The power of next-generation genome sequencing technology is demonstrated in two collaborations published.
-	Widespread Alternative Splicing Over 90% of human genes undergo alternative splicing, a form of messenger RNA processing that yields multiple proteins from a single gene.