news archive genetic news - March 23, 2009

March 23, 2009

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Effects of Prenatal Drug Exposure It is important to close the gap between scientific understanding of the effects of drug exposure in the womb on brain development and public perception and policy.
-	How Nerve Fibers Degenerate An enzyme inside nerve cells that is crucial for nerve fibre degeneration in fruit flies and mice is identified.
-	Shutting the Door on Obesity Knocking out an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of fat in the intestine protects mice from obesity.
-	A Brain Trauma-Alzheimer's Disease Connection Two enzymes implicated in Alzheimer's disease may also have a role in traumatic brain injury.
-	Risk Factor for Blood Diseases A common genetic sequence abnormality that enhances the likelihood of acquiring a mutation in a gene linked to blood diseases has been identified.
-	A Pancreatic Path Scientists have found a small compound that could direct stem cells to become insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells.
-	How to Make a Dopamine-Producing Neuron A 'control switch' that instructs immature cells to become dopamine-expressing neurons is revealed.
-	Link between Cancer and Dietary Restriction A signalling pathway that influences how sensitive cancer cells are to the beneficial effects of dietary restriction (DR) is described.