news archive genetic news - May 7, 2009

May 7, 2009

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	No Ticket No Entry A gene 'ticket' that allows cancer cells admittance to the brain is reported in a paper published online.
-	Chromatin-Modification Link to Memory A chromatin-modifying enzyme impairs memory formation in mice.
-	A Time to Stress Exposure to stress affects the brain, but different brain areas are vulnerable at particular times in life.
-	The Dangers of Double Dipping Analyses of data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and studies tracking electrical activity in the brain can generate misleading results, suggests an article online.
-	Easing the Way to Pluripotency Tools to selectively drive the expression of genes in pluripotent stem cells while leaving differentiated cells untouched are reported online.
-	A Primate-Specific Potassium Channel in Schizophrenia A primate-specific variant of a potassium channel affects cerebral cortex function, cognition, neuronal physiology and risk of having schizophrenia.
-	High Rate of Chromosomal Instability in Human Embryos Abnormal chromosome structure in early human embryos is quite common, according to a report online.
-	Genetic Factors for Common Traits in Asians Scientists in Korea have carried out the first large screen of health-related genes in an East Asian population.
-	Sleep Disorder Associated With Autoimmune Response An assault of the immune system on sleep centers of the brain may cause narcolepsy.
-	Energized by RNA Scientists have discovered a new class of enzymes that use a type of RNA to make natural products.
-	Fresh Lead for Broad-Spectrum Huntington's Therapy New findings may catalyze the development of drugs to treat Huntington's and other similar diseases.
-	Easing Inflammation A new type of therapy that targets a key enzyme in a specific type of white blood cell eases inflammation in mice.
-	Protein Cocktail Directs Production of New Heart Cells Researchers have discovered a cocktail of proteins that triggers the production of new heart muscle cells.
-	“The future of genetic studies of complex human diseases”: Drs. Merikangas and Risch talk about that influential paper 13 years later hum-molgen.org is starting a series of interviews and discussions with authors of recent papers that have been highly influential in human molecular genetics.