news archive genetic news - May 21, 2009

May 21, 2009

your information resource in human molecular genetics

-	Experience-Dependent Brain Changes in Angelman Syndrome Sensory-experience dependent modification of visual areas in the brain are disrupted in a mouse model of Angelman syndrome (AS).
-	Coordinated Memory Brain areas known to be involved in emotions and learning are more coordinated with each other during learning.
-	Gene Transfer Protects Monkeys against SIV Infection Delivering an antibody-coding gene to the muscle of monkeys protects them against the infection simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).
-	Interleukin 17: A Jekyll and Hyde of the Immune System? Interleukin 17 (IL-17) -- a soluble factor thought to promote inflammation and autoimmunity -- can actually suppress the onset of inflammatory bowel disease.
-	Gene Variants to Set Your Biological Clock By Genes may provide some clues to the variation in the age at which a woman gets her first and last menstrual period according to five independent studies.
-	Genetic Differences in Blood Pressure Enough to Affect Heart Risks Small genetic differences between individuals contribute small differences in blood pressure that are sufficient to present different risks of heart attack and stroke.
-	Dopamine Neurons Are a Mixed Bunch Dopamine neurons are more heterogeneous than was previously thought.
-	Beating Heart Enhances Blood-Cell Formation Biomechanical forces have a key role in the development of early blood cells.
-	Follow the Code Certain forms of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can result from misinterpretation of chromatin modifications.