Genomic Research

Cystic Fibrosis Research: Scientists Create Pigs with Cystic Fibrosis

Using genetic engineering and cloning technologies, scientists have created pigs with the lung disease cystic fibrosis. It's a breakthrough in the search for new ways of treating cystic fibrosis because up until now knowledge gained from animal models of the disease has been limited.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 7, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Curious Gene Names

Maybe it helps to while away the long lonely hours at the lab bench, but some geneticists have a penchant for giving their gene discoveries curious names. There are genes called Naked, Ken and Barbie, and Chianti, and the clues to their functions lie with their names.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 6, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Sleep Attack Gene Discovered

Narcolepsy is an unusual condition where people suddenly and without warning fall asleep. These 'sleeping attacks' can happen anywhere; during a conversation whilst eating or driving a car. New research has uncovered a genetic mutation that may be responsible for the neurological condition.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 6, 2009 to
Genetics Articles

Skin Disorder: Incontinentia Pigmenti

Incontinentia pigmenti, also known as Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that's characterised by a discolouration of the skin. It's an X-linked dominantly inherited condition caused by mutations in a gene known as NEMO.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 6, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Stephen Hawking in Space

Stephen Hawking is blasting off into outer space. Well, actually his digitized DNA will be sent into space to promote the Archon X Prize for genomics, a $10 million prize to the first person or team who can sequence 100 genes within 10 days or less.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 6, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Metagenomics and Genetics Research: Getting Closer to Microbes

Planet Earth is home to billions upon billions of microbes. Most of them are invisible to the naked eye, but now it's time to get a little more familiar with our tiny neighbours. And that's where metagenomics comes in; a relatively new way of characterising them.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 5, 2009 to
Genetics Articles

How A Gene Promotes Cancer Metastasis

One of the big challenges with cancer therapy is how to keep the disease under control when it starts to spread round the body. In a potential boost for tackling cancer, scientists have identified the mechanism by which a cancer gene promotes metastasis.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 5, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Worm Genome and the Evolution of Parasitism

There's nothing that a nematode worm likes more than feasting on the microbes that cover the carcasses of dead beetles. A new examination of the worm genome sheds light on how this might have led to the evolution of parasitic worms.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 5, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Genome Map of Malaria Parasites

Parasites should be quaking. Some of their inner secrets are being revealed. An international team of researchers has worked out the genetic structure of two parasites known to carry malaria. The findings should lead to improvements in vaccines and treatments for this deadly disease.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 4, 2009 to
Genetics Articles
Understanding Human Genetic Disorders: The Use of Fluorescent Markers

The 2008 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to two American scientists and a Japanese researcher for their work on exploiting the genetic mechanism responsible for luminosity in some marine creatures. Their revolutionary studies have helped to shed light on many different biological systems.

Published by Paul Arnold (15420 pts) on Oct 4, 2009 to
Genetics Articles