The most common fatal genetic disorder in children is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the muscle-weakening condition affecting as many as one in 3,500 boys worldwide. “Children with DMD often die either because their heart loses the strength to pump, or their diaphragm becomes too weak to breathe,” said Dr Eric Olson, Director of UT Southwestern’s […]
US craze for DNA ‘heritage’ tests may bolster racism, critics warn
Millions of Americans are using DNA test kits sold online to research their ancestry, either out of simple curiosity or to find answers about their identity. But some academics warn the craze could reinforce racial stereotypes and divisions. For around $100 and a few drops of saliva, a number of companies offer to decipher the […]
New DNA tool predicts height, shows promise for serious illness assessment
A new DNA tool created by Michigan State University can accurately predict people’s height, and more importantly, could potentially assess their risk for serious illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer. For the first time, the tool, or algorithm, builds predictors for human traits such as height, bone density and even the level of education […]
DNA sequencing and patient data used to halt infection outbreak
Clinical and research teams at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, using infection prevention and control best practice, whole genome sequencing and electronic patient data, have halted an outbreak of a potentially deadly fungal pathogen after detecting that multi-use patient equipment was responsible. The breakthrough at the John Radcliffe Hospital is significant as this […]
Following the tumour DNA trail to crack the secrets of personalised medicine
Individualised therapies that target the specific genetic features of tumours have the potential to transform cancer diagnosis, treatment and care. However, several challenges still need to be overcome before these approaches can be widely used in the clinic. Two DNA testing programmes have been implemented in institutes in Spain and the UK to match patient […]
Synthetic DNA technology provides a novel strategy for effective delivery of a complex anti-HIV agent
Scientists at The Wistar Institute have applied their synthetic DNA technology to engineer a novel eCD4-Ig anti-HIV agent and to enhance its potency in vivo, providing a new simple strategy for constructing complex therapeutics for infectious agents as well as for diverse implications in therapeutic delivery. This critical development was published online in the journal […]
Breakthrough in research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Breakthrough in muscular dystrophy research after scientists edit DNA to rebuild muscles Breakthrough in muscular dystrophy research after scientists edit DNA to strengthen muscles weakened by the genetic disorder Duchenne muscular dystrophy affects as many as one in every 3,500 boys It kills patients by their mid-30s by weakening the heart and breathing muscles Scientists […]
RUNX proteins act as regulators in DNA repair, study finds
A study by researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore (CSI Singapore) at the National University of Singapore has revealed that RUNX proteins are integral to efficient DNA repair via the Fanconi Anemia (FA) pathway. Led by Professor Yoshiaki Ito, Senior Principal Investigator at CSI Singapore, and involving Senior Research Scientist Dr. Vaidehi Krishnan […]