"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
"Science and Biotechnology Books Made Simple" |
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Source- Chicago Tribune 1/29/01 Rice Gene Decoded Scientists have decoded a rough draft of rice's genome. The results could help with malnutrition and speed research on other important grains such as wheat and corn. Identifying the DNA may lead to the development of better crops that are more resistant to drought and pests. Rice has 12 chromosomes with about 50,000 genes. The project was done by scientists from two biotech companies based in Salt Lake City.
Source- LosAngelesTimes.com 1/23/01 Gene Screening for Disease that Affects Some Jews Scientists have discovered a gene that can be used in screening some Jews for a genetic defect . One in 30 Ashkenazic Jews (from Eastern European decent) carries the mutation for Familial Dysautonomia (FD). The disease is passed only when a baby inherits an abnormal copy of the gene from each parent. Familial Dysautonomia is a disorder of the nervous system that affects involuntary functions, such as sensations and swallowing. 50% of affected individuals die before the age of 30th birthday. Source- The New York Times 1/23/01 A Deadly Mouse Virus is Made in the Laboratory Scientists in Australia accidentally created a deadly virus that interferes with the mouse's immune system. The researchers, in the process of making mice infertile, injected a gene that codes for interleukin-4 (IL-4) into a poxvirus. IL-4 is important in the immune system's fight against infections. By enhancing the IL-4 activity, the scientists believed that the immune system would recognize the mice eggs as foreign and destroy them, interfering with reproduction. Normally, mice's immune system can fight against poxvirus, however, in this case, there was no protection and the mice died. IL-4 is, also, an important molecule in the human's immune system. These results worries experts about how easy a deadly virus can be created.
Source- Fox News 1/19/01 A Hormone Linked to Diabetes Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have found a hormone, named resistin (found in mice), that may explain the relationship between diabetes and obesity. Resistin is produced by fat cells. When the hormone is turned on, tissues resist insulin- the chemical that regulates the sugar levels in the body. Mice that were given resistin failed to process sugars. This was in contrast to mice that either did not receive the hormone or were give a drug that lowered resistin levels. Human homologue for resistin has not been found yet. Source- NY Times
1/12/01 A New Gene in a Monkey Scientists in Portland injected a new gene into a monkey egg. The fertilized egg was inserted into a female monkey that later produced a baby monkey, named ANDi, with the new gene. The gene served only as a marker to determine whether the technique of genetic engineering can change the monkey. The gene used is not harmful (from jellyfish) and when expressed as a protein in the cell, glows under fluorescent light. The researchers showed evidence at the DNA level that ANDi's cells had the new gene, but the protein was not expressed since cells tested did not fluoresce. For an experiment to be successful, a gene inserted in an animal has to have a high level of expression at the protein level. Dr. Schatten hopes that the method will help scientists learn about certain types of diseases in primates. Monkeys are known to be very close to humans in their genetic make-up.
Source- The Wall Street Journal 1/08/01 Regulation for Patenting Genes The government has set guidelines for awarding patents related to the DNA sequence. The Patent and Trademark Office will award patents not only for discovering the gene or its sequence but companies must be able to describe what the DNA would be used for. The patent system discloses the invention to the public and at the same time protects the inventor from other people who might want to profit from the discovery. The patent office says that although patenting genes is new, patenting substances isolated from nature is not. Louis Pasteur obtained a patent in 1873 for "yeast, free from organic germs of disease".
Source- The Wall Street Journal 1/02/01 Cancer Linked to Gene Regulation Scientists have uncovered steps that are involved in regulating the BRCA1 gene. A defective or inactive BRCA1 gene is linked to hereditary forms of breast and ovarian cancers. Normal BRCA1 (in its active state) checks cell growth and prevents formation of possible tumors. The regulatory gene that was found is known as Id4. When Id4 turns off BRCA1, it interfers with its ability to do its job correctly. The discovery of this process could lead to other effective medicines against cancers. According to Dr. Wong-Staal at UCSD, who led the investigation, other genes involved in cellular signaling, such as protein kinases, may also be good targets for drug development. ____________________________________________________
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