Source- New Scientist

11/26/08 

Possible Pre-Natal Treatment for Down’s Syndrome

Recent experiments in mice with syndrome similar to Down’s raise hope for pregnant woman who carry a Down’s syndrome child.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, injected nerve-protecting peptides known as NAP and SAL into mice pregnant with trisomic (extra copy of chromosome 16) pups.  After birth, the pups reached developmental milestones at the same time as normal mice.  Their brains showed normal levels of ADNP, which is one of the regulatory proteins known to be under-produced by Down’s syndrome affected glial cells. Previous studies both of people with Down’s and trisomic mice have revealed malfunctions in glial cells.  These cells release ADNP and other proteins that are important in regulating the development of neurons. 

The scientists are continuing with their studies to see if the treated mice exhibit normal learning behavior as they mature.

There is a cautious optimism among the scientists, since many successful studies in mice fail in human studies.

Source- Guardian.co.uk (Ian Sample)

10/15/08 

Scientists uncover new gene link to male pattern baldness

Researchers have discovered genetic regions that are associated with male baldness. They tested more than 1,000 bald men and found two genetic regions that when activated makes a person increased the likelihood of baldness by seven times. Genetic factors accounts for at least 80% of baldness.

There is already a known gene located on the female X chromosome and is passed from mother to son. The second gene region that was discovered by the new study will give researchers the first hint on how baldness is passed from father to son. The study showed that one or more genes located on chromosome 20 are involved in male baldness.

The two teams that discovered the new genes are from King's College London and Bonn University in Germany.

Hair loss in males occurs mostly from an increase of a chemical known as dihydroestosterone which makes hair follicles produce thinner hair until the follicles falls off. Hair loss can be caused by other changes in body such as iron deficiency, stress, scalp infections or underactive thyroid.

Source- AAAS News

9/11/08 

How Much Is That Baldie in the Window?

http://www.newsguide.us/education/science/How-Much-Is-That-Baldie-in-the-Window/

Source- ScienceDaily

8/25/08

Targeting ICMT Enzyme in Blood Cancers Treatments

RAS proteins regulate cell growth and cell division in all cells.  The enzyme, ICMT, helps RAS proteins get anchored to the cell membrane so that they can do their work. A team of researchers in Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University in Sweden developed a genetically modified mouse that produces a mutated and constantly active RAS protein in its bone marrow.  These mice develop leukemia, which is very similar to that in humans.  When the scientists inhibited the production of ICMT in these mice, the uncontrolled growth of bone marow cells was blocked and the cancer declined.  The researchers also showed that mice with an aggressive form of lung cancer lived longer and their tumors were much smaller when ICMT was blocked. These findings show promise in developing drugs that can effectively inhibit the enzyme.

Source- ScienceDaily 

6/17/08

DNA Knot Keeps Viral Genes Tightly Corked Inside Shell.

Click Here

Source- ScienceDailey

4/23/08

Gene Expression of the Immune System linked to the Environment

Geneticists at North Carolina State University studied the gene expression of white blood cells in 46 Moroccan Amazighs (or Berbers) who were desert nomads, mountain farmers, or coastal urban inhabitants.  They looked at the expression of all 23, 000 human genes between the three groups.  These groups have similar genetic makeup, but lead different lifestyles and live in different geographical domains. The researchers found that one third of their genes differentially expressed according to where and how the group lived.

The scientists found specific genes and pathways that are affected by lifestyle and geography.  For example, the respiratory genes were up regulated more often in the group that dwelled in the cities than those who lived in the desert or the rural mountains.  This was not surprising since, according to the scientists, city dwellers deal with more pollution and, therefore, more problems with asthma and bronchitis.

The researchers conclude that the environment must be considered when studying links between genes and diseases.

Source- United Press International

4/8/08

Many Genes Linked to Height

Researchers in England have identified 20 regions in the human genome that influence a person's height.

The study helps scientists understand better how the body grows and develops normally and also might shed light on bone diseases and cancer.

Ninety percent of normal variations in height is due to genes and not environmental factors such as in obesity. The number and variety of genetic regions show height is not just caused by a small number of genes found in the long bones but they are involved in other biological processes.

Source- genengnews.com

1/6/08

Cancer Risk is Affected by Gene Copy Number

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Ohio State University have demonstrated in a mouse model that the number of copies of a specific gene affects colon cancer. The scientists mated mice with trisomic genes (extra copy of chromosome 21 found in Down Syndrome- with the extra 108 genes) with mice that carry a mutation that causes tumors in the intestines. The progeny had 44% fewer intestinal tumors compared to the colon cancer mice. The researchers also used another mouse model with extra copies of 33 genes on chromosome 21 and mated them with mice that have the tumor. Mice that had three copies of the 33 genes had half the number of tumors compared to the mice with the two copies.

The studies showed that over expression of the affected gene may  repress the tumor.

The study was published in the January 3 issue of Nature.