Source- NYTimes.com 

4/27/02                             

The Identity of the Person Whose Genome was Decoded is Revealed.

Dr. J. Craig Venter who led the Human Genome mapping at Celera Genomics says that the genome decoded was largely his own.

Dr. Venter said he had inherited from one parent the variant gene known as apoE4, which is associated with abnormal fat metabolism and the risk of Alzheimer's, and that he was taking fat-lowering drugs to counteract its effects.

Reactions among scientists were mixed; most saying that it is unimportant whose genome was sequenced. But members of Celera's scientific advisory board were not pleased that  Dr. Venter undermined the anonymous selection process that they had approved.

Originally, Celera scientists claimed that their DNA sequence was based on the DNA of anonymous donors from a pool of 20 donors from 5 ethnic groups.

As for the suggestion that Dr. Venter's body should be preserved along with his genome, Dr. Stephen Warren, editor of the American Journal of Human Genetics said, "That would be his wish, no doubt, to be prominently displayed in the Smithsonian."

Source- BBC.com 

4/26/02                             

A Genetic Cause of Stomach Cancer.

Researchers from Cambridge University in England have discovered a genetic defect involved in stomach cancer.

The scientists looked at 39 families with a history of stomach cancer. Eleven of these families were affected by HDGC, or hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. In four of the eleven families, the E-cadherin gene, which helps cells bind together in tissues, was defective.

According to Dr. Caldas, who led the investigation, people with the defective gene have a 60-80% chance of developing stomach cancer. 

Scientists hope to extend these studies to look at other genes that may increase the risk of stomach cancer.

Source- Reuters  

4/25/02                             

A Gene Linked to Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A study in Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. has demonstrated a gene linked to MS. The study was conducted on identical twins. One of the twins in each set studied had the disease. The gene turned up at a rate 8.5 times higher in the MS-affected twin compared with the healthy twin.  

The gene did not match to anything in the GenBank, the human genome database.

MS is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissues. The protective myelin sheet that surrounds nerve fibers in the brain and spine is gradually destroyed. Affected individuals lose many of their motor and neurological function. There is no known cure for MS.

Source- Yahoo News

4/11/02                             

Scientists Discover a Gene that Ripens Produce

Researchers, led by Dr. Jim Giovannoni at the Department of Agriculture in Washington, discovered a gene that controls the ripening of tomatoes.  The scientists successfully turned off the gene, thus allowing the tomatoes to stay healthier longer.  The procedure could be done on other produce.

Farmers pick tomatoes before they ripen and develop flavor. To turn them red and restart their ripening, tomatoes are treated with ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent in fruit.

Turning off the gene for ripening would allow farmers to leave the tomatoes on the vine for several days longer. The tomato would still be firm when shipped across the country.

The tomatoes also would be healthier since vine-ripened tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to lower rates of prostate and other cancers.

Source- BBC.com 

4/3/02                               

Gene Therapy cures "Bubble Boy"

Scientists at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London were able to treat Rhys Evans, an 18-month toddler with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).

SCID is caused by a single mutation in the gene.  The procedure involved taking bone marrow from Rhys, then introducing a virus carrying the corrected gene into immune cells from the bone marrow, and reimplanting the treated cells into the boy.  Gradually, the bone marrow generated cells that protect Rhys from infection. 

Doctors are hoping that the cells with the new gene will continue to be made in the child.  The scientists will try to correct other illnesses that involve a single defective gene.

Gene therapy for SCID has only been successful in two other cases in France in 2000.

Source- BBC.com 

4/2/02                                

Genetic Factors in Osteoarthritis

Scientists have identified eight areas of the human genome that confer susceptibility to osteoarthritis. The disease is caused by the degeneration of the cartilage which is the protective material found in the joint area. It affects mainly the knees, hands and hips.

Researchers from Boston University School of Public Health looked at the DNA of 793 parents and 684 of their children. About half of the parents and 30 percent of their children had at least one hand joint affect by osteoarthritis.

Once the genes are identified, designing screening methods and treatment will be the next step.

Source- UniSci.com 

3/22/02                                

Genes in Metastasis of Breast Cancer

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a group of genes that may be involved in the progression of breast cancer.

The technique, called microarray, was used to determine the genes that are involved in causing ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that progress to invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Microarray studies involve using a microchip bearing thousands of known single-stranded gene fragments on its surface and incubating it with RNA from tissue samples. The gene fragments will the hybridize to the RNA at specific regions.

Prof. Allred said: “DCIS is very common and gives rise to most IBCs. We already know that DCIS contains many genetic defects that are responsible for its development in the first place, but we believe that there are many additional genetic defects that must occur in DCIS to cause it to progress to IBC. Identifying the important genes will be useful because finding defects in them could help doctors to predict the outcome for the patients and, more importantly, could give us targets at which we could aim treatments to prevent or suppress invasion.”

Analyses of the results from the microarray studies showed that there were at least 100 genes with different levels of activity in DCIS and IBC. According to Professor Allred, many of these genes are involved in biological pathways that are likely to be important in invasion. An example is the gene family, known as integrins, which are involved in making the cells stick together.

More studies on these genes are underway to determine whether they are involved in the metastasis of breast cancer.

Source- BBC News

3/11/02                                

Gene for Epilepsy and Learning Disability Found

Australian scientists, headed by Dr. Jozef Gecz at Women's and Children's Hospital, have identified a "master gene" linked to epilepsy and learning disabilities. This gene controls other already identified genes in epilepsy.

Epilepsy and learning difficulties often occur together and frequently have genetic causes.

The researchers were puzzled that the same mutation in this gene can give rise to a range of conditions, which include epilepsy, West syndrome (a type of epilepsy affecting children), dystonia (a muscle tone disorder causing muscle contraction) and learning difficulties.

The researchers obtained genetic material from nine families in Norway, Canada, Belgium, and Australia.

The gene is found on the X-chromosome.  Dr. Gecz said more work needed to be done to isolate other genes affected by this master gene.

The research is published on the website of the journal Nature Genetics. 

Source- Ananova 

3/08/02                                

Artist Adds His DNA to His Paintings

The popular Australian artist, Pro Hart, has started adding his DNA to his paintings to prevent forgeries.

The painter harvests his own cells by scraping the inside of his mouth with a cotton swab. He then sends the cells to a laboratory which processes them for DNA analysis.

The location of the DNA is added to a database along with other details about the paintings. The DNA is not detectable on the paintings, however, scanners can pick up forgeries without disturbing the artwork.

may open the door to therapeutic interventions.  

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