MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'human genome'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:00:11 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125968&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgEUN4aYZF2A%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Acucela hired Michelle Carpenter as senior vp for regulatory affairs and development operations. Most recently, she executive director for regulatory affairs at Dow Pharmaceutical Sciences. Before that, she was vp of regulatory affairs at Oculu... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125968 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:11:41 +0100 5125968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051238&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbCFE16uqAmc%2F And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. As you know, this is our welcome signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is modest - a dip in the pool, an evening of soccer with one of the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Given the heat, a few indoor activities may be in order. How about an air-conditioned drive in the country or a movie marathon (if you avoid paying for more than one flick, you have a bargain). You could take a trip to the mall and spur the economy. Or you could stay home and turn on the telly for updates on the debt talks. Whatever you do, have a good time and stay cool. See you soon… Bristol-Myers Buys Amira Pharmaceuticals For Up To $475M (Xconomy) Merck And Simcere Pharmaceutical Form Joint Venture (China Daily) Ex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051238 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:44:20 +0100 5051238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848028&cid=t_103875_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FEmrAndHipaa%2F%7E3%2FKu2UJfCTGwo%2F Katherine Rourke, on my sister site EMR and EHR, wrote an interesting piece on Adding Genomic Info to the EMR. Here’s a short excerpt from the post. You should go and read the rest of the post as well. As the author notes, some specialties have already begun to tailor drug treatments to individual patients based on their genomic profile. For example, DNA sequencing of tumors in non-Hodgkin’s and Mantle Cell lymphoma can lead to personalized cancer vaccines that can produce great results, notes writer Gerry Higgins of the NIH. Such data can also be used for a growing number of clinical situations, such as tailoring Coumadin doses to specific patients and providing psychiatric patients with the appropriate drug. I’d been meaning to write about genomics and EMR for a while and ... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848028 Tue, 17 May 2011 18:27:02 +0100 4848028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4611003&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWXsonFvU_bM%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that MTI Information Technologies, which provides marketing services to healthcare providers, hired Brian Tvenstrup as sr vp of business analytics. Previously, he headed analytics for First Equity Card, a commercial lender to small businesses, and w... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4611003 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:03:11 +0100 4611003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592394&cid=t_103875_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-new-treatment-for-lupus%2F2011.03.15 Lupus, an autoimmune disease, [recently] turned up on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). It cropped up, also, on the first page of the New York Times business section, and elsewhere. Scientific American published a nice online review just now. The reason is that the FDA has approved a new monoclonal antibody for treatment of this condition. The drug belimumab (Benlysta), targets a molecule called BlyS (B-lymphocyte Stimulator). The newspapers uniformly emphasize that this drug marks some sort of triumph for Human Genome Sciences, a biotech company that first reported on BlyS in the journal Science way back in 1999. BlyS triggers B cells to produce antibodies that in patients with lupus tend to bind and destroy their own cells’ needed machinery, causing various joint, lung... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592394 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:00:36 +0100 4592394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570762&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FP1ew3fxxnEE%2F Every so often, a new approval generates significant attention. And the FDA endorsement of Benlysta, the first new treatment for lupus in 56 years, is one of those moments. The injectable med, which will be marketed by Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline, is forecast to generate at least $2 billion in annual sales thanks to a $35,000 price tag, despite cautionary language for certain patients. The med, which will actually about cost $40,000 in the first year, will become available later this month. There is no REMS requirement or Black Box warning, which heartened Wall Street. Nonetheless, insurance reimbursement remains somewhat fuzzy. Meanwhile, Human Genome Sciences agreed to conduct another clinical trial in African-American lupus patients. Here’s why… “As expec... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570762 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:40:03 +0100 4570762 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570763&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNmT5C8tDVOY%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. A spot of rain is falling on the Pharmalot corporate campus, but our spirits remain sunny thanks to the Morning Mayor, who would always say: ‘Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift.’ So while you tug on the ribbon, please join us for a cup of stimulation and help us scan the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and do stay in touch… FDA Approves First New Lupus Drug In 56 Years (Associated Press) Vertex Moves Ahead With Epilepsy Drug (Boston Business Journal) J&J Hip Replacement Has 49 Percent UK Failure Rate (Bloomberg News) Epizyme And Eisai Form A Partnership (Boston Globe) FDA OKs Hospira Generic Of Taxotere Cancer Med (Reuters) Quintiles Eyes More Deals With Credit Facility (Outsourcing Phar... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570763 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:59:47 +0100 4570763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507281&cid=t_103875_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-human-genome-turns-10%2F2011.02.22 The human genome has been around for a bit more than ten years, but on February 15, 2001, the first complete human genome sequence was published. This was nothing short of a revolution within medicine. Since then, great advancements have been made in our understanding of genetics and its associations with human traits and diseases. Nature is celebrating this tenth birthday with a special titled “Human Genome at Ten.” In it, multiple papers reflect on what we learned and discovered, what is still unknown, and what we can expect for the near future. Best of all, Nature has packaged the special in a free iPad app for everyone to read, which features interactive graphs, videos, and audio commentaries. Nature special: The Human Genome at Ten… iTunes link: Nature Human Genome S... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507281 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 18:00:52 +0100 4507281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382950&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-uLkBowhkas%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? And here is our regular feature. Send us a photo and we will spotlight a different person each week. This time around, we note that Concert Pharmaceuticals hired James Shipley as chief medical officer. Previously, he was was senior vp of clinical development, medical and regulatory affairs at Indevus Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Endo Pharmaceuticals, and before th... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382950 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:08:51 +0100 4382950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377789&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaVe4cHW2HSM%2F In a move that some may consider long overdue, more than a dozen of the most prestigious medical journals will consider requiring doctors who submit studies to disclose any payments received from hedge funds and other large investors. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the next annual meeting of The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, which is scheduled for June, according to a spokeswoman for the New England Journal of Medicine. The possibility follows ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest between researchers and the pharmaceutical industry and the extent to which undisclosed financial relationships may unduly influence medical research and, from there, medical practice. But the issue is also encompassing financial ties to large investors, given the growing... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377789 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:21:05 +0100 4377789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233424&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F69Q-JUDmm-A%2F Welcome to the working week. We hope the weekend was refreshing and restful, although now, of course, the routine resumes. To prepare, we are brewing the mandatory cup of stimulation. Meanwhile, we would like to note that we are hosting a webinar on Thurs., Dec. 9 about the FDA’s Accelerated Approval process (please look here). Please join us. And now, the news of the world. Have a great day and if you run into Jeff Kindler, please send our regards… Celgene Stock Hurt By Revlimid Cancer Data (TheStreet) Elan Replaces Martin With Former Glaxo CEO Ingram (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Bloodthinner Gets EU Approval (Reuters) FDA Delays Decision On Benlysta Lupus Med (Associated Press) China To Lead Innovation By 2020: AstraZeneca Survey (PharmaTimes) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233424 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 12:45:55 +0100 4233424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159501&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F63gV3zwM57s%2F On Tuesday, an FDA advisory panel will review the first new treatment for lupus in decades. And the early indications are that Benlysta, which is being developed by Human Genome Sciences, will win an endorsement. At least that’s how some Wall Street analysts are interpreting the FDA briefing documents filed this morning, even though the stock is trading down. If approved, Benlysta is widely expected to become a blockbuster and possibly make Human Genome a takeover target. The drugmaker, by the way, is developing Benlysta with GlaxoSmithKline. But what issues did the FDA raise? The agency noted two large studies demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the number of lupus patients who responded to Benlysta compared with a placebo. But there were reservations: infections ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159501 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:01:25 +0100 4159501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4159506&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUn-ROdfR8Lc%2F Good morning, everyone. Once again, the time has come to daydream, just a little, about the upcoming weekend. We envision long walks with the official Pharmalot mascots, entertaining our short people and, in the name of getting exercise, raking countless leaves shed by our towering pin oaks. What about you? How about a drive in the country? Some time with that special someone? Maybe a good book is in order. Whatever you do, have a great time and be safe. Meanwhile, here is the news of the world. See you soon… The AHA Meeting And Some Big Heart Drugs (Reuters) UK’s NICE Rejects Roche’s Avastin For Colorectal Cancer (Bloomberg News) J&J To Release Bloodthinner Results (The Wall Street Journal) Japan’s Otuska To Raise $2.8 Billion In Record IPO (Reuters) AstraZene... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4159506 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:54:49 +0100 4159506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965703&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FDWqutsIp8sY%2F Following through on plans announced earlier this year, Lonza is eliminating 106 jobs from its plant in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, which makes various pharmaceutical ingredients. The Swiss company, which recently signed supply deals with GlaxoSmithKline and Human Genome Sciences (see here and here), confirmed the planned job losses in a filing with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. At the time the closure was first announced in January, Lonza also signaled plans to shutter two other plants - one in Shawinigan, Canada, and another in Workingham, UK - and eliminate a total of 175 jobs. A report at the time indicated that about 140 people work at the Conshohocken facility, although the status of those jobs is not clear. Lonza employs about 8,500 people worldwide. This is only the latest ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965703 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:04:56 +0100 3965703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662930&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FlG3_0WmNlLQ%2F Rise and shine. Another day is on the way. To top it off, the sun is shining here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are hustling the short people off to the schoolhouse. Wish us luck. Meanwhile, there is much to do. So why not start with the mandatory cup of stimulation and the news of the world. Have a great day, everyone… Glaxo Wins FDA OK For Prostate Combo Drug (Reuters) Cheap Generic May Save Lives After Bleeding From Accidents (Bloomberg News) ACRO Wants More US & European Trial Investigators (Outsourcing Pharma) Waiting For The Human Genome To Yield Drugs (The New York Times) Georgia Creates Bioscience Center (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Cleveland Clinics Inks Research Deal With Lipitor Creator (Crain’s Cleveland Business) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662930 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:54:48 +0100 3662930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494487&cid=t_103875_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fdesign-challenge-five-minutes-with-our-venture-capitalist-judge.html A new addition to our DiabetesMine Design Challenge Judges’ Panel this year is John Steuart, Managing Director of Claremont Creek Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage information technology companies. John himself has spent the last 20 years building and investing in technology and life science companies, so you might say [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494487 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:00:31 +0100 3494487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463592&cid=t_103875_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FyKMxlwsv7PI%2F It’s been awhile since I read a book that has influenced  my thinking.  Maybe it’s because I don’t read as many books for “fun” as I used to.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been pre-occupied with ARRA and HITECH related work or my graduate school course on medical ethics or my teenager’s triumphs and despair as she awaited college acceptance decisions.   But there I was driving in my car listening to a National Public Radio (NPR) segment.  Actually it was Fresh Air with Terry Gross. For the next several minutes I found myself drawn in by an interview with a science journalist named Rebecca Skloot, who wrote a book called “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” Now I’ve worked in the health care field for more than 35 years and lived in the Maryland-DC area for... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463592 Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:33:05 +0100 3463592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3359215&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FCkbiyODkbig%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Portola Pharmaceuticals promoted William Lis to ceo; BayBio Jeremy Leffler chief operating officer; Human Genome Sciences named David Southwell exec vp and cfo; Teva Pharmaceuticals named Phillip Frost as chairman; Sandoz promoted Don DeGolyer to head No. American commercial ops; Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals named Robert Shepard as chief medical officer; EUSA Pharma hired Ia... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3359215 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:53 +0100 3359215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3092892&cid=t_103875_136_f&fid=37846&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthinfoispower.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F15%2Fprinceton-scientists-find-way-to-catalog-all-that-goes-wrong-in-a-cancer-cell%2F A team of Princeton University scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has “gone wrong,” giving researchers a powerful tool that eventually could make possible new, more targeted therapies for patients. A team of Princeton University scientists has produced a systematic listing of the ways a particular cancerous cell has [...] (Source: Libby's H*O*P*E*) Libby's H*O*P*E* blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3092892 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:53:24 +0100 3092892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950984&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Flupus.html Yes, lupus! (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950984 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:14:00 +0100 2950984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2950995&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGLpICeeuy88%2F Welcome back. We hope your weekend was fun. After all, there was Halloween and the World Series for baseball fans. And there was plenty of opportunity to get some exercise raking leaves, at least for those who live in the US Northeast. Now, though, another week beckons. And so as you prepare for those meetings and deadlines, here are a few items to help you along. Have a nice day everyone… Will Pfizer Buy Protalix? (Globes) Amylin And Takeda To Develop Obesity Drugs (Reuters) Dendreon Seeks FDA Approval For Provenge Vaccine (Reuters) Human Genome Sciences’ Lupus Drug Cuts Symptoms (Bloomberg) Schering-Plough Reports Hepatitis C Drug Results (Associated Press) Vertex Pitches Its Hepatitis C Drug (The Boston Globe) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2950995 Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:21:12 +0100 2950995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894689&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FrAbaB3MBQM0%2F Dr. Hsien Lei of the DNA Network informed us about a new blog launch, HUGO MATTERS from the International Human Genome Organization (HUGO). The HUGO is a group of scientists involved in genetic and genomic research whose aims are to assist coordination of research and foster collaboration of scientists. HUGO Matters will be a central hub for HUGO’s HUGO’s social networking efforts. Readers can discuss relevant topics in genomics including research, ethics, social issues and even education, according to HUGO president Prof. Edison T Liu. As part of the blog launch, HUGO is offering a free meeting registration at the HUGO Genomics and Ethics, Law and Society Symposium in Switzerland on November 1- 3. Check out this page for details. And if you are attending the 59th Annual American ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894689 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:58:26 +0100 2894689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2752088&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FM8OLs7FOhjI%2F Persistence really pays off, and this is especially true in genetic studies. After 35 years of combined research, a father-and-son team has finally identified the source of the gene that causes the heart’s electricity to go awry. For three hundred years, a South African family has been plagued by progressive familial heart block, a disease of the electrical system of the heart. The disease causes an affected person to have irregular heart beats, fainting spells, seizures or sudden death. The risk is greatest soon after birth, during puberty and early twenties and returns in the middle age, and a timely installment of a pacemaker is the best treatment. Using data from the human genome project, Professors Andries and Paul Brink were able to trace the origin of this disease to one man: A... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2752088 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:13:01 +0100 2752088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688838&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FjqxKb-XZnKA%2F Thirteen years and US $10 billion later, the first of several human genomes were completely sequenced in 2003 in what is now known as The Human Genome Project. From then on, scientists dreamed of and aimed to get the cost of DNA sequencing down to $1,000 per person. Although the running cost was around $250,000 per genome last year, well, that’s still thousands more expensive than most people can afford. No wonder only seven people have had their DNA fully sequenced! But that could all change from now on. A whole genome has been sequenced for only $50,000. Stanford engineer Stephen R. Quake invented the Heliscope Single Molecule Sequencer and sequenced his own DNA in one week – one short week! – using only three staff personnel, which was much faster and cheaper than first project... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688838 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:06:56 +0100 2688838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683961&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FM32MyPH8T1w%2F Just a short note and congratulations to Dr. Francis Collins for being confirmed as director of the National Institutes of Health. Francis Collins is new NIH director According to the Associated Press, Collins was confirmed by the US Senate yesterday via voice vote (say “aye” or “nay”), so I’d have to say this was an even easier confirmation than Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who took her oath today from Chief Justice Roberts as the first Hispanic justice of the US Supreme Court after a non-event of hearings. Collins is a familiar face and name at the NIH, having been one of the prime-movers of the human genome project as head of the Human Genome Research Institute for 15 years. He also authored the controversial book “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief ” ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683961 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:40:00 +0100 2683961 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645476&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FSHq0DHhi37g%2F It looks like Proctor & Gamble scientists have just discovered the secret to youthful skin: it’s in 1,500 genes. Using data from the Human Genome Project, P&G scientists identified some 1,500 genes that are responsible for how skin ages. Of those, up to 700 genes control how skin collects and retains moisture. Genomics has key to keeping skin healthy and young. According to an article in the Daily Mail, there are separate ways that skin ages, and each of these are controlled by their own set of genes: Collagen (the protein that gives skin its structure and strength) degrades. Skin loses its ability to keep it hydrated. Fewer skin cells are produced with time. Wrinkles are produced when the skin becomes more inflamed. Age weakens our skin’s natural defense against free-radicals... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645476 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:01:28 +0100 2645476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2594576&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FI15UfjUj7GE%2F After the genome maps of an African, two Europeans, and a Chinese have been published, a Korean professor claims to have completed the “most accurate” genomic map yet – that of a 30-some healthy Korean male. The map is 99.94 accurate, having repeated analyses say, on chromosome 20, an average of 150 times. A research team lead by Professor Seo Jeong-seon, from Seoul National University, published its finding on Nature. Professor Seo emphasized the importance of having an accurate map as a foundation of personalized medicine. "It is important to have precise and accurate genome information of an individual since it is going to be fundamentals of personalized medicine. From this study, we found a way to obtain precise and accurate genome information.” The newest map is the sec... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2594576 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:43:00 +0100 2594576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512405&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FHEThPiK8Qy0%2F What does mega-search engine Google and mega-genome services company 23andMe have in common? Two actually, and maybe more… First – investments and second, spouses. This week, Google invested $2.6 million in 23andMe on top of the $7 million invested so far. No surprise there, since Google’s co-founder Sergey Bring is the spouse of 23andMe’s co-founder Anne Wojcicki. But as CNN remarked, it’s one the perks of marrying Google.   In another news, biotech giant Illumina has launched a personal genome sequencing service. That is, you can have your entire genome sequenced – all 3 billion DNA - for a hefty price of $48,000. Unlike 23andMe and other genome-testing services where only genotypes are provided, Illumina will provide your entire DNA sequence. But you need a prescr... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512405 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:58:59 +0100 2512405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452494&cid=t_103875_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fhow-accurate-is-this.html Lecturer explains how humans came to have 46 chromosomes while chimpanzees have 48 and discusses the evolutionary significance of this discvery.Its the first time I hear this argument, so I would like to know what you think of it.Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452494 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:25:00 +0100 2452494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442308&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fw9bjwy5bfkw%2F Francis Collins, one of the major players who cracked the genetic code, is in final talks for taking the helm of the National Institutes of Health, reports the Bloomberg News. As director of the National Human Genome Research Institutes (NHGRI) for 15 years, Collins spearheaded efforts to map the human genetic code. With a lot of help from J. Craig Venter at Celera, the project was completed ahead of schedule in 2003, and opened up a plethora of applications and implications for research into our genetic blueprint. Collins resigned from the NHGRI position last year, in his own words, to have “greater latitude than my current position allows to pursue other potential positions of service without encountering any possible conflicts of interest, whether real or perceived." Post from:... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442308 Tue, 26 May 2009 20:18:12 +0100 2442308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441375&cid=t_103875_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fgenomics-and-future-of-medicine-francis.html The molecular understanding of disease has transformed the pharmaceutical industry. In the future, one can anticipate an increasing number of new drugs whose derivation depended upon a precise genomic understanding of disease. National Human Genome Research Director Dr. Francis Collins explains how genomics could play a role in medicine by improving public health.Thanks for reading :) ... http://prep4md.blogspot.com/ (Source: My M.D. Journey!) My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441375 Tue, 26 May 2009 16:37:00 +0100 2441375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2150842&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FniC0Uc_RKKA%2F   After describing himself as an “unemployed geneticist”, Francis Collins now reveals that he has been “working night and day” with the White House transition for health and human services with Tom Daschle.  Now that that’s over, he is ready to discuss the progress that personalized medicine needs for it to move forward in a responsible way. Francis Collins, the public face of the human genome research and former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, spoke to biomedical researchers, biotech execs and policy people at a meeting in Washington DC organized by the Personalized Medicine Coalition. "If we’re serious about preventive medicine, and using personalized genomics to inform that, we’re not going to change the genome," he s... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2150842 Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:54:00 +0100 2150842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2131849&cid=t_103875_93_f&fid=36982&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprep4md.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fintroduction-to-genomics.html Genomics is the study of the genomes of organisms. The field includes intensive efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence of organisms and fine-scale genetic mapping efforts. The field also includes studies of intragenomic phenomena such as heterosis, epistasis, pleiotropy and other interactions between loci and alleles within the genome. In contrast, the investigation of single genes, their functions and roles, something very common in today's medical and biological research, and a primary focus of molecular biology, does not fall into the definition of genomics, unless the aim of this genetic, pathway, and functional information analysis is to elucidate its effect on, place in, and response to the entire genome's networks.For the United States Environmental Protection Age... My M.D. Journey! blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2131849 Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:48:00 +0100 2131849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2086995&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fzo4bcOvHNoQ%2F With the new administration comes a new NIH Director and the name that has been heard most often is none other than Francis Collins, former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute. While with the NHGRI, Collins led the Human Genome Project that has become the foundation for almost every mapping project in the field. He also paved the way to have genetic data become open source and freely available to the wider scientific community. So, is Collins the shoo-in to head the bigger National Institute of Health leadership? When asked, all Collins replied was, “No comment.” What’s your take? Want Collins in or not? Take the poll at Genome Technology. Image: Newscom Tags: francis-collins, human genetics, human-genome-project, national institutes of health, re... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2086995 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:36:36 +0100 2086995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655676&cid=t_103875_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F345588341%2F Hired someone new and exciting? Promoted a rising star? Finally solved that hard-to-fill spot? Share the news with us and we’ll share with it others. That’s right. Send us your announcements and we’ll find a home for them. Don’t be shy. Everyone wants to know who is coming and going, especially with all the layoffs. Despite the downsizing, there is movement. Here are some of the latest changes. Recognize anyone? Bayer hired Pfizer’s Andreas Fibig as ceo of Bayer Schering Pharma; WuXi PharmaTech hired Richard Soll as vp of medicinal chemistry; Merck named Leslie Brun, ceo of SARR Group, to its board; Innocoll named Anthony Wild to its board; Syntarga named Nitin Damle as an advisor; Isis Pharmaceuticals hired Marty Bedigian as vp and chief medical officer; Bristol-Myers Squibb... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655676 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:48:22 +0100 1655676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1502605&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F307849037%2F (Image credit: medicineworld.org)  This week b5 media’s Health and Wellness channel is focusing on celebrities health.  Our focus is not on ‘tittle tattle’  and hot gossip about Angelina, Brad or ’Tomkat’ but rather a serious look at health issues that high profile individuals share with all of us.  In the genetics world, our ‘celebrities’ are the likes of Craig Venter and James Watson - pioneering geneticists but basking in the eye of the media. The race to sequence genomes has resulted in some major PR, particularly for Craig and James. 454 is sequencing James Watson’s genome and Craig has announced some of his results in PLoS.  TV star Larry King, cosmologist Stephen Hawking, Google co-founder Larry Page, Microsoft co-founder Paul... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1502605 Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:00:52 +0100 1502605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478017&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F300506197%2F At last one for the girls!  … Geneticists at Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) are the first to determine the DNA sequence of a woman. She is also the first European whose DNA sequence has been determined The DNA is that of Dutch scientist Dr Marjolein Kriek, a clinical geneticist at LUMC. “If anyone could properly consider the ramifications of knowing his or her sequence, it is a clinical geneticist,”says professor Gert-Jan B van Ommen, leader of the LUMC team.  Now we have  a new ‘Watson and Kriek’ to compare genetic diversity! Elaine Warburton  www.geneticsandhealth.com Tags: DNA, DNA profiling, DNA sequencing, Genome sequencing, Human GenomeShare This (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478017 Thu, 29 May 2008 11:58:02 +0100 1478017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419318&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F283191869%2F A nationwide team of researchers, funded in part by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has produced the first sequence-based map of large-scale structural variation across the human genome. Recently created maps such as the HapMap have catalogued the patterns of small-scale variations in the genome that involve single DNA letters, or bases.  A sequence-based map provides much finer resolution and location information. Researchers constructed the structural variation map by partially sequencing the genomes of eight people: four people of African descent, two of Asian descent and two of European descent. Sequence data were collected from each end of roughly 1 million random small pieces of DNA from each individual’s ge... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419318 Sun, 04 May 2008 08:52:50 +0100 1419318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1271849&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F244491117%2F Further to my various articles on our ancestry, differences in gene expression levels between people of European versus African ancestry appear to affect how each group responds to certain drugs or fights off specific infections, report researchers from the University of Chicago Medical Center and the Expression Research Laboratory at Affymetrix Inc. of Santa Clara, CA. The researchers used lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from blood from 180 healthy individuals. They studied 60 nuclear families, including mother, father and child. Thirty of the families were Caucasians from Utah and 30 were Yorubans from Ibadan, Nigeria. Mainly focusing on cancer treatments, the researcher sought to understand why different populations experienced different degrees of toxicity when taking certain drugs... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1271849 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:21:21 +0100 1271849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1271851&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F244485503%2F The Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists and others have revealed for the first time the electronic structure of single DNA molecules.  In their work, the researchers were able to decode the electronic structure of DNA and to understand how the electrons distribute into the various parts of the double helix, a result that has been pursued by scientists for many years, but was previously hindered by technical problems. The knowledge that has been acquired in this project may also be relevant for current attempts to develop new sophisticated, reliable, faster and cheaper ways to decode the sequence of human DNA. Finding the electronic structure of DNA was made possible by a collaboration between experimental and theoretical scientists who worked with long and homogeneous DNA molecules ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1271851 Sun, 02 Mar 2008 21:19:49 +0100 1271851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1258220&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F241652652%2F   It is universally accepted that genetic testing is here to stay and will play a major role in health management.  Common sense dictates that it is good health management to understand what diseases an individual is susceptible to, so that steps can be taken, by that individual, if they so wish, to minimize the chance of developing a particular disease or diseases.  Genetic testing, although in its infancy, will eventually be robust enough to provide those answers. DNA testing best practice requires test results to be clearly explained to patients by a suitably qualified specialist, more often than not a genetic counselor.  If a patient is at risk of a particular disease then best practice dictates that the individual should be offered a health screening program to detect any a... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1258220 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:07:51 +0100 1258220 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252848&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F240340915%2F This study was based on the analysis of more than 500,000 SNPs and nearly 400 copy number variants — sections of DNA that are repeated or duplicated in the genome — for 485 individuals. These samples, representing individuals from 29 different populations around the world, were obtained as part of the Human Genome Diversity Project. The results suggest East Africans are the most genetically diverse, while Native American genomes exhibit the lowest genetic diversity. Middle Eastern, Asian, and European populations, on the other hand, fall somewhere in between.  By following this decline in diversity, the Michigan team was able to retrace global human migration patterns. Consistent with previous archaeological date, language studies, and smaller genetic studies of mitochondrial DNA or a... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252848 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:59:34 +0100 1252848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252850&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F240296501%2F Family Tree DNA advises it is now offering DNA Traits a personal genomics service that specializes in DNA testing for specific diseases. This company offers individual tests, group tests, and even a membership plan, all for relatively cheap prices compared to the other companies offering genome-wide SNP scans. The difference between them and their competitors, they claim, is that the patient has to meet with a genetic counselor before he or she can directly access resulting data. Sorry, not a new service - Opaldia has been doing this for a number of years.  Opaldia’s difference is that customers also meet with a Consultant Specialist as well as a Genetic Counselor.  Also, if genetic variations are discovered and a customer’s risk of developing a disease is increased, a cu... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252850 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:40:55 +0100 1252850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1234657&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F235535689%2F   Genetic material has been analyzed from members of a large Swiss family, the majority of whom suffered from auto-somal dominant juvenile cataract.  From the DNA, researchers at ETH Zurich and the University Zurich identified the chromosomal location and exact molecular defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for the type of childhood cataract. Until now, no human disease could be associated with this gene. The corresponding protein arising from the gene belongs to a family of monocarboxylate transporters which move small molecules across cell membranes. Surprisingly, this genetic defect may also lead to the condition of renal glucosuria, a kidney defect which results in elevated levels of glucose in the urine, but not in blood. The researchers suspect that this genetic... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1234657 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:47:34 +0100 1234657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231880&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F234947374%2F   Valentine’s Day  - the special day we get loved up and girls get the flowers, chocolates and meals out that we crave for the remaining 364 days of the year!! When you smokers reach out for that post-intimacy ciggie, best check out your genes to make sure it won’t be your last puff. New evidence emerges from the Heart Research Follow-up Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center, that a common defect in the gene CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein) significantly increases a smoker’s risk of an early heart attack. CETP is a protein found in all people that controls cholesterol metabolism.  Researchers say that as much as 60 to 70 percent of the population has this gene defect. Smokers with a common form of this gene are likely to suffer a heart attack... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231880 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:11:43 +0100 1231880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1230371&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F234590176%2F   First there was Knome at $350,000 per genome sequenced, then HeliScope announced the $70K genome and now Visigen Biotechnologies have announced they have the capability of delivering the holy grail … the $1,000 genome … and by 2010. Have a look at how they propose to achieve this. http://visigenbio.com/technology_movie_streaming.html Visigen Biotechnologies quote: “The technology platform detects the interaction between a fluorescently-tagged polymerase and a fluorescently modified nucleotide. Polymerase is modified with a fluorescent donor molecule and immobilized on a glass slide.  Each nucleotide is color coded with an acceptor fluorescent moiety. During the extension reaction, when a nucleotide is incorporated into the growing polymer, energy transfers from the po... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1230371 Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:46:14 +0100 1230371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1225355&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F233728772%2F   ‘Junk DNA’ could hold the key to the evolution of complex organisms . Vertebrates, animals that possess a backbone, are the most anatomically and genetically complex of all organisms, but explaining how they achieved this complexity has perplexed scientists since the conception of evolutionary theory. A study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,USA, claims to have solved this scientific riddle by analysing the genomics of primitive living fishes such as sharks and lampreys and their spineless relatives, such as the sea squirts. Alysha Heimberg of Dartmouth College, UK and her colleagues showed that microRNAs, a class of tiny molecules only recently discovered residing within what has usually been considered ‘junk DNA’, are hugely dive... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1225355 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:49:03 +0100 1225355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1223720&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F233376367%2F    Prostate cancer (Picture courtesy of BBC) UK scientists have found seven new sites in the human genome that are linked to men’s risk of developing prostate cancer.   Dr Ros Eales and Prof Doug Easton  from The Institute of Cancer Research and University of Cambridge respectively, found one gene called MSMB which could possibly be used in screening for prostate cancer and disease monitoring. Another of the sites harbors a gene called LMTK2 which might be a target for new treatments. The data suggests these newly identified genetic alterations are present in over half of all prostate cancer cases. They each increase a person’s risk of the disease by up to 60 per cent. The findings, in summary are: - The five new genetic regions found are on human chromosomes 3, 6, 7, 10, ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1223720 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:52:48 +0100 1223720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1221291&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F232777790%2F   12th February is the 150th birthday of Charles Darwin (1809 - 1882) whose theory of evolution titled ‘The Origin of Species’ still holds relatively firm in this modern age. Today, Darwin’s groundbreaking work on the origin of species forms the basis of modern evolutionary biology and is at the heart of biomedical research. Evolution happens every day, and it affects every species including us. Elaine Warburton   www.geneticsandhealth.com Share This (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1221291 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:01:45 +0100 1221291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1220856&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F232766268%2F This study provides the most comprehensive answer yet to the longstanding question of how kinship affects fertility in humans. For example, for women born between 1800 and 1824, those with a mate related at the level of a third cousin had an average of 4.04 children and 9.17 grandchildren, while those related to their mates as eighth cousins or more distantly had 3.34 children and 7.31 grandchildren. For women born in the period 1925-1949 with mates related at the degree of third cousins, the average number of children and grandchildren were 3.27 and 6.64, compared to 2.45 and 4.86 for those with mates who were eighth cousins or more distantly related. The findings hold for every 25-year interval studied, beginning with those born in the year 1800 up to the present day. Because of the stre... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1220856 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:30:19 +0100 1220856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1198005&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F228397465%2F   Nature constantly ”shuffles” our genes around in our genome, creating a genetic cocktail of human chromosomes and trying out different changes as it does so.  Some of these changes represent neither a positive nor a negative mutation or a competitive advantage.  One such ’shuffle’ is eye color. Originally we all had brown eyes.  Then about 6-10,000 years ago a genetic mutation in the OCA 2 gene arose causing a ’switch’ which literally switched off our ability to produce brown eyes. The OCA 2 gene codes for the so-called P gene which is involved in the production of melanin, the pigment that gives color to our hair, eyes and skin. The “switch”, which is located in the gene adjacent to OCA2 does not, however, turn off the gene entirely, ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1198005 Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:05:29 +0100 1198005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1196726&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F227776114%2F   Human chromosomes (grey) capped by telomeres (white) We all know the benefits of regular exercise but scientists now have proof that it can really make you look younger! Telomeres, regions of highly repetitive DNA at the end of a linear chromosome shorten over time.  The shortening of telomeres is strongly correlated with ageing and it is believed that telomeres have a function in the ageing process. Latest research indictates that the rate of shortening of telomeres increases with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. A group of 2,401 white twins was studied by Lynn F. Cherkas, Ph.D., of King’s College London, and colleagues. The team administered questionnaires related to physical activity level, smoking habits, and social and economic factors. Notably, the participants also pro... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1196726 Sat, 02 Feb 2008 10:28:09 +0100 1196726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194805&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F227299755%2F   Scientists from deCODE genetics have reported the discovery of two common, single-letter variants in the sequence of the human genome (SNPs) that regulate one of the principle motors of evolution. Versions of the two SNPs, located on chromosome 4p16, have a genome-wide impact on the rate of recombination - the reshuffling of the genome that occurs in the formation of eggs and sperm. Recombination is largely responsible for generating human diversity, the novel configurations of the genome that enable each species to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing environment. Yet remarkably, the versions of the SNPs that increase recombination in men decrease it in women, and vice versa. The deCODE team identified the SNPs through a genome-wide analysis of more than 300,000 SNPs in approximately ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194805 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:27:51 +0100 1194805 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1188637&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F225814260%2F Herpes simplex virusThere’s a high probability that people who are prone to herpes simplex virus (HSV) outbreaks can inherit that susceptibility through their genes, University of Utah researchers report in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Researchers have identified a region on the long arm of human chromosome 21 with high odds - at least 1,000-to-1 - of being linked to cold sore susceptibility. The researchers further say they pinpointed six specific genes in that chromosomal region as candidates for making people prone to outbreaks of cold sores (also called “fever blisters”). Cold sores occur when the herpes virus reactivates from its quiescent state within the nerve, infecting the lip, nose, or face. Discovery of the probable link could lead to the development of ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1188637 Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:04:12 +0100 1188637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170147&cid=t_103875_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F221013906%2F The 1,000 Genomes Project, which is launched today by an international consortium of scientists, aims to identify every genetic variant that is carried by at least 1 per cent of the human race, to unlock how these influence health. When the map is complete in two years’ time, it will include the complete genetic codes of more than 1,000 individuals, providing an index to the human genome that will significantly enhance medical research. This medical research will enhance our knowledge of diseases like diabetes and cystic fibrosis. It is said that all humans are more than 99% similar at the genetic level and it is that 1% variant that explains differences in peoples susceptibility to chronic diseases, medications and infections. This is a very exciting project and is truthfully mind blowi... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170147 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:27:55 +0100 1170147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1167223&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F220876166%2F The EU funded GEN2PHEN project plans to internationally orchestrate the electronic gathering and use of data that show how gene sequences (’genotypes’) contribute to individual differences in disease, drug response, and other characteristics (’phenotypes’). These relationships (usually in the form of “genotype-phenotype” information stored in scattered databases) are deemed to become essential for future prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. GEN2PHEN will build a set of database components, tools and technologies that will help all research results pertaining to genome variation and disease to be properly integrated and immediately available for holistic analysis via the internet. The project will deploy a major internet portal, called the &#82... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1167223 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:57:30 +0100 1167223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166415&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F220372857%2F Early embryos yield stem cells,(photo courtesy of BBC news www.bbc.co.uk/news)  The Uk’s fertility regulator Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given the green light to two teams of scientists for the creation of hybrid human-animal embryos. Scientists, research institutions and patient groups have challenged the UK government for much of the last year: the Department of Health wanted to prevent the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos - which would be used to create stem cells for medical research - but scientists argued it would slow down crucial work into treatments for diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes. Reason eventually triumphed and the government has now backed down. Scientists from King’s College London and ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166415 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:31:31 +0100 1166415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1163242&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F220008105%2F Embryonic stem cell  A study of twin four year old girls has identified a rogue cell as a culprit in childhood leukemia. Both twins were found to have the “pre-leukemic” cells in their bone marrow, although, to date, only one has developed leukemia. Researchers found they both have “pre-leukemic stem cells” containing a mutated gene, which forms when the DNA is broken and rejoined at another point. The pre-leukemic cells are transferred from one twin to the other in the womb through their shared blood supply. UK researchers reported in Science that a second genetic mutation is needed for full-blown disease to develop. One twin developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia, possibly developing the second mutation after an infection, when she was two-year’s old - bu... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1163242 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:53:16 +0100 1163242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1143477&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F214874377%2F Over the last month I have written articles on the rapid advances in genome sequencing (Knowme) and SNP analyses (23andme and deCodeme), all of which are truly awesome.   So when Helicos Biosciences announced it is on track to ship its first next generation sequencing unit called the HeliScope, very soon, it came as no surprise. However …. what blew me away was that they have the capability of sequencing a genome for around $72,000 bringing the $1,000 sequence (considered the ‘Holy Grail’ for sequencing), many steps closer.   HeliScope (TM) Single Molecule Sequencer Helicos President and COO Steve Lombardi  announced at the JPMorgan Healthcare Conference that the HeliScope can do whole-genome sequencing at 10x coverage in eight weeks at a cost of $72,000. He also ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1143477 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:20:25 +0100 1143477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124885&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F209784389%2F       Klinefelter’s Syndrome Almost one in every 500-1,000 males babies are born with an extra X chromosome.  This condition is known as Klinefelter’s Syndrome. These men are also known as XXY males or 47XXY males. Klinefelter’s syndrome is a condition that occurs in men who have an extra X chromosome in most of their cells. The syndrome can affect different stages of physical, language and social development. The most common symptom is infertility. Because they often don’t make as much of the male hormone testosterone as other boys, teenagers with Klinefelter’s syndrome may have less facial and body hair and may be less muscular than other boys (see the diagram above). They may have trouble using language to express themselves. They may be shy and hav... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124885 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:44:40 +0100 1124885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1122543&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F208833766%2F   Being able to sequence a human genome for $1,000 or less (which is the price most insurance companies are willing to pay) could open a new era in personal medicine, making it possible to precisely diagnose the cause of many diseases and tailor drugs and treatment procedures to the genetic make-up of an individual. Professor Aleksei Aksimentiev at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaignhas demonstrated a strategy for sequencing DNA by driving the DNA molecule back and forth through a nanopore capacitor in a semiconductor chip. As DNA passes through the nanopore, the DNA molecule’s electric field induces sequence-specific electrostatic potentials that can be detected at the top and bottom layers of the capacitor membrane. “Despite the tremendous interest in using nanopo... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1122543 Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:11:01 +0100 1122543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=764443&cid=t_103875_129_f&fid=35709&url=http%3A%2F%2Falphagirls.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Falpha-1-antitrypsin-deficiency-human.html I found a really great summation of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency on the Human Genome web site. Enjoy the reading.http://www.genome.gov/19518992 (Source: Unique But Not Alone) Unique But Not Alone blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=764443 Sat, 28 Jul 2007 15:34:00 +0100 764443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=757968&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34976&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.dnadirect.com%2F2007%2F07%2F25%2Festher-dyson-gets-personal-with-her-genome%2F Technology visionary Esther Dyson offers up a "Full Disclosure" about her motivation to participate in the Personal Genome Project in today's WSJ. Along with 9 other science-savvy people, Ether will have her genome sequenced and made public -- along with personal health and behavioral information to help put that genetic data into context.Why expose yourself publicly to achieve a scientific goal, some may ask? Adding faces and high-profile personalities does provide for thoughtful pioneering discussion from experts-as-participants, as Dyson points out. And no doubt it's a lot sexier to the media and the general public. These 10 individuals are not only pioneering the discussion but they're helping to engage the larger, lay public in this discourse. (Source: DNA Direct Talk) DNA Direct Talk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=757968 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 18:15:20 +0100 757968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=683166&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34976&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.dnadirect.com%2F2007%2F06%2F18%2Fgene-genie-9-genetics-20%2F This edition's theme is, loosely, Genetics 2.0. Let's start with the landscape: Genomes and Haplotypes and SNPS - oh my! Everyone's who needs to read Keith's post at Omics! Omics!. He's given us the perfect primer for everyone who's read a press release about a new fill-in-the-blank genome-related discovery, and wondered what they were leaving out [...] (Source: DNA Direct Talk) DNA Direct Talk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=683166 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:45:10 +0100 683166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687111&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fpersonalized-medicine-since-1986.html First I would like to apologize for the lack of postings on interesting topics lately. I am glad that others have picked up my slack. Notably Hsien and Bertalan's interesting posts this week. Or for an in depth post on the politics of health care and the reform movement check out VentureBeatWhat I want to pay attention to today is the question I inevitably get asked when I speak to other physicians. "Is what you say feasible in a 7 minute consult world?" The answer is inevitably NO. I do not feel in my heart of hearts that we will ever be able to practice personalized medicine in a 7 minute consult world.What's needed is a Revolution. We need a place where the patient has access to their records and their physicians 24/7. We need a place where the patient is given the skills to understand ... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687111 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:18:00 +0100 687111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=687116&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=35743&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthegenesherpa.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fdr-collins-reports-from-front-lines.html In the second of my 3 maybe 4 part post I will detail Dr Collins' report from the Front Lines of the Revolution!First some notable quotes"2007 is going to be a landmark year in Genomics and Medicine""We all have ticking timebombs in our genome, you could guess most of them from family history.........But not all of them""We shall have the major genetic risk factors for common diseases in 2-3 years or less"Without further ado I will break his talk down into sections. Dr Collins', feel free to correct anything in this."Notes From the Front Lines"DNA sequencing is undergoing a revolution. I almost felt that he had been reading The Sherpa prior to giving this lecture. I had commented on 454 recently. On powerpoint he showed the technology behind 454 and Illumina. he did not comment on nanopore... Gene Sherpas: Personalized Medicine and You blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=687116 Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:15:00 +0100 687116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651083&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34976&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.dnadirect.com%2F2007%2F06%2F01%2Fjames-watson-discovered-dna-now-hes-got-his-genome-sequenced%2F Can you think of any better coda to making the Nobel-prize winning discovery of DNA than to be handed the sequence of your own, personal genome? Better yet, to be the first to ever receive your fully sequenced genome? Rarely is life that poetic, but yesterday Dr. James Watson was presented with two DVDs (two DVDs?! anyone else think that's funny?) containing the sequence of his genome by Richard Gibbs, director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center at the Baylor College of Medicine, and Jonathan Rothberg, founder of 454 Life Sciences, which did the sequencing. Upon presentation Gibbs said, (Source: DNA Direct Talk) DNA Direct Talk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651083 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:21:07 +0100 651083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=651098&cid=t_103875_107_f&fid=35041&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscienceblogs.com%2Fdigitalbio%2F2007%2F05%2Fproject_jim_celebrity_sequenci.php I want my genome sequenced, too! Apparently, it's become a popular thing to get your genome sequenced. Craig Venter was the first. Jim Watson's genome (of Project Jim) was ceremonially released this morning (courtesy of 454), and now George Chuch, Larry King, cosmologist Stephen Hawking, Google co-founder Larry Page, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and former junk-bond trader Michael Milken want theirs done, too (1). Two articles from different GenomeWeb releases made a strange combination this morning when I turned on my computer. In one release, GW mentioned that NHGRI (the National Human Genome Research Institute) will be sequencing the genomes from 1000 individuals (1, 2). In another release, they cited an article from Nature describing the reaction of ethicists and geneticists to ... Discovering Biology in a Digital World blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=651098 Thu, 31 May 2007 18:36:05 +0100 651098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=570138&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F111916095%2F Celebrating the fourth anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project. DNA Day 2007 is today! Tags: dna day, genetics, genes, genome, dna, human genome project (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=570138 Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:52:10 +0100 570138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=524507&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34976&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.dnadirect.com%2F2007%2F04%2F05%2Fthe-one-gene-difference-chihuahua-small-to-great-dane-giant%2F I can't help but blog about this, since Dog DNA seems to be such a popular dinner party topic. According to a study to be published tomorrow in Science, the genetic differences between dogs boils down to very little. In fact, just one gene, a "tiny bit of DNA that suppresses the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) gene controls dogs' size. (Try telling my stubborn giant dog that he's just one gene away from a pug.) This isn't the first time that dog genomic research has helped out humans, and no doubt it won't be the last. Our trusted companions from hearth and home to laboratory bench.... (Source: DNA Direct Talk) DNA Direct Talk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=524507 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:02:14 +0100 524507 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=509402&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F105251315%2F Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, was on NPR’s Fresh Air today and PZ Myers wasn’t impressed with the strong religious message. He [Francis Collins] claims that science is only valid in investigating nature, and that it is inappropriate for examining ideas beyond nature … which begs the question of whether there is anything beyond nature. We also hear that science and spirit are complementary and different tools, but of course we aren’t told how the tool of spirit is applied to anything. We’re told that the intricacy and complexity of the human genome instills a sense of awe, and that it represents a glimpse of God’s creative genius — again, begging the question. When asked whether it was appropriate for Clinto... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=509402 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:22:23 +0100 509402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=502947&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F104566928%2F On March 14, 2007, Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. Here’s an excerpt of his testimony entitled, The Threat of Genetic Discrimination to the Promise of Personalized Medicine (pdf): As you can see, the science of genomic medicine is rocketing forward. But fear of genetic discrimination threatens to slow both the advance of such groundbreaking biomedical research and the integration of the fruits of that research into our nation’s health care. If individuals continue to worry that they will be denied health insurance or refused employment because they have a predisposition to a particular disease, they may forego genetic testing that could help guide medical p... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=502947 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 22:29:37 +0100 502947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486326&cid=t_103875_107_f&fid=35009&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsciencesque.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F03%2F03%2Fthe-gene-genie-issue-2%2F Just ahead in this issue of the Gene Genie - Gum disease: it’s not just a matter of bad hygiene anymore! Next, find out the genetic basis for why you or someone you love falls off bicycles and can’t solve puzzles. Also in this issue, unlock the secrets of human genetic variation, and read about the challenges of living with a rare genetic disorder called Pompe Disease. Learn about two chilling examples of what happens when stop codons attack our genes! Also, join the Random Word genie for an exciting plunge into the human genome. And lastly, we take a very “serious” look at the quest to unravel the God genome. We’ll begin this issue of the Gene Genie with two articles from Berci Mesko at ScienceRoll. Near the beginning of February, Berci wrote an article on Pompe dis... Sciencesque blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486326 Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:51:35 +0100 486326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=482216&cid=t_103875_131_f&fid=34976&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftalk.dnadirect.com%2F2007%2F02%2F26%2Fautism-genes-odds-in-the-news%2F There's been an interesting flurry of research and discussion about autism and autistic spectrum disorders in the news lately. In the past few weeks, studies about prevalence and genetic correlations have been accompanied by journalist about life for families with autism. Autistic spectrum disorders are a personal area of interest to me, although my life has not been personally touched by them. Here's a quick round-up of research, profiles, and discussion. (Source: DNA Direct Talk) DNA Direct Talk blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=482216 Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:15:48 +0100 482216