April 26, 2013--------News Archive

As people live longer and reproduce less, natural selection keeps up
In many places around the world, people are living longer and are having fewer children. But that's not all—women are getting taller and slimmer too.

Endoplasmic reticulum key to gene silencing
RNA molecules, made from DNA, are best known for their help in protein production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), however, are short RNA sequences known to target tens to hundreds of genes each and repress, or "silence," them. Now the site where that silencing occurs is found to be the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Blocking certain enzymes may prevent cancer
In order to divide, a cell needs to copy its genetic material to make new cells, called "daughter" cells. Several enzymes in the cells act as the traffic cops for this process. A new study suggests turning off CDK7 might prevent three enzymes which proliferate specific cancers.

April 25, 2013--------News Archive

New genetic links to juvenile arthritis
Researchers have increased the number of confirmed genes linked to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) from three to 17 – a finding that will clarify how JIA fits into the spectrum of autoimmune disorders and help identify potential treatment targets.

Potential biomarker for pregnancy-associated heart disease?
Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a deterioration in cardiac function that occurs in pregnant women during the last monthof pregnancy—or the months following pregnancy. This disorder can occur in women with no prior history of heart disease and the causes are not well understood.

Important fertility mechanism discovered
Plasma protein fetuin-B regulates hardening of the zona pellucida ensuring the fertilization capacity of the egg (ovum).

April 24, 2013--------News Archive

Most children readmitted to hospital following stem cell transplant
Nearly two-thirds of children receiving stem cell transplants returned to the hospital within six months for treatment of unexplained fevers, infections or other problems. Children who received donor cells were twice as likely to be readmitted as children who received their own stem cells.

Castor gene important in maintaining adult stem cells
Understanding exactly how stem cells form into specific organs and tissues is the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Now a UC Santa Barbara researcher has found how stem cells produce different types of "daughter" cells in Drosophila (fruit flies).

Brain biology tied to social reorientation during puberty
A specific region of the brain is in play as children consider their identity and social status entering adolescence—that often-turbulent time of reaching puberty and entering middle school, says a University of Oregon psychologist.

April 23, 2013--------News Archive

3 unique genes influence body size, obesity in people of African ancestry
Dartmouth iQBS researchers help discover three unique gene variants that influence body size and obesity in men and women of African ancestry.

Surprising new function for small RNAs in evolution
An international research team has discovered a completely new mechanism by which evolution can change the appearance of an organism.

Lazy eye' disorder has a promising new therapy
A research team has used the popular video game "Tetris" as an innovative treatment for adult amblyopia, commonly known as "lazy eye."

April 22, 2013--------News Archive

Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice
For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember.

Low-dose aspirin stymies proliferation of 2 breast cancers
The study found that aspirin slowed the growth of breast cancer cell lines in the lab and significantly reduced the growth of tumors in mice. The age-old headache remedy also exhibits the ability to prevent tumor cells from spreading.

Biggest family tree of human cells created by scientists
Cells are the basic unit of a living organism. The human body consists of a vast array of highly specialized cells, such as blood cells, skin cells and neurons. In total more than 250 different cell types exist.