Archive for October, 2013

SAQ (4.3) Theoretical genetics - IB SL Biology Past Exam Paper 2 Questions
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SAQ (4.3) Theoretical genetics - IB SL Biology Past Exam Paper 2 Questions - Video

Introduce Genetics with Seeds
Enhance your introduction to genetics by showing pea seeds with different characteristics--providing a connection to Gregor Mendel #39;s use of pea plants to demonstrate inheritance.

By: FlinnScientific

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Introduce Genetics with Seeds - Video

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) today announced that it will issue financial results for the first fiscal quarter 2014 following the close of market on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013.

The Company also will host a conference call on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss the financial results. Participating on the call will be Peter Meldrum, President and Chief Executive Officer; Mark Capone, President of Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.; and James Evans, Chief Financial Officer.

To listen to the call, interested parties within the United States may dial 800-354-6885 or +1 303-223-2680 for international callers. All callers will be asked to reference reservation number 21676804.

The conference call also will be available through a live webcast at http://www.myriad.com. A replay of the call will be available two hours after the end of the call for seven days and may be accessed by dialing 800-633-8284 within the United States or +1 402-977-9140 for international callers and entering reservation number 21676804.

About Myriad Genetics

Myriad Genetics is a leading molecular diagnostic company dedicated to making a difference in patients' lives through the discovery and commercialization of transformative tests to assess a person's risk of developing disease, guide treatment decisions and assess risk of disease progression and recurrence. Myriad's portfolio of molecular diagnostic tests are based on an understanding of the role genes play in human disease and were developed with a commitment to improving an individual's decision making process for monitoring and treating disease. Myriad is focused on strategic directives to introduce new products, including companion diagnostics, as well as expanding internationally. For more information on how Myriad is making a difference, please visit the Company's website: http://www.myriad.com.

Myriad, the Myriad logo, BART, BRACAnalysis, Colaris, Colaris AP, Melaris, myPath Melanoma(TM), myPlan Lung Cancer(TM), myRisk Hereditary Cancer(TM), TheraGuide, Prezeon, OnDose, Panexia and Prolaris are trademarks or registered trademarks of Myriad Genetics, Inc. in the United States and foreign countries. MYGN-F, MYGN-G

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Myriad Genetics to Announce Fiscal First Quarter 2014 Financial Results on Tuesday November 5, 2013

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Good Start Genetics, Inc.,an innovative molecular diagnostics company harnessing a powerful, proprietary next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) capability, today announced that seven abstracts were accepted for presentation at the 2013 American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) Annual Meeting. The abstracts highlight Good Starts leadership position in next-generation DNA sequencing and present new data that demonstrate the companys NGS-based carrier screening is able to detect rare and novel mutations not detected by other laboratories. The findings reinforce that the NGS-based technology utilized in the companys carrier screening test, GoodStart Select, more accurately detects pathogenic mutations, irrespective of patient ethnicity, and results in fewer missed carriers.

These data, generated in both the clinical and research sides of our business, further demonstrate the ability of our validated technology to capture disease-causing mutations that other tests simply cannot detect, stated Don Hardison, president and chief executive officer of Good Start Genetics. As a result, the patient receives the most comprehensive and clinically-relevant test results available and can further understand the risks of conceiving a child with a debilitating or fatal inherited disease prior to becoming pregnant.

Two of the posters presented are highlighted below.

Enhanced Detection through Next Generation Sequencing

In a poster presentation, titled Detection of Carriers of Rare and Novel Mutations using Next Generation DNA Sequencing, data demonstrate that Good Start Genetics NGS platform is able to detect uncommon and previously unrecognized mutations across a spectrum of society-recommended disorders. Through analysis of nearly 16,500 patients referred for carrier screening from in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics across the U.S., Good Start identified 146 unique mutations and 771 carriers across 15 genes. More than a third (39%) of these mutations would not have been detected by traditional carrier screening, in particular the novel pathogenic mutations, which are only detectable with comprehensive sequencing. These data showcase the accuracy and precision of NGS-based carrier screening, ultimately providing clinically relevant information to patients that may decrease their risk of conceiving a child with a debilitating or fatal genetic disorder. The data were presented in program number 2827W.

Effective Detection of Tay-Sachs Disease Carrier Status

In a second poster presentation, titled Discrepant Tay-Sachs disease enzyme and DNA carrier screening results in the African American population, the authors demonstrate that the current standard of care for detecting carriers of Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is not an accurate method to assess carrier status in African Americans and possibly other populations. Retrospective analysis of 2,656 patients demonstrated that there is a high percentage of African Americans who do not have a genetic mutation for TSD, yet presented with an indeterminate or positive TSD result from enzyme analysis. This conflicts with current guidelines from ACOG that recommend enzyme analysis as a screening tool in low-risk patients. The data were presented in program number 2543W.

About ASHG

The American Society for Human Genetics is the primary professional membership organization for human genetics specialists worldwide. The Societys nearly 8,000 members include researchers, academicians, clinicians, laboratory practice professionals, genetic counselors, nurses and others who have a special interest in the field of human genetics. The 2013 ASHG Annual Meeting is attended by research scientists and health professionals from around the world who are dedicated to genetics research, education and support.

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New Findings Highlight the Power and Accuracy of Good Start Genetics’ Carrier Screening Technologies

HAIFA, Israel, Oct. 23, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. (PSTI) (TASE:PLTR), a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies, announced today that Pluristem's VP of Development, Ohad Karnieli PhD will present at Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy in Orlando, Florida on October 25, 2013 at 12:50pm. Dr. Karnieli's presentation will focus on Pluristem's approach on industrialized cell therapy manufacturing.

As previously announced, Pluristem's 3-dimensional cell production is manufactured in its state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot facility.

Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy 2013 is an event which brings together a unique and international mix of leading universities and cell therapy institutions making the congress a perfect platform to share experience. It paves a way to gather visionaries through the research talks and presentations and put forward many thought provoking strategies in emerging cell & gene therapies. The conference aims to serve as a catalyst for the advancement in cell & gene therapies by connecting scientists within and across disciplines at conferences held under a single roof that create an environment conducive to information exchange, generation of new ideas and acceleration of applications that benefit society.

About Pluristem Therapeutics

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. is a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapies. The Company's patented PLX (PLacental eXpanded) cells are a drug delivery platform that releases a cocktail of therapeutic proteins in response to a host of local and systemic inflammatory and ischemic diseases. PLX cells are grown using the company's proprietary 3D micro-environmental technology and are an "off-the-shelf" product that requires no tissue matching prior to administration.

Pluristem has a strong intellectual property position, company-owned GMP certified manufacturing and research facilities, strategic relationships with major research institutions and a seasoned management team. For more information visit http://www.pluristem.com, the content of which is not part of this press release.

The Pluristem Therapeutics Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6882

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of Pluristem only, and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in technology and market requirements; we may encounter delays or obstacles in launching and/or successfully completing our clinical trials; our products may not be approved by regulatory agencies, our technology may not be validated as we progress further and our methods may not be accepted by the scientific community; we may be unable to retain or attract key employees whose knowledge is essential to the development of our products; unforeseen scientific difficulties may develop with our process; our products may wind up being more expensive than we anticipate; results in the laboratory may not translate to equally good results in real surgical settings; results of preclinical studies may not correlate with the results of human clinical trials; our patents may not be sufficient; our products may harm recipients; changes in legislation; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; loss of market share and pressure on pricing resulting from competition, which could cause the actual results or performance of Pluristem to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by law, Pluristem undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Pluristem, reference is made to Pluristem's reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Pluristem to Present at Omics Group's 2nd International Conference and Exhibition on Cell & Gene Therapy

23 October 2013 Last updated at 15:50 ET By Michele Paduano BBC Midlands health correspondent

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Doctors at University Hospital of Birmingham NHS Trust have been working on the project for 15 years

Doctors in Birmingham have started a trial of a new gene therapy treatment they hope will help fight prostate cancer.

Injected directly into the tumour it is is designed to stimulate the body's own immune system.

Bernard Ward, 68, from Birmingham was the first patient in the world to receive the new procedure.

He is one of 20 patients taking part in the first phase of a trial by University Hospitals Birmingham.

The initial trial is designed to establish whether the treatment is safe for clinical use.

Mr Ward has suffered from prostate cancer for six years and standard treatments are no longer working.

"I just hope it works. I don't have any choice but to try this treatment because I haven't got anything else," he said.

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Doctors pioneer cancer gene therapy

MISGAV, Israel & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Medgenics, Inc. (MDGN)(AIM:MEDU, MEDG) (the Company), the developer of a novel technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins in patients using their own tissue, announces that a poster highlighting the Companys second-generation EPODURE Biopump will be presented at the European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress, taking place in Madrid October 25-28.

Posters will be showcased in Poster Reception Halls A-C November 1-3 and will be available for viewing from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. local time. Poster presentations will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The following Medgenics poster will be presented during Poster Session B on Sunday, October 27:

EPODURE is an autologous dermal Biopump capable of the sustained production of therapeutic erythropoietin (EPO) in the body using a small tissue explant from the patients own skin and processed to continuously produce EPO. Each EPODURE Biopump is subsequently implanted subcutaneously into the patient aiming to provide continuous delivery of EPO.

About The European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT)

The European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ESGCT) promotes basic and clinical research in gene therapy, cell therapy and genetic vaccines by facilitating education, the exchange of information and technology and by serving as a professional adviser to stakeholder communities and regulatory bodies in Europe.

About Medgenics

Medgenics is developing and commercializing Biopump, a proprietary tissue-based platform technology for the sustained production and delivery of therapeutic proteins using the patient's own tissue for the treatment of a range of chronic diseases including anemia and hepatitis, among others. For more information, please visit http://www.medgenics.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include all statements other than statements of historical fact, including (without limitation) those regarding the Company's financial position, its development and business strategy, its product candidates and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created by such laws. Forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by their use of the terms and phrases such as "estimate," "project," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "plan," "planning, "expect," "believe," "will," "will likely," "should," "could," "would," "may" or the negative of such terms and other comparable terminology. All such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Should any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those included within these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no undue reliance should be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result of these factors, the events described in the forward-looking statements contained in this release may not occur.

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Medgenics to Present Poster at European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Congress to Highlight Results from Second ...

Tom Avril, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 2:01 AM

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has invested $50 million in a new biotech start-up that seeks to be the nation's first commercial provider of gene therapy, company officials announced Tuesday.

Spark Therapeutics will assume control over two clinical trials that originated at the prominent teaching hospital - one in which patients with a rare form of blindness already have regained some vision, the other an early-stage effort to treat hemophilia B.

Jeffrey D. Marrazzo, Spark's CEO, said the goal was to tackle still more genetic diseases in the future, including other rare forms of blindness, blood disorders, and two neurodegenerative diseases that he declined to identify.

Children's Hospital has spun off companies before with the involvement of other investors, but this marks the hospital's first foray as a primary source of start-up funds, said hospital CEO Steven M. Altschuler.

The move marks a coming-of-age moment for gene therapy - the concept of treating disease by replacing or correcting faulty genes. Confined to the realm of research for decades, it now appears headed to the clinic on multiple fronts.

A gene-therapy treatment called Glybera has been approved in Europe for treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency, an affliction marked by increased levels of fat in the blood. And earlier this year, a Cambridge, Mass.-based gene-therapy company called bluebird bio Inc. raised more than $100 million in an initial public offering.

Gary J. Kurtzman, managing director for health care at Safeguard Scientifics, the Wayne-based technology and health-care investment company, said Spark's prospects looked promising. He cited the involvement of Children's Hospital researchers such as Katherine A. High, a primary force in the hemophilia and blindness trials and now one of Spark's scientific advisers.

"It's a bold move," Kurtzman said of the hospital's investment. "Based on the technology and the assets and the expertise that Dr. High and other people there have, I think it's a . . . very smart move."

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Children's Hospital of Phila. funds gene-therapy company

Focus on Regenerative Medicine
http://www.ihealthtube.com http://www.facebook.com/ihealthtube Dr. Joel Baumgartner describes his philosophy behind his practice and how it may be different ...

By: iHealthTube.com

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Focus on Regenerative Medicine - Video

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

22-Oct-2013

Contact: Eileen Leahy e.leahy@elsevier.com 732-238-3628 Elsevier Health Sciences

San Francisco, CA, October 22, 2013 A study performed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found no evidence that stem cell therapy improves vision for children with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Their results are reported in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS).

ONH, an underdevelopment of optic nerves that occurs during fetal development, may appear either as an isolated abnormality or as part of a group of disorders characterized by brain anomalies, developmental delay, and endocrine abnormalities. ONH is a leading cause of blindness in children in North America and Europe and is the only cause of childhood blindness that shows increasing prevalence. No treatments have been shown to improve vision in these children.

With no viable treatment options available to improve vision, ophthalmologists are becoming aware that families with children affected by ONH are travelling to China seeking stem cell therapy, despite lack of approval in the United States and Europe or evidence from controlled trials. The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus has also expressed its concern about these procedures. In response to this situation, pediatric neuro-ophthalmologist Mark Borchert, MD, Director of both the Eye Birth Defects and Eye Technology Institutes in The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, realized that a controlled trial of sufficient size was needed to evaluate whether stem cell therapy is effective at improving optic nerve function in children with ONH. He agreed to conduct an independent study when asked by Beike Biotech, a company based in Shenzhen, China, that offers treatment for ONH using donor umbilical cord stem cells injected into the cerebral spinal fluid.

Beike Biotech agreed to identify 10 children with bilateral ONH (ages 7-17 years) who had volunteered to travel to China for stem cell therapy and who agreed to participate in the study; Children's Hospital was to find case matched controls from their clinic. However, only two case-controlled pairs were evaluated because Beike Biotech was only able to recruit two patients. Treatments consisted of six infusions over a 16-day period of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and daily infusions of growth factors. Visual acuity, optic nerve size, and sensitivity to light were to be evaluated one month before stem cell therapy and three and nine months after treatment.

No therapeutic effect was found in the two case-control pairs that were enrolled. "The results of this study show that children greater than 7 years of age with ONH may have spontaneous improvement in vision from one examination to the next. This improvement occurs equally in children regardless of whether or not they received treatment. Other aspects of the eye examination included pupil responses to light and optic nerve size; these did not change following treatment. The results of this research do not support the use of stem cells in the treatment of ONH at this time," says lead author Cassandra Fink, MPH, program administrator at The Vision Center, Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Confounding the trial was that subjects received additional alternative therapies (acupuncture, functional electrical stimulation, and exercise) while receiving stem cell treatments, which was contrary to the trial protocol. The investigators could not determine the effect of these additional therapies.

"This study underscores the importance of scientifically testing these procedures to validate them and also to ensure their safety. Parents of afflicted children should be aware that the science behind the use of stem cell technology is unclear. This study takes a step toward testing this technology and finds no beneficial effect," says William V. Good, MD, Senior Associate Editor, Journal of AAPOS and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology and Senior Scientist at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.

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No evidence to support stem cell therapy for pediatric optic nerve hypoplasia

After two years on the varsity swim team at UNC, junior John Paul Gaylor retired from swimming to pursue a passion for gene therapy research inspired in part by his involvement with Honors Carolina.

But because of budget cuts, certain classes in the program might not be offered in the future.

Gaylor first became interested in gene therapy during his BIO 101 honors course with biology professor Jean DeSaix last spring.

She essentially walked us through the research process, Gaylor said. She even had us interview people working in the field.

Gaylor now works in a lab researching gene therapy for eyes.

DeSaix said she loves to teach her honors course, but due to budget cuts, the course was not offered this fall and will most likely not be in the spring.

Assistant Dean for Honors Carolina Ritchie Kendall said departmental and University budget cuts affect the number of faculty that can teach honors courses.

The UNC system has seen nearly half a billion dollars erased from its state funding since 2011, including about $65 million in fresh cuts in the 2013-14 budget.

There is no question that there is a much greater strain on departmental courses, Kendall said. Honors (classes) are, with very few exceptions, always faculty taught that is a strain.

Despite budget restraints on the University level, Kendall said in recent years Honors Carolina has doubled the number of new students because of fundraising gifts to the program.

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Cuts affect honors courses

Oct. 22, 2013

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Organofoam, right, is compared to Styrofoam.

Move over, Styrofoam theres a new kid in town. Cornell students have developed a genetic circuitry-based tool that could improve the production of an environmentally friendly alternative to the plastic material.

Cornell University Genetically Engineered Machines (CU GEM), an undergraduate project team, took home a gold medal and the Best Human Practices Advance Award at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) North American regional competition for their project that genetically engineers specific fungi. The fungi are used in the production of a biodegradable Styrofoam substitute to confer resistance to pathogenic molds that can compromise entire batches of the material during production.

CU GEM faced off against 50 universities from around the world at the competition, held Oct. 4-6 in Toronto. Cornell was selected to advance to the International Jamboree, which will be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nov. 1-4.

The gold medal was awarded for the teams design, as well as their effective presentation of the project and its accessibility for other teams to use in the future. The Best Human Practices Advance Award recognized CU GEMs efforts to work with a corporation and for the steps they took to guarantee that their project was safe and practical.

CU GEM uses genetic modification to develop biotechnological tools. This relatively new field, known as synthetic biology, applies engineering concepts to biological processes to find solutions to industry and economic problems.The project this year was inspired by the Albany-area company Ecovative Design, which uses fungi and plant matter to produce a biodegradable substitute for Styrofoam. CU GEM decided to help the company by addressing a production concern: When contaminated with pathogenic molds, the fungi would stop growing, ruining the material.

CU GEM realized that a genetic circuit a design similar in concept to an electrical circuit in engineering, with specific genetic components used to perform a certain function could solve this problem. However, there are no standardized industrial tools for engineering fungi.

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CU GEM improves eco-friendly Styrofoam substitute

Its Farmers Week, and its the appropriate occasion to call attention to the dangers posed by genetically engineered crops in the Philippines.

Genetic engineering (GE) is a very new technology, its commercialization having begun only in the 1990s. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living things that have been conferred qualities or traits that they do not naturally have, and this is achieved through the random insertion of one or a few genes from another organism into the host organisms genetic make-up in a way that can never happen in nature.

Why GMOs are Controversial

GMOs are very controversial. The first reason is that genetic engineering disrupts the precise sequence of genetic codes and disturbs the functions of neighboring genes, which for food, may give rise to potentially toxic or allergenic molecules or even alter the nutritional value of food produced. An example of this is that the Bt toxin being used in GMO corn, for example, was recently detected in the blood of pregnant women and their babies, with possibly harmful consequences.

A second reason has to do with genetic contamination. A GMO crop, once released in the open, reproduces via pollination and interacts genetically with natural varieties of the same crop, producing what is called genetic contamination. An example of this is Bt corn, which was reported in a study published in Nature, one of the worlds leading scientific journals, to have contaminated indigenous varieties of corn in Oaxaca, Mexico.

A third reason is that a GMO, brought into natural surroundings, may have a toxic or lethal impact on other living things. Thus, it was found that Bt corn destroyed the larvae of the monarch butterfly, raising well grounded fears that many other natural plant and animal life may be impacted in the same way.

A fourth reason is that the benefits of GMOs have been oversold by the people or companies that benefit economically from it, like Monsanto or Syngenta. Most genetically engineered (GE) crops are either engineered to produce their own pesticide in the form of Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) or are designed to be resistant to herbicides, so that herbicides can be sprayed in massive quantities to kill pests. It has been shown, however, that insects are fast developing resistance to Bt as well as to herbicides, resulting in even more massive infestation by the new superbugs. There is also no substantial evidence that GM crops yield more than conventional crops; in fact several scientific studies have proven that the opposite is true. What GM crops definitely do lead to is higher pesticide use, which is harmful both to humans and the planet.

Bans on GMOs

Owing to the dangers and risks posed by genetically engineered organisms, many governments have instituted total or partial bans on their cultivation, importation and field testing. A few years ago, there were 16 countries that had GMO bans. Now there are at least 26, including Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Russia. Significant restrictions on GMOs exist in about 60 other countries.

Restraints on trade in GMOs based on phyto-sanitary grounds, which are allowed under the World Trade Organization, have increased. Already, American rice farmers face strict limitations on their exports to the European Union, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and bans from Russia and Bulgaria because unapproved GE rice escaped during open-field trials on GMO rice. Thai exports to Europe, particularly canned fruit salad/fruit cocktail containing papaya to Germany, and sardines in soy oil to Greece and the Netherlands, were banned due to threat of contamination by GMOs. And, closer to home, Japan stopped importation of organic corn from Ifugao following news that the corn was contaminated by GE corn.

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The invasion of Bt talong and other GMOs

Newswise NYU School of Medicine announced today that Danny Reinberg, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and head of the Reinberg Lab at NYU School of Medicine, has been elected a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Seventy new members and ten foreign associates were named during the IOMs 43nd annual meeting on October 21, 2013. Dr. Reinberg is NYU School of Medicines 10th faculty member inducted into the IOM.

Dr. Reinbergs election into the IOM reflects the combination of intellect, effort, creativity, and excellence evident in his groundbreaking work and contributions to science and medicine, said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center. We congratulate Dr. Reinberg on receiving this extraordinary honor.

Dr. Reinberg is a leading expert in the fields of eukaryotic transcription and epigenetics. He and his collaborators have made fundamental discoveries uncovering the details of the intricate process of transcription during which information from DNA is transferred to RNA that directs protein production. In the field of epigenetics, the study of how genes are activated or deactivated by modifications to chromatin, changes in gene expression that can be passed on to future generations, his group has made major inroads including showing how transcription from genes are activated or inhibited based on modifications to the histone proteins that fold the DNA into open or closed structures. These features are epigenetic, because they affect the DNA structure, not the DNA sequence (genetic). Yet, these modifications are also passed on to future cell generations ensuring that the identical pattern of gene transcription is maintained.

Dr. Reinbergs forte is in the purification of the numerous array of individual proteins to identify exactly how they operate, alone and in conjunction with their partners, to work to ensure the correct transcription process occurs in the test tube. Over the years, his group detailed the required, fundamental steps in the transcription process, and their biological relevance in the cell. In an advance in the field, his group chartered the transcription process from more complex DNA in the form of chromatin, the spool-and-thread combination of DNA wrapped around histone proteins that mimics the intricate state of DNA in the cell.

The various, naturally occurring modifications to the histone proteins within chromatin lead to distinct assemblies/structures of the DNA making it either accessible or not to the transcription machinery in the cell and are key to dictating the cells precise transcription program, which lead to how cells develop to become different tissues of the body. His findings advanced our conceptual knowledge of the workings of the factors responsible for these modifications, how these modifications set the DNA structure, and why losing the integrity of this process can result in diseased states.

To study how these histone modifications set a program of transcription that distinguishes the behavior of a whole organism, Dr. Reinberg and collaborators focused on an experimentally approachable model organism, the ant. In 2008, Dr. Reinberg and his team attained a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to study features of chromatin (epigenetic differences) amongst distinct members of a colony of ants. As a result of the groundbreaking collaboration led by Dr. Reinberg, the Ant Genome Project sequenced the entire genome of two ant species and is in position to examine the epigenetic blueprints in ants that may provide clues to longevity, aging and behavior in humans.

Among his accolades, Dr. Reinberg was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS) 2012 Class of Fellows and was the recipient of the HHMI Collaborative Innovation Award. He also received an NIH Merit Award and a Junior Faculty Research Award and a Faculty Research Award from the American Cancer Society. Dr. Reinberg has co-authored more than 230 works in journals that include Nature, Science, Cell, Genes & Development, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, among others, and co-edited an authoritative textbook on epigenetics. He received his doctorate in molecular biology from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Throughout his career, Dr. Reinberg has made seminal contributions to our understanding of epigenetics and the mechanisms through which our genetic makeup evolves, said Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD, vice dean for science and chief scientific officer at NYU Langone. He continues to exemplify the passion for discovery that is the mark of the best scientific minds. We are thrilled to congratulate him on this latest, well-deserved honor.

Established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, IOM is recognized as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analysis and recommendations on health issues. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine, and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. New members are elected by current active members through a selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health.

The newly elected members raise IOM's total active membership to 1,753 and the number of foreign associates to 120. With an additional 93 members holding emeritus status, IOM's total membership is 1,966. IOM's charter ensures diversity of talent among the Institute's membership by requiring at least one-quarter of the members to be selected from fields outside the health professions, such as engineering, social sciences, law, and the humanities.

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Danny Reinberg, PhD, Elected Member of Prestigious Institute of Medicine

Newswise University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers Joseph G. Gleeson, MD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator and professor of neurosciences and pediatrics, and Richard D. Kolodner, PhD, professor of medicine and Ludwig Cancer Research scientist, have been named new members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), considered among the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

Gleeson and Kolodner were among 70 new members and 10 foreign associates announces today at the IOMs annual meeting, bringing total IOM membership to 1,966 worldwide. Forty-six UC San Diego faculty members, current and emeritus, are IOM members.

Joseph Gleeson

Gleeson is principal investigator at the Center for Brain Development, a laboratory that seeks to understand the genetic basis of brain diseases such as mental retardation, epilepsy and autism using genetic tools. He is also director of the UC San Diego Neuroscience Core, co-director of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program and a member of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UC San Diego.

He is also a member of the Child Neurology Society, the Society for Neuroscience and the American Society for Human Genetics, and has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Child Neurology, Human Molecular Genetics and Journal of Pediatric Neurology.

Gleeson earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry at UC San Diego and his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. He came to UC San Diego in 1999. Among his awards and honors are the Klingenstein Fellowship Award in the Neurosciences, a Searle Scholar Award and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Clinical Scientist Award in Translational Research.

Richard Kolodner

Kolodner, professor in cellular and molecular medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, has made seminal contributions to understanding the connection between DNA mismatch repair the ability of cells to fix genetic errors in DNA and cancer.

He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (2000), the American Academy of Arts & Sciences (2008), the American Society for Microbiology, the Genetics Society of America and American Association for Cancer Research. He has served on numerous advisory and review boards, including the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scientific Review Board.

Among his awards are the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Morse Research Award, the Charles S. Mott Prize of the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation and the Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research.

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Two UC San Diego Researchers Elected to Institute of Medicine

2014 Gnu Eco Genetics Snowboard - Review - The-House.com
Gnu - http://www.the-house.com/snbd-gnu.html This all terrain eco friendly deck will help you go bananas, literally - it #39;s the Gnu Eco Genetics Snowboard. Pr...

By: The House

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2014 Gnu Eco Genetics Snowboard - Review - The-House.com - Video

Christianity Judaism and Genetics - The Fallacy
Christianity is not a racist religion, but millions of Christians have accepted a racist point of view relative to the Return of Christ. Christians are God #39;s temple and when they are Born Again...

By: Vern Manson

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Christianity Judaism and Genetics - The Fallacy - Video

Bio One 3.3 C- nonmendelian genetics
via YouTube Capture.

By: LuongBiology

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Bio One 3.3 C- nonmendelian genetics - Video

By RTT News, October 22, 2013, 07:46:00 PM EDT

(RTTNews.com) - Cancer Genetics, Inc. ( CGIX ) said Tuesday that it has priced its underwritten public offering of 2.858 million shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $14.00 per share.

The gross proceeds to Cancer Genetics from the public offering are expected to be $40 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Cancer Genetics.

Cancer Genetics has also granted the representative of the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 428,700 additional shares of common stock from Cancer Genetics to cover over-allotments, if any.

The offering is expected to close on October 28.

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund its Mayo Clinic joint venture, to expand sales and marketing, to continue research and development, and for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of the business.

The company may also use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repay certain outstanding indebtedness.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

http://www.rttnews.com

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Cancer Genetics Prices $40 Mln Stock Offering

Seattle Genetics, Inc. ( SGEN ) commenced a phase I study to evaluate SGN-LIV1A in patients with LIV-1-positive metastatic breast cancer. Seattle Genetics' antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology has been used for SGN-LIV1A.

The open-label, dose-escalation study will enroll up to 70 patients. The study is enrolling patients with triple negative disease who have previously been treated with at least two prior cytotoxic regimens in the metastatic setting.

Moreover, the study will also enroll patients with ER-positive and/or PR-positive and HER2-negative disease who have previously been treated with at least two prior cytotoxic regimens in the metastatic setting, and at least three prior hormonal therapies.

The primary endpoint is safety, while secondary endpoints include objective response, duration of response and progression-free survival (PFS).

The American Cancer Society anticipates about 230,000 fresh cases of invasive breast cancer to be diagnosed in the U.S. during 2013. At an annual meeting of American Association of Cancer Research, in Apr 2013, preclinical data revealed that up to 92% of breast tumors analyzed expressed LIV-1, with limited expression in normal tissue. In multiple preclinical models, at well-tolerated doses, SGN-LIV1A has shown significant antitumor activity.

In 2013, SGN-LIV1A is one of the four ADCs that have moved to the clinic. ADCs have lately been attracting a lot of interest with major companies entering into collaborations. Seattle Genetics has an alliance with companies such as Roche ( RHHBY ) and Bayer ( BAYRY ), for the development of ADCs.

Seattle Genetics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Currently, companies like Roche and Actelion Ltd. ( ALIOF ) look well positioned with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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Seattle Genetics Starts Phase I Study - Analyst Blog

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., Oct. 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioReference Laboratories, Inc. (BRLI) announces that Myriad Genetics has filed a lawsuit against it in the Federal District Court in Utah alleging that BioReference, through its genetic sequencing laboratory, GeneDx, Inc, is infringing on its intellectual property by offering OncoGeneDx, its comprehensive series of inherited cancers testing, including testing for BRCA1/2. BioReference indicated that it is not surprised by the action and that it is confident in its position.

BioReference has engaged the firm of Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox to represent it in the action. The firm has represented the Company for many years and has a superior reputation in the field of intellectual property, especially in the area of genetic sequencing. BioReference stated that the test was introduced in August of the current year, after careful consideration in view of the Supreme Court's recent decisions in the field of genetic diagnostics. Its team of geneticists and sequencing scientists have developed several panels of tests for inherited cancers that will be valuable tools in the management of cancer. As always for BioReference, the tests will be based on innovative technology, will be affordable, and will be designed to provide the service and support that has enabled BioReference to maintain its sustained growth for the past two decades.

Myriad Genetics has taken similar steps to defend its exclusivity for BRCA1/2 testing by suing other laboratories that offer BRCA1/2 testing. The latest action against BioReference is not unexpected and the Company is fully prepared to defend against the action. BioReference is confident in its legal position and its belief that patients are better served in this evolving area of medicine by having choices and better access to alternative testing sources.

About BioReference Laboratories, Inc.

BRLI is a clinical testing laboratory offering testing, information and related services to physician offices, clinics, hospitals, employers and governmental units. We believe that we are the fourth largest full-service laboratory in the United States and the largest independent regional laboratory in the Northeastern market. BRLI offers a comprehensive list of laboratory testing services utilized by healthcare providers in the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring and treatment of diseases. BRLI primarily focuses on esoteric testing, molecular diagnostics, anatomical pathology, women's health and correctional health care.

Statements included in this release that are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "will" or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements about the expected future business and financial performance of Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Statements looking forward in time are included in this release pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made and which reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations or beliefs and which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the future results of the company include, but are not limited to, adverse results from pending or future government investigations, our ability to sustain continued growth, lawsuits or private actions, including any potential action involving Horizon as described herein, the competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers and strategic partners, including recent proposals by CMS described herein, and other and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

http://www.bioreference.com

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BioReference Laboratories, Inc. Sued by Myriad Genetics, Confident in Its Position

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Life Stem Genetics (LIFS) is pleased to announce that it has completed and received the first $500,000 of the recently announced $1mm Private Placement. Our company is very happy to receive the first half of our recent private placement and hopes to close the additional $500,000 in the coming weeks.

The money will be used to attract additional affiliate offices country wide and to invest in various areas of research and development in moving our company's plans forward.

About Life Stem Genetics

Life Stem Genetics (LSG) is a progressive health care company that focuses on healing with a patients own Stem Cells. Stem Cells for years have been known to heal a variety of ailments successfully and now it is being offered as an efficient and painless way to treat many different illnesses ranging from orthopedic injuries, neurological disorders such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers, Cancer, Plastic Surgery, Age Management, Arthritis, Diabetes, Cardiology, COPD, MS, Urology, and many more. Stem Cell Therapy and LSGs proprietary techniques have experienced some of the best results in the industry, helping to repair or re-program damaged or diseased tissues and organs.

LSGs stem cell specialist has performed thousands of stem cell treatments, including the top names in PGA golf, NFL football, NBA basketball, and Major League Baseball. LSG will offer their proprietary treatments through a series of affiliate doctors, and medical clinics, with 60 affiliated clinics so far.

LSGs mission is to create a solid comprehensive approach to the treatment and maintenance of diseases and to break free from the medical insurance world by tapping into an affordable private-pay sector delivering exceptional healthcare free from the medical insurance maze.

http://www.lifestemgenetics.com/

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are not historical facts. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe," "expect," "may, could, estimates, "will," "should," "project," "plan," "seek," "intend," or "anticipate" or the negative thereof or comparable terminology, and include discussions of strategy, and statements about industry trends and the Company's future performance, operations, and products. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, market acceptance of the Company's stem cell therapy treatment program; the Company's compliance with applicable statutes and regulations: the Company's reliance on third-party contractors to provide suitable treatment facilities; the Company's ability to expand its network of participating clinics and doctors; the Company's ability to develop an effective marketing strategy; the Company's ability to control and reduce advertising and marketing costs; the Company's ability to develop and increase awareness of its brand; the Company's ability to protect its trademarks; and the success of the Company's marketing focus to patients, doctors and clinics. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties see "Risk Factors" and Description of Business in the Company's public filings with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

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Life Stem Genetics is Pleased to Announce That It Has Completed the First $500,000 Private Placement of the Recently ...

RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cancer Genetics, Inc. (CGIX), a diagnostics company focused on developing genomic-based, oncology tests and services, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 2,858,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $14.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Cancer Genetics from the public offering are expected to be $40 million, before underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Cancer Genetics.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund its Mayo Clinic joint venture, to expand sales and marketing, to continue research and development, and for general corporate purposes and to fund ongoing operations and expansion of the business. The Company may also use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repay certain outstanding indebtedness.

Cancer Genetics has also granted the representative of the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 428,700 additional shares of common stock from Cancer Genetics to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is expected to close on October 28, 2013, subject to customary closing conditions.

Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.

Feltl and Company, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and Dougherty & Company are acting as co-managers for the offering.

This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Prospectus Department, 810 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10019, telephone: 212-813-1010, e-mail: prospectus@aegiscap.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 22, 2013. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Cancer Genetics:

Cancer Genetics, Inc. is an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics and services some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the world. Our tests target cancers that are difficult to diagnose and predict treatment outcomes. These cancers include hematological, urogenital and HPV-associated cancers. We also offer a comprehensive range of non-proprietary oncology-focused tests and laboratory services that provide critical genomic information to healthcare professionals as well as biopharma and biotech. Our state-of-the-art reference lab is focused entirely on maintaining clinical excellence and is both CLIA certified and CAP accredited and has licensure from several states including New York State. We have established strong research collaborations with major cancer centers such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering, The Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and the National Cancer Institute. For further information, please see http://www.cancergenetics.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

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Cancer Genetics Announces Pricing of Public Offering of 2,858,000 Shares of Common Stock

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) commenced a phase I study to evaluate SGN-LIV1A in patients with LIV-1-positive metastatic breast cancer. Seattle Genetics antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology has been used for SGN-LIV1A.

The open-label, dose-escalation study will enroll up to 70 patients. The study is enrolling patients with triple negative disease who have previously been treated with at least two prior cytotoxic regimens in the metastatic setting.

Moreover, the study will also enroll patients with ER-positive and/or PR-positive and HER2-negative disease who have previously been treated with at least two prior cytotoxic regimens in the metastatic setting, and at least three prior hormonal therapies.

The primary endpoint is safety, while secondary endpoints include objective response, duration of response and progression-free survival (PFS).

The American Cancer Society anticipates about 230,000 fresh cases of invasive breast cancer to be diagnosed in the U.S. during 2013. At an annual meeting of American Association of Cancer Research, in Apr 2013, preclinical data revealed that up to 92% of breast tumors analyzed expressed LIV-1, with limited expression in normal tissue. In multiple preclinical models, at well-tolerated doses, SGN-LIV1A has shown significant antitumor activity.

In 2013, SGN-LIV1A is one of the four ADCs that have moved to the clinic. ADCs have lately been attracting a lot of interest with major companies entering into collaborations. Seattle Genetics has an alliance with companies such as Roche (RHHBY) and Bayer (BAYRY), for the development of ADCs.

Seattle Genetics carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Currently, companies like Roche and Actelion Ltd. (ALIOF) look well positioned with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Zacks Investment Research

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Seattle Genetics Starts Phase I Study

Oct. 22, 2013 The first evidence that the underlying genetic defect responsible for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, can be suppressed in laboratory cultures of patient-derived stem cells was presented today (Oct. 22) at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 annual meeting in Boston.

People with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome 21, which results in a variety of physical and cognitive ill effects. In laboratory cultures of cells from patients with Down syndrome, an advanced genome editing tool was successfully used to silence the genes on the extra chromosome, thereby neutralizing it, said Jeanne Lawrence, Ph.D., Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA.

Dr. Lawrence and her team compared trisomic stem cells derived from patients with Down syndrome in which the extra chromosome 21 was silenced to identical cells from patients that were untreated. The researchers identified defects in the proliferation, or rapid growth, of the untreated cells and the differentiation, or specialization, of untreated nervous system cells. These defects were reversed in trisomic stem cells in which the extra chromosome 21 was muted.

"Silencing of trisomy 21 by manipulation of a single gene in living cells in laboratory cells surmounts the first major obstacle to development of potential 'chromosome therapy,'" said Dr. Lawrence, whose presentation today provided an update to the results that she and her colleagues reported earlier this year in the journal Nature.

In her ASHG presentation, Dr. Lawrence described the use of the novel editing tool to examine changes in gene expression that result from the silencing of the extra chromosome. The changes in gene expression were not limited to chromosome 21 but were genome-wide.

"In fact, the results indicate that the most prominent changes are in genes not encoded on chromosome 21," said Dr. Lawrence, who also provided more perspective about the various avenues of research that the results have created and that are now being and will be pursued in her lab.

The approach used by Dr. Lawrence and her team was inspired by the natural process that silences one copy of the female mammals' two sex-determining X chromosomes during embryonic development. In males, the sex-determining chromosomes are X and Y, and gene silencing helps maintain similar expression patterns of X chromosome genes in females and males.

To understand this biological process, Dr. Lawrence and her collaborators several years ago began studying the X-inactivation gene (XIST), which encodes a large non-coding RNA molecule. In laboratory cultures of cells, this molecule was shown to cover the surface of one of the X chromosomes of female mammals. XIST's actions permanently blocked the expression, or activity level, of the genes on the affected X chromosome.

Dr. Lawrence and her team mimicked this natural process by inserting the XIST gene into the gene-rich core of the extra chromosome 21 in lab cultures of pluripotent stem cells from patients with Down syndrome. Before taking this step, they first demonstrated that a large transgene could be successfully inserted at a specific site by using zinc-finger nuclease technology.

In the laboratory cells, they found that the RNA from the inserted XIST gene induced a host of epigenetic modifications that transcriptionally silenced the genes of the extra chromosome 21.

Originally posted here:
Gene-silencing strategy opens new path to understanding Down Syndrome