Archive for March, 2015

YOUNG gun shearers took to the board to shear 750 wethers in Australia's largest commercial evaluation of Merino genetics - the Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge (PWMCC).

The PWMCC which runs from 2014 to 2016 kicked off with 50 teams of 30 wethers last year.

Once all wethers were together they were separated into two sections, with one half being lotfed with their meat measured, while the remaining 15 from each team were used for wool evaluations.

The average age of the wethers when they entered the challenge was seven-months-old, they were all shorn upon entry and last week were shorn again with 11 months wool growth.

First shearing was conducted over a two-day period at the TAFE Riverina's Primary Industries Centre at Wagga last week.

Challenge convener, Craig Wilson, Wagga, said the challenge evaluated both commercial carcase and wool attributes of randomly sampled wethers lambs from across Australia.

Preliminary results show Jerilderie's Ross and Irene Wells' Willandra Merino stud, NSW, genetics as a standout with two of their clients claiming the two top places on the board.

Wedderburn growers, Ian and Julie Gould, "Wattle Grange", Victoria, finished with the best figures for their team of wethers that had a wool average of 19.4 micron, cut 8.6kg of wool, weighed 63.6kg, had a meat value of $86.07, wool value of $67.95 and total sheep value of $154.02.

Second placed in the statistics were Maurice and Nancye Hicks, "Springfield", Cootamundra, with his 20.6 micron team of wethers, that cut 9.4kg of wool, weighed 64.2kg had a meat value of $86.92, a wool value of $66.16 and a total sheep value of $153.08.

Mr Wells said when his clients put teams in the challenge it provided an opportunity to benchmark his genetics against others breeders, and in particular the concept that Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV's) and Estimated Breeding Value's (EBV's) were the only way the sheep industry could go forward.

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Merino genetics challenge kicks off

Gene Therapy Gastrointestinal Insight: Trends and Challenges Analysed in Research Report
Gene Therapy Gastrointestinal Insight: Pipeline Assessment, Technology Trend, and Competitive Landscape provides the information across the gene therapy value chain covering gene therapy ...

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Gene Therapy Gastrointestinal Insight: Trends and Challenges Analysed in Research Report - Video

Melbourne Conversations - Personalised Medicine: Me and My Genome
Global genomics expert Professor Michael Snyder from Stanford University sequenced his genome and got a shock! Hear his story, get the latest on the work aro...

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Melbourne Conversations - Personalised Medicine: Me and My Genome - Video

Putting personalized medicine to the test
At the UAB Hugh Kaul Personalized Medicine Institute, researchers are translating cutting-edge genetic discoveries into the real world of patient care.

By: University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Putting personalized medicine to the test - Video

Fauza D: Amniotic fluid and placental stem cells.

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2004, 18:877-891. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Parolini O, Alviano F, Bagnara GP, Bilic G, Bhring HJ, Evangelista M, Hennerbichler S, Liu B, Magatti M, Mao N, Miki T, Marongiu F, Nakajima H, Nikaido T, Portmann-Lanz CB, Sankar V, Soncini M, Stadler G, Surbek D, Takahashi TA, Redl H, Sakuragawa N, Wolbank S, Zeisberger S, Zisch A, Strom SC: Concise review: isolation and characterization of cells from human term placenta: outcome of the first international workshop on placenta derived stem cells.

Stem Cells 2008, 26:300-311. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Pozzobon M, Ghionzoli M, De Coppi P: ES, iPS, MSC, and AFS cells. Stem cells exploitation for Pediatric Surgery: current research and perspective.

Pediatr Surg Int 2010, 26:3-10. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Miki T, Marongiu F, Dorko K, Ellis EC, Strom SC: Isolation of amniotic epithelial stem cells.

Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol 2010, Chapter 1:Unit 1E 3. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Miki T, Strom SC: Amnion-derived pluripotent/multipotent stem cells.

Stem Cell Rev 2006, 2:133-142. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

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Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full text | Amnion-derived ...

Importance Most patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) who receive approved disease-modifying therapies experience breakthrough disease and accumulate neurologic disability. High-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) with autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) may, in contrast, induce sustained remissions in early MS.

Objective To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and durability of MS disease stabilization through 3 years after HDIT/HCT.

Design, Setting, and Participants Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (HALT-MS) is an ongoing, multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 clinical trial of HDIT/HCT for patients with RRMS who experienced relapses with loss of neurologic function while receiving disease-modifying therapies during the 18 months before enrolling. Participants are evaluated through 5 years after HCT. This report is a prespecified, 3-year interim analysis of the trial. Thirty-six patients with RRMS from referral centers were screened; 25 were enrolled.

Interventions Autologous peripheral blood stem cell grafts were CD34+ selected; the participants then received high-dose treatment with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan as well as rabbit antithymocyte globulin before autologous HCT.

Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point of HALT-MS is event-free survival defined as survival without death or disease activity from any one of the following outcomes: (1) confirmed loss of neurologic function, (2) clinical relapse, or (3) new lesions observed on magnetic resonance imaging. Toxic effects are reported using National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

Results Grafts were collected from 25 patients, and 24 of these individuals received HDIT/HCT. The median follow-up period was 186 weeks (interquartile range, 176-250) weeks). Overall event-free survival was 78.4% (90% CI, 60.1%-89.0%) at 3 years. Progression-free survival and clinical relapse-free survival were 90.9% (90% CI, 73.7%-97.1%) and 86.3% (90% CI, 68.1%-94.5%), respectively, at 3 years. Adverse events were consistent with expected toxic effects associated with HDIT/HCT, and no acute treatment-related neurologic adverse events were observed. Improvements were noted in neurologic disability, quality-of-life, and functional scores.

Conclusions and Relevance At 3 years, HDIT/HCT without maintenance therapy was effective for inducing sustained remission of active RRMS and was associated with improvements in neurologic function. Treatment was associated with few serious early complications or unexpected adverse events.

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High-Dose Immunosuppressive Therapy and Autologous ...

Window pow
"Goodie MoB-Cell Therapy", sound recording administered by: SME.

By: hees crazzie

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Window pow - Video

The New Botox: Stem Cell Therapy Cream Reviews
http://buildingabrandonline.com/buildabrandwithjamalspikes/what-is-jeunesse/ The New Botox: Stem Cell Therapy Cream Reviews Stem cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a...

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The New Botox: Stem Cell Therapy Cream Reviews - Video

Genetic Engineering - AIIMS AIPMT State CET Botany Video Lecture

By: Rao IIT Academy

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Genetic Engineering - AIIMS AIPMT State CET Botany Video Lecture - Video

Genetic Engineering and Mutations - how they are connected
Genetic Engineering and Mutation video/ project. Did my best for the first time doing this so hope you enjoy!

By: yaggzy98

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Genetic Engineering and Mutations - how they are connected - Video

Abstract: Asthma and allergic diseases are complex conditions caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. More than 100 genes have been associated with asthma and related conditions through candidate gene approaches, but issues of insufficient replication have made conclusions difficult to draw. Despite this, several overarching themes in the biology and pathogenesis of asthma have been revealed as a result of this work. In mid-2007, the first genome wide association study (GWAS) targeting asthma was published, and in the intervening years more than a dozen such studies have been reported examining asthma, allergic diseases, and related intermediate phenotypes and quantitative traits. A few previously suspected genetic variants have been confirmed in these studies as asthma susceptibility loci, or as loci contributing to disease severity or response to treatment. Additionally, unexpected and largely uncharacterized genes have been identified as new susceptibility loci for asthma, altering lung function or perturbing immune function. In this review, we summarize these GWAS, as well as the functional themes and characteristics underlying asthma that have been revealed through decades of genetic and genomic research.

Introduction

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition of the lungs, characterized by excessive responsiveness of the lungs to stimuli, in the forms of infections, allergens, and environmental irritants. During an asthma attack, lung airways will produce excess mucus and swell, and muscles around the airways will tighten leading to airway obstruction, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. Data from the National Institutes of Health suggests that 50% of U.S. asthma cases are attributable to specific allergies. Currently, 22.9 million Americans suffer from asthma, and the prevalence has increased dramatically since 1980. Asthma is the leading chronic illness in U.S. children, with 6.8 million affected in 2006 (American Lung Association, 2008). Twin studies have shown that there is a genetic element to asthma susceptibility, with heritability of the condition estimated at between 0.36 and 0.77 (Duffy et al., 1990; Harris et al., 1997; Koppelman et al., 1999; Nieminen et al., 1991). The first study to link a genetic locus (chromosome 11q13) to asthma was published in 1989 (Deichmann et al., 1999). Since then more than 100 candidate genes described in more than 1,000 publications have been found in connection to asthma or an associated phenotype, like elevated IgE levels, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, or eosinophilia.

An Overview of the Analysis of the Genetic Contributions in Asthma

Researchers have been successful in identifying the genetic underpinning of many single-gene disorders. It has been comparatively difficult to identify the genetic basis of complex genetic disorders, such as asthma, allergies, and autoimmune disease, with multifactorial inheritance and significant environmental contributors. Three study designs are routinely employed to investigate genetic contributions in complex diseases: genome-wide linkage studies, candidate gene association studies, and genome-wide association studies.

Linkage studies: Genome-wide linkage study design focuses on families affected by the disease of interest. With less genetic recombination occurring between closely related individuals, it is possible to screen the entire genome with a panel of relatively few, evenly spaced markers, searching for variants that are either unique to or over-represented in affected individuals. If such a region is found, it is said to be linked with the disease trait, and the genes within this region can become candidates for further analysis, including association study followed by positional cloning of the gene. Unlike the candidate gene association study (see below), this study design allows for the identification of genes and pathways previously not suspected of contributing to the disease in question. However, because large families of affected individuals are needed, these studies are expensive and difficult to conduct. Moreover, while they are effective at identifying genes with low frequency variants with high penetrance and large effects, they often lack the statistical power to identify genes of modest effect that are attributed to common alleles. This is in contrast to genome-wide association studies (discussed below), which are best suited to the identification of common variants with lower penetrance and smaller effects. In this way, linkage studies and association studies are used to address different questions, and are, in fact, complementary.

Approximately 20 genome-wide linkage screens have been reported in different populations investigating chromosomal regions that are linked to asthma and atopy, or related phenotypes like elevated IgE levels, wheezing, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. A number of chromosomal regions have been repeatedly identified across multiple studies that contain genes of biological relevance to asthma and allergic disease, including the cytokine cluster on chromosome 5q [containing interleukin 3 (IL3), IL5, and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GMCSF)], FCER1B on 11q, IFNG (interferon ) and STAT6 on 12q, and IL4R (the IL-4R chain, also part of the IL-13R) on 16p. Linkage studies followed by positional cloning approaches have resulted in the identification of a handful of novel asthma susceptibility genes, including CYFIP2 (Noguchi et al., 2005), DPP10 (Allen et al., 2003), HLAG (Nicolae et al., 2005), PHF11 (Zhang et al., 2003), GPRA (Laitinen et al., 2004), and ADAM33 (Van Eerdewegh et al., 2002). GPRA (G protein-coupled receptor for asthma) and ADAM33 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 33) have generated considerable interest, as their expression in bronchial smooth muscle cells suggests roles in the pathobiology of asthma and pulmonary allergic disease (Laitinen et al., 2004).

Candidate gene studies: In a candidate gene association study, a particular gene (or set of genes) is selected for study based on its biological plausibility or suspected role in the phenotype of interest. The incidence of variants in this gene is compared between a group of individuals affected with the phenotype (cases) and a group of controls. The strength of such a design lies in the statistical power and relative ease of recruiting large cohorts, compared to family-based studies. The main limitations of such a design are its inability to identify novel or unsuspected genes and pathways contributing to the pathogenesis of a disorder, and its susceptibility to unknown population structures in cases or controls. Candidate gene association studies are best suited to identifying common genetic variants of modest effect (Risch and Merikangas, 1996).

More than 1,000 papers have been published with candidate gene studies examining asthma and related phenotypes, identifying more than 100 candidate genes. However, surprisingly few of these candidate gene discoveries have been rigorously replicated, and many have been examined and failed replication in subsequent studies. The loci identified in candidate gene studies of asthma and associated phenotypes have been extensively reviewed elsewhere (Ober and Hoffjan, 2006; Vercelli, 2008; Zhang et al., 2008). Among genes identified in candidate studies are receptors for detection of microbial products (TLRs, CD14, CARD15, among others); various cytokines and cytokine signaling proteins involved in T cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation; genes involved in lung function, development, and response to stimuli (ADRB2, CFTR, SPINK5, etc.); genes involved in epithelial barrier function and innate immunity (FLG and DEFB1) (Levy et al., 2005; Palmer et al., 2007); genes believed to be involved in the responses to environmental exposures (GSTM1, GSTP1, and GSTT1) (Halapi and Hakonarson, 2004; Hoffjan et al., 2003; Kabesch, 2005; Vercelli, 2008). Genes that have been extensively replicated include the beta2 adrenergic receptor gene (Liggett, 1995; Martinez et al., 1997; Potter et al., 1993); the cytokines, receptors, signaling proteins, and transcription factors involved in TH1 (T helper 1) and TH2 differentiation of T cells, like IL4, IL4RA, IFNG, IFNGR1, STAT6, GATA3, and TBX21 (Basehore et al., 2004; Haller et al., 2009; Munthe-Kaas et al., 2008; Pyklinen et al., 2005; Randolph et al., 2004; Suttner et al., 2009; Tantisira et al., 2004; Zhou et al., 2009); and genes involved in the cellular responses that characterize atopic disease, such as IL13 and its receptor and the FCER1B gene (Howard et al., 2002; Kabesch et al., 2006; Potaczek et al., 2009; Vladich et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2010).

Genome wide association studies: Rapid advances in microarray technology that now permit the high-throughput genotyping of hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has allowed for the development of a third type of study, the genome-wide association study (GWAS). In this design many SNPs are compared across the entire genome between cases and controls. Like the candidate gene association study, this design facilitates the collection of a large number of cases and controls for analysis, increasing statistical power. In contrast, however, it permits a hypothesis-free search for gene variants associated with disease, revealing new targets for researchers. As mentioned above, GWAS are well-suited for discovery of common alleles with relatively small effects.

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The Genetics of Asthma and Allergic Disorders - Michael E ...

The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge Ep.68 Marisol the Teacher
Come join me on my latest journey into the complex world of sims 3 genetics, as I try to get perfect foals and perfect children. Will I succeed in getting pe...

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The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge Ep.68 Marisol the Teacher - Video

Genetics and Gregor Mendel
This clip covers Gregor Mendel #39;s work leading to our understanding of heredity. Topics covered include; Punnett Squares, probability, segregation, independent assortment, dominant and recessive...

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Genetics and Gregor Mendel - Video

Do You Have Good or Bad Muscle-Building Genetics?
Download my FREE 12 Week Program! http://musclemonsters.com/massinaflash Have fitness questions? Ask here: http://facebook.com/musclemonsters Instagram: @mus...

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Do You Have Good or Bad Muscle-Building Genetics? - Video

The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Pt8 - The Wedding
If you like this video please leave a thumbs up, it really helps Open fully for *NEW SCHEDULE* info and social media links Weekly Schedule (Subject t...

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Genetics and Evolution HD Tutorial - Part 0: Quick Tour
Part 0 of tutorial series on Genetics and Evolution HD iPad app. Focuses on a quick tour of the entire app. Later parts in the series will focus on individua...

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Genetics and Evolution HD Tutorial - Part 0: Quick Tour - Video

Myriad Genetics Slashes Outlook - Mar 6, 2015
Myriad Genetics cut its fiscal year forecast due to reimbursement delays and announced the retirement of longstanding CEO Peter Meldrum. The company said it ...

By: Business and Finance (Zip Finance)

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Myriad Genetics Slashes Outlook - Mar 6, 2015 - Video

Gene Therapy Oncology Insight: Trends and Challenges Analysed in Research Report
Gene Therapy Oncology Insight: Pipeline Assessment, Technology Trend, and Competitive Landscape provides the information across the gene therapy value chain covering gene therapy profiles core.

By: James Jacob

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Gene Therapy Oncology Insight: Trends and Challenges Analysed in Research Report - Video

Miracle stem cell therapy reverses multiple sclerosis
Latest research on stem cell therapy in curing MS.

By: Dulci Hill

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Miracle stem cell therapy reverses multiple sclerosis - Video

Medicine in the Digital Age | RiceX on edX | About Video
Enroll in Medicine in the Digital Age from RiceX at https://www.edx.org/course/medicine-digital-age-ricex-meddigx-0 The future of healthcare is connected, pa...

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Personalized Medicine Risk Assessment FInal Master

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Personalized Medicine Risk Assessment FInal Master - Video

Former Homeland Star David Harewood Has Written An Online Article Urging Black U.k. Residents To Sign Up To The Stem Cell Donor Register.

The actor has teamed up with stem cell charity Anthony Nolan and the African-Caribbean Leukaemia Trust (ACLT) to launch an appeal encouraging young, black Brits to donate bone marrow so leukaemia sufferers in ethnic minorities have a better chance of receiving pioneering stem cell treatment.

Harewood has written an online article for Independent.co.uk in which he details the stem cell donation process for the African-Caribbean community, and encourages them to take part.

He writes, "The black population is badly underrepresented on the bone marrow register compiled by the blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. In fact, there are 30 times more white people than African-Caribbean people willing to donate their stem cells in this country.

"The result of this? If you're black and have leukaemia then you have less than a 20 per cent chance of finding the best possible match when your last hope of survival is a lifesaving transplant from a stranger. We are literally dying, not because a matching donor isn't out there somewhere - but because that person never joined the register.

"This isn't right, and it urgently needs to change. It's horrible to think that if my daughters needed a transplant they would be at a disadvantage because there aren't enough black and mixed race donors on the register."

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David Harewood Launches Appeal For Black Stem Cell Donors

Fauza D: Amniotic fluid and placental stem cells.

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2004, 18:877-891. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Parolini O, Alviano F, Bagnara GP, Bilic G, Bhring HJ, Evangelista M, Hennerbichler S, Liu B, Magatti M, Mao N, Miki T, Marongiu F, Nakajima H, Nikaido T, Portmann-Lanz CB, Sankar V, Soncini M, Stadler G, Surbek D, Takahashi TA, Redl H, Sakuragawa N, Wolbank S, Zeisberger S, Zisch A, Strom SC: Concise review: isolation and characterization of cells from human term placenta: outcome of the first international workshop on placenta derived stem cells.

Stem Cells 2008, 26:300-311. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Pozzobon M, Ghionzoli M, De Coppi P: ES, iPS, MSC, and AFS cells. Stem cells exploitation for Pediatric Surgery: current research and perspective.

Pediatr Surg Int 2010, 26:3-10. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Miki T, Marongiu F, Dorko K, Ellis EC, Strom SC: Isolation of amniotic epithelial stem cells.

Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol 2010, Chapter 1:Unit 1E 3. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

Miki T, Strom SC: Amnion-derived pluripotent/multipotent stem cells.

Stem Cell Rev 2006, 2:133-142. PubMedAbstract | PublisherFullText

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Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Full text | Amnion-derived ...

A call by scientists to halt to precision gene-editing of DNA in human embryos would allow time to work out safety and ethical issues

Sperm cell fertilizing an egg. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Amid rumors that precision gene-editing techniques have been used to modify the DNA of human embryos, researchers have called for a moratorium on the use of the technology in reproductive cells.

In a Comment published on March 12 inNature, Edward Lanphier, chairman of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine in Washington DC, and four co-authors call on scientists to agree not to modify human embryos even for research.

Such research could be exploited for non-therapeutic modifications. We are concerned that a public outcry about such an ethical breach could hinder a promising area of therapeutic development, write Lanphier and his colleagues, who include Fyodor Urnov, a pioneer in gene-editing techniques and scientist at Sangamo BioSciences in Richmond, California. Many groups, including Urnov's company, are already using gene-editing tools to develop therapies that correct genetic defects in people (such as by editing white blood cells). They fear that attempts to produce designer babies by applying the methods to embryos will create a backlash against all use of the technology.

Known as germline modification, edits to embryos, eggs or sperm are of particular concern because a person created using such cells would have had their genetic make-up changed without consent, and would permanently pass down that change to future generations.

We need a halt on anything that approaches germline editing in human embryos, Lanphier, who is also chief executive of Sangamo, toldNatures news team.

But other scientists disagree with that stance. Although there needs to be a wide discussion of the safety and ethics of editing embryos and reproductive cells, they say, the potential to eliminate inherited diseases means that scientists should pursue research.

Related trials Geneticist Xingxu Huang of ShanghaiTech University in China, for example, is currently seeking permission from his institutions ethics committee to try genetically modifying discarded human embryos. In February 2014, he reportedusing a gene-editing technique to modify embryos that developed into live monkeys. Human embryos would not be allowed to develop to full term in his experiments, but the technique gives lots of potential for its application in humans, he says.

Besides Huangs work, gene-editing techniques are also being used by Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, a developmental biologist at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California, to eliminate disease-causing mutations from mitochondria, the cell's energy-processing structures. Belmonte's work is on unfertilized eggs; human eggs with such modified mitochondria could one day be used inin vitrofertilization (IVF) procedures to prevent a woman's offspring from inheriting mitochondrial disease.

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DNA Editing of Human Embryos Alarms Scientists

CALDWELL Eleni Christoforou, 32, hopes that a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) will strike a decisive blow in her decade-long battle with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Caldwell resident said the goal is to erase any memory of the disease from her body.

However, even with insurance coverage, the procedure will cost Christoforou roughly $20,000 between traveling to Chicago, where the transplant is done, and the other costs associated with removing and reinserting her stem cells, as well as fertility treatments.

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that disrupts the brains ability to communicate with the body. The hematopoietic stem cell transplant will remove Christoforous stem cells from her bone marrow and then she will undergo chemotherapy before her own stem cells are injected back into her system with hopefully no memory of the MS, she explained.

Christoforous first symptoms left her unable to walk up the stairs, bumping into walls, losing her memory and confused. There were days where she would forget how to get home or how she arrived at work, she said.

She had a particularly bad episode in July of 2014 that left her unable to speak, walk, see and even feed herself. She spent a week in the hospital followed by two weeks at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, she said. She then spent another eight weeks in outpatient therapy in order to recover.

It was a long road, but with lots of hard work and praying, you would never know that had happened to me by looking at me, she said.

After this episode, she was perusing Facebook for MS groups when one of the suggestions was a group for patients of Dr. Richard K. Burts Stem Cell Study at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Christoforou was diagnosed with MS at age 22 in 2005. It was her senior year of college and for awhile, she thought the symptoms were stress accruing from a busy year, but it unfortunately ended up being much worse than that, she said.

At the time of her diagnosis, she joined AOL chat rooms, which she said were popular at that time, about the disease where she spoke to someone named Rob from Maryland who had the HSCT procedure during a more advanced stage of MS.

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Caldwell resident fighting battle with multiple sclerosis