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Project Walk Carlsbad – Jody P. Spinal Cord Injury Client – Video


Project Walk Carlsbad - Jody P. Spinal Cord Injury Client
Jody suffered a C5/6 spinal cord injury after falling down a flight of stairs in September of 2012. She was quoted as saying: "I have gained and learned more...

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Project Walk Carlsbad - Jody P. Spinal Cord Injury Client - Video

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SanBio Announces FDA Clearance for the Initiation of a Phase I/2a Clinical Trial Testing Their Cell Therapy Product …

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SanBio Inc., a California-based regenerative medicine company, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved their Investigational New Drug application (IND) for the use of SB623, a novel allogeneic stem cell therapy product, in patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI's). This approval allows the company to proceed with a Phase 1/2a clinical trial testing the safety and feasibility of the therapy. The clinical trial is expected to be carried out at several major hospitals in the United States.

"This is the second clinical program for SanBio," said Keita Mori, SanBio's Chief Executive Officer, "we see this as a clear validation of our development program and a significant broadening of the therapeutic application of our lead product SB623 for the treatment of unaddressed chronic neurological deficits."

"We measure the responses of TBI patients to physical therapy every day. Progress is often painfully slow and incremental," said Dr. Daniel Lu, Principal Investigator, Neuroplasticity and Repair Laboratory and Director, Neuromotor Recovery Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, "If this new cell therapy approach improves outcomes it could have a dramatic positive effect on many lives."

About Traumatic Brain Injury: According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more the 1.7 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, resulting in approximately 50,000 deaths and 275,000 hospitalizations. Many of these more severely injured patients suffer permanent disabilities, including loss of motor function and cognitive impairment. Other than physical rehabilitation there is no effective therapy. Direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost productivity of TBI totaled an estimated $76.5 billion in the United States in 2000.

About SB623: SB623 is a proprietary cell therapy product consisting of cells derived from genetically modified bone marrow stromal cells obtained from healthy adult donors. SB623 is administered adjacent to the damaged area of the brain. SB623 functions by producing factors that aid the regenerative process.

About SanBio: SanBio is a privately held San Francisco Bay Area biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of new regenerative cell therapy products.

For more information: http://www.san-bio.com

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$200K Grant to Cancer Institute of New Jersey Researcher Enables Further Study of Drug Compound that Restores Tumor …

Newswise New Brunswick, N.J., June 10, 2013 Darren Carpizo, MD, PhD, a surgical oncologist in the Liver Cancer and Bile Duct Cancer Care Program at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research to further explore the effects of a compound identified in his laboratory found to restore tumor suppressor function of a mutated gene in cancer cells. Dr. Carpizo, an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is one of 15 investigators nationwide selected to receive the Kimmel Scholar Award out of more than 160 applicants.

The current trend in research of new anti-cancer drugs is to identify the genes that are most important to disable in a cancer cell and then find a drug that will disable these genes. The loss of tumor suppressor function in the p53 gene in cancer is a principal mechanism behind a normal cell becoming cancerous and one of the reasons why p53 is the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer. Restoring the tumor suppressor function of p53 in a cancer cell causes cancer cells to die, underlying the importance of finding a drug that will aid in that restoration.

Carpizos laboratory recently identified a drug compound that restores the tumor suppressor function of mutated p53 and serves as a lead agent in developing anti-cancer drugs targeted toward this particular mutation. As part of the teams previous research, it was demonstrated that this compound selectively kills cancer cells containing a specific type of p53 mutation while leaving normal cells undisturbed.

I am honored to receive this award from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Foundation, as it will enable our team to continue investigation of this compound to understand the molecular mechanism that this drug uses to produce this effect. Understanding the mechanism of action of a new anti-cancer agent is an essential step in the drug development process to produce a drug that can be used in patients, noted Carpizo. Carpizo and colleagues also will study several other compounds that are chemically related to determine if they can perform a similar function.

The award period begins July 1.

About the Cancer Institute of New Jersey The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (www.cinj.org) is the states first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center dedicated to improving the detection, treatment and care of patients with cancer, and serving as an education resource for cancer prevention. Physician-scientists at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey engage in translational research, transforming their laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, quite literally bringing research to life. To make a tax-deductible gift to support the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, call 732-235-8614 or visit http://www.cinjfoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/theCINJ. The Cancer Institute of New Jersey is a Center of Excellence of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey Network is comprised of hospitals throughout the state and provides the highest quality cancer care and rapid dissemination of important discoveries into the community. Flagship Hospital: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. System Partner: Meridian Health (Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Ocean Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, Southern Ocean Medical Center, and Bayshore Community Hospital). Major Clinical Research Affiliate Hospitals: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Morristown Medical Center, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center at Overlook Medical Center, and Cooper University Hospital. Affiliate Hospitals: CentraState Healthcare System, JFK Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (CINJ Hamilton), Shore Medical Center, Somerset Medical Center, The University Hospital/UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School*, and University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. *Academic Affiliate

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$200K Grant to Cancer Institute of New Jersey Researcher Enables Further Study of Drug Compound that Restores Tumor ...

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Critical Outcome Technologies Inc.: Promising Advance for Many Common Cancers

LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 11, 2013) -Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:COT) ("COTI" or the "Corporation") announces positive results from experiments carried out with its lead cancer drug candidate, COTI2, in the cancer research laboratories of Gordon Mills, M.D., Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Systems Biology and the Codirector of the Khalifa Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. These preclinical experiments were designed to definitively determine the effect of COTI2 in 32 common p53 mutations. The p53 gene is a tumor suppressing gene. However, if the p53 gene is mutated, cancers often develop and grow out of control.

"These results are encouraging given the central importance of p53 gene mutations in many cancers," stated Dr. Mills. "Our research and data confirm that COTI2 is most active in mutant p53 tumors and the effect of COTI2 in many specific p53 mutations is striking. In addition, it appears that this effect can be augmented by the presence of mutations in the AKT signaling pathway. The preclinical data with COTI2 in cell lines, animal models and the potential mechanism of action warrant clinical trials. These clinical trials should evaluate both response and the utility of biomarkers to select patients. If COTI2 proves to be highly active in people with p53 mutant tumors, this would represent a breakthrough therapy for many cancer patients."

"New therapies that target mutations of genes such as p53 represent a promising approach compared to conventional organspecific cancer treatments," said Dr. Wayne Danter, COTI's CEO. "These important results confirm and extend our understanding of the mechanism of action ("MOA") of COTI2. While previous internal research indicated that COTI2's effectiveness was related to the p53 mutation status of the tumor, the quality and amount of scientific data provided by Dr. Mills are definitive and answer the remaining MOA questions posed by potential licensing partners who are waiting for these results."

Extensive data from the experiments have demonstrated that:

Other COTI2 highlights:

About p53 gene mutations:

Mutations of the p53 gene are the most common genetic alterations in human cancers, occurring in:

About Critical Outcome Technologies Inc. (COTI)

COTI is a leading-edge technology company specializing in accelerating the discovery and development of small molecules - dramatically reducing the time and cost to bring new drugs to market. COTI'S proprietary artificial intelligence system, CHEMSAS, utilizes a series of predictive computer models to identify compounds with a high probability of being successfully developed from disease specific drug discovery through chemical optimization and preclinical testing. These compounds are targeted for a variety of diseases, particularly those for which current treatments are either lacking or ineffective.

For more information, visit http://www.criticaloutcome.com.

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Critical Outcome Technologies Inc.: Promising Advance for Many Common Cancers

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Life Technologies Launches Compendia Oncomine® NGS Power Tools for Cancer Researchers, Discovers Novel Gene Fusions

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Life Technologies Corporation (LIFE) announced today the introduction of Oncomine Next Gen Sequencing Power Tools, an analytics offering that will allow cancer researchers to explore results from in-depth analysis of next generation sequencing (NGS) data, including data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. In total, more than 4,500 paired tumor and samples have been analyzed to date.

"NGS has significant potential to deliver insights into what drives cancers and how the disease might be combated," saidDan Rhodes, Ph.D., head of medical science informatics forLife Technologies. "However, the field has only begun to take advantage of the enormous amounts of data becoming available. The Oncomine NGS Power Tools provide simple access to comprehensive findings, many of them novel, from a team with a proven track record of mining scientific value from big data."

Oncomine NGS Power Tools constitutes a suite of software tools that enable cancer researchers to easily survey novel predicted driver mutations and gene fusions across all cancers and within two dozen specific cancers types, as well as explore simple summary analyses that integrate multiple types of gene and pathway aberrations with clinical data.

In addition to basic research applications, the NGS tools also provide a foundation for specialized biomarker services to pharma and biotech customers in their efforts to evaluate NGS data for biomarker and companion diagnostic development.

With collaborators from the University of Michigan Medical School, Life Technologies scientists used the NGS Power Tools to discover FGFR gene fusions across a range of cancer types. These results are reported in the current issue of Cancer Discovery.

The investigators discovered FGFR fusions across a highly diverse set of nine distinct tumor types, including lung squamous cell cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, oral cancer, glioblastoma, and head and neck squamous cell cancer. Normal cell lines transfected with fusion constructs exhibited enhanced growth that was sensitive to FGFR inhibitors, indicating that the fusion genes were in fact acting to drive the cancers.

"We found that FGFR fusions occur across many more tumor types than has been previously reported," said Rhodes. "As a number of clinical trials for FGFR inhibitors are underway, these data underscore the importance of conducting trials based on mutation profiles rather than tissue of origin."

"Life Tech's Oncomine NGS Tools provide access to a substantial collection of results from NGS analysis, not available from any other source," said Dan Robinson, Ph.D., assistant research professor at the Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School. "With early access, we were able to expand our conclusions on the importance of targeting FGFR gene fusions in human cancer."

The new Oncomine offering extends the Power Tools product line, which includes Oncomine Mutation Browser, Copy Number Browser, and Gene Expression Browser, all containing data from both sequencing and microarray studies and utilized by pharmaceutical companies in their drug discovery and development work. In addition to products serving the pharmaceutical industry, Life Technologies recently launched the Oncomine Gene Browser for the academic and smaller biotech market. The Gene Browser provides a comprehensive gene summary at a moderate price point and is ideal for researchers working with small numbers of genes.

The Oncomine product line was initially developed by Compendia Bioscience, which was acquired by Life Technologies in October, 2012.

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Life Technologies Launches Compendia Oncomine® NGS Power Tools for Cancer Researchers, Discovers Novel Gene Fusions

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Can a human gene be patented? Utah company says yes; Supreme Court poised to decide

Suzanne Miles logs DNA samples into the Myriad Genetics computer system so they can be tracked during the analysis process.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce sometime this month whether it is possible to patent human genes.

The American Civil Liberties Union represented research scientists and health advocates who teamed up in 2009 to challenge patents issued in the 1990s to Myriad Genetics, a Utah-based biotech company, and the University of Utah Research Foundation. Myriad has patented the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes; mutations indicate a hereditary predisposition to certain breast and ovarian cancers. The Supreme Court heard arguments in April in the case of Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. Myriad Genetics Inc.

Before the court

The ACLU briefing notes said that Myriads monopoly on the BRCA genes makes it impossible for women to access other tests or get a second opinion about their results and allows Myriad to charge a high rate for its test over $3,000. Critics said the company, which has vigorously enforced its patents, has blocked development and use of better technologies and driven up costs.

Advocates of the patents and Myriad Genetics said companies must be able to reap financial rewards for investment in genetic research and that isolating genes and other processes amount to invention that can be patented. Myriad spokesman Ron Rogers said the test is covered by all insurance companies and pricing is in line with other molecular diagnostic tests. If someone doesn't have insurance, Myriad provides inexpensive and sometimes free testing, he said.

Theres no question that the tests Myriad developed to find BRCA mutations can be patented. But lower courts have been divided on whether Myriad can claim that isolating and pulling out that gene from the human body is creative enough to patent, since nature cannot be patented. The federal district court tossed the patents. An appeals court disagreed with the lower court, 2-1, and ruled Myriad Genetics made the genes more useful when it isolated segments. That court was unanimous in saying that cDNA, which resulted from removing noncoding material, was patentable.

The choices

The Supreme Court has three options, said Shobita Parthasarathy, associate professor in the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

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Can a human gene be patented? Utah company says yes; Supreme Court poised to decide

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World Stem Cell Summit to be presented by Genetics Policy Institute, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., and Genetic Engineering …

Public release date: 10-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Vicki Cohn vcohn@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2156 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, June 10, 2013The Genetics Policy Institute (GPI) and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers have announced that the 2013 World Stem Cell Report will be published as a special supplement to the peer-reviewed journal Stem Cells and Development. Dr. Graham Parker and Bernard Siegel will serve as Co-Editors-in-Chief, joined by Rosario Isasi (McGill University) as Managing Editor.

It was also announced that Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers and Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), a Liebert publication, will become joint platinum media sponsors of the GPI's 2013 World Stem Cell Summit that will take place at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, December 4 in San Diego, CA.

Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of GPI and Founder and Co-chair of the Summit said, "We are proud to partner with Graham Parker and the skilled editorial team at Stem Cells and Development to publish our annual Report. The Journal's extensive audience, combined with the reach of the community attending and supporting the World Stem Cell Summit, will allow our readership to expand exponentially. We will continue to provide an array of specialized articles offering unique insights of leading policy-makers, regulators, and experts in law, ethics, advocacy, industry, and philanthropy from countries, regions, and states. The Report fills a critical unmet need by providing a global framework for all stakeholders."

Mary Ann Liebert, publisher & CEO of both Stem Cells and Development and GEN stated, "We are delighted to be working with a key thought leader and senior statesman for the field, Bernie Siegel, and his GPI team on this important collaboration. The World Stem Cell Report delivers an orbital and unique viewpoint, with content that is timely, comprehensive, and direct. We are proud to add this important annual publication to our many journals that intersect the world of regenerative medicine."

GEN Editor-in-Chief John Sterling stated, "The World Stem Cell Summit is the critical global meeting, providing the best opportunity for the GEN community to participate in the world of regenerative medicine. Our platinum media sponsorship allows GEN readers, both in print and online, and advertisers to have a front row seat to listen and learn from the top experts on the very dynamic and expertly conceptualized Summit platform."

The Report will be made available to all subscribers of Stem Cells and Development and complimentary to attendees of the World Stem Cell Summit. The Summit program delivers on the "big picture" featuring 170+ prominent scientists, business leaders, regulators, policy-makers, advocates, economic development officers, experts in law and ethics, and visionary gurus who will discuss the latest scientific discoveries, business models, legal and regulatory solutions, and best practices. The Summit is expected to attract attendees from more than 40 nations.

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About Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

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World Stem Cell Summit to be presented by Genetics Policy Institute, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., and Genetic Engineering ...

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Natural Molecular Testing Corporation Launches an Expanded Personalized Medicine Panel Built on Luminex Corporation’s …

SEATTLE, June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Natural Molecular Testing Corporation (Natural Molecular, NMTC), a privately-owned company providing groundbreaking clinical diagnostic molecular testing and services in the medical genomics field, announced today the launch of their laboratory developed comprehensive Personalized Medicine Panel. This cardiac panel, commercialized by Natural Molecular, is comprised of 42 targets and built using Luminex Corporation's (LMNX) xMAP Technology.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100104/LUMINEXLOGO)

"Our goal is to bring the latest advancements in medical science and technology to help clinicians do one simple thing: provide the best possible care for their patients," said Beau R. Fessenden, CEO of Natural Molecular. "By converting to Luminex's xMAP technology, we can improve our throughput and workflow efficiency with more comprehensive and highly sensitive assays that set us apart in the marketplace. The flexibility and high throughput of the Luminex platform combined with the ability to add additional biomarkers make the technology unique and best suited to our expanding needs."

Each year more than 2 million Americans are hospitalized due to adverse drug reactions which lead to an estimated 100,000 deaths.1 Molecular testing allows physicians to diagnose genetic abnormalities in patients, providing guidance in selecting optimal medications and doses of medications while minimizing risk for a wide variety of common conditions such as chronic heart disease and pain.

"We are excited to be expanding our relationship with Natural Molecular in the important area of pharmacogenomics," said Patrick Balthrop, president and CEO of Luminex. "It is valuable for a physician to know whether a specific therapeutic compound will be most beneficial for a particular patient. Through the use of genetic testing, driven by the throughput and scalability of our technology and the unique services of NMTC, our two companies are working together to optimize patient outcomes and lower overall health-care costs. We look forward to expanding opportunities with Natural Molecular, a leader in pharmacogenomic testing."

The financial terms of the multi-year collaboration and license agreement were not disclosed.

About Personalized Medicine PanelNatural Molecular's new comprehensive Personalized Medicine Panel features a simple laboratory workflow based on Luminex's flexible xMAP Technology. Multiplexing a comprehensive set of biomarkers together from a single sample offers significant improvements in testing efficiency saving valuable time and increasing throughput. The panel includes the following:

CYP450 2C19 CYP450 2C9 CYP450 2D6 CYP450 3A4 CYP450 3A5 ABCB1 VKORC1 MTHFR Factor II Factor V Leiden

About Natural Molecular Testing Corporation

Natural Molecular Testing Corporation (NMTC) is a privately-owned, high-complexity molecular testing facility. NMTC provides comprehensive genetic testing solutions that improve patient care through the latest breakthroughs in genomic technology.

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Natural Molecular Testing Corporation Launches an Expanded Personalized Medicine Panel Built on Luminex Corporation's ...

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Documentary Showcasing One Family’s Struggle and Triumph With a Rare Genetic Disorder

World-Wide Premiere Features Collaboration of Science and Medicine That Unlocked Diagnosis

ALISO VIEJO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2013) - The world-wide premiere of "The Life We Live" is scheduled to debut on Thursday, June 20 on http://www.TheLifeWeLiveDoc.com. A heart-felt documentary chronicling the Spooner family's struggle, "The Life We Live" shares their battle to fight the rare disorder plaguing their two daughters. As a result of exome sequencing, the Spooners have discovered answers they have long been seeking. With only days until the world-wide premiere, a teaser trailer is currently available here: http://www.thelifewelivedoc.com/teaser.html.

"The Life We Live" shares Cristy and Rick Spooner's 14-year struggle and race against time to find an answer to the illness that affects two of their three daughters. Cali, 14, and Ryann, 4, suffer from the same rare genetic disorder, which severely limits their ability to walk, talk and care for themselves. After years of testing and waiting, the Spooners finally received answers to their 14-year nightmare. Now, they are sharing their story in hopes of shedding light on how exome sequencing has given their daughters hope for a better life.

"We decided to share our story in such a personal way in hopes that we can help other families around the world," said Cristy Spooner. "There was a time when accepting that we may never know what afflicted our daughters was reality, then, coming across cutting-edge testing such as exome sequencing changed our lives. We hope our story can help another family fight their brave battle."

The documentary is a collaboration between three different organizations united by the commonality of researching and fighting rare orphan diseases. With different backgrounds in medical technology, world-renowned research and as the leading rare and genetic disease patient advocacy organization in the world, these organizations all have the same goal -- to help the Spooners find answers they have been waiting for. The relentless efforts of Ambry Genetics, a global leader in genetic services with a focus on clinical diagnostics and genomics, Dr. Virginia Kimonis of the UC Irvine Division of Genetics and Metabolism, and Nicole Boice, founder and president of Global Genes/RARE Project, finally helped unlock a diagnosis.

ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY: The Spooner family is not alone. Currently, there are more than 7,000 identified rare diseases, which because of their "rarity," results in tens of thousands of undiagnosed individuals annually. Exome sequencing can help the more than 350 million people worldwide affected by a rare disease. "The Life We Live" is a documentary that follows one family's long-fought battle against a rare genetic disorder. For all parties involved, the hope is for the documentary to shed light onto the issue of rare disorders and to help others find answers. To learn more about the Spooners' struggle, exome sequencing or the documentary, please visit http://www.TheLifeWeLiveDoc.com.

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Documentary Showcasing One Family's Struggle and Triumph With a Rare Genetic Disorder

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Genetics of corn lab (Dihybrid crosses) – Video


Genetics of corn lab (Dihybrid crosses)
Genetics of corn lab (Dihybrid crosses)

By: 4926btrout

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Genetics of corn lab (Dihybrid crosses) - Video

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Genetically Modified Food


Genetically Modified Food Genetics GMO #39;s Biochemistry

By: changintheworldtoday

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Genetically Modified Food

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4) Técnica de Inseminción Artificial – Video


4) Técnica de Inseminción Artificial

By: Alta Genetics

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4) Técnica de Inseminción Artificial - Video

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Let’s Play The Sims 3 – Perfect Genetics Challenge – Episode 16 – Video


Let #39;s Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 16
My Sims 3 Page: http://mypage.thesims3.com/mypage/Llandros2012 My Blog: http://Llandros09.blogspot.com My Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Llandros09?ref=t...

By: Llandros09

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Let's Play The Sims 3 - Perfect Genetics Challenge - Episode 16 - Video

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Can a human gene be patented? Myriad Genetics says yes; Supreme Court poised to decide

Suzanne Miles logs DNA samples into the Myriad Genetics computer system so they can be tracked during the analysis process.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce sometime this month whether it is possible to patent human genes.

The American Civil Liberties Union represented research scientists and health advocates who teamed up in 2009 to challenge patents issued in the 1990s to Myriad Genetics, a Utah-based biotech company, and the University of Utah Research Foundation. Myriad has patented the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes; mutations indicate a hereditary predisposition to certain breast and ovarian cancers. The Supreme Court heard arguments in April in the case of Association for Molecular Pathology, et al. v. Myriad Genetics Inc.

Before the court

The ACLU briefing notes said that Myriads monopoly on the BRCA genes makes it impossible for women to access other tests or get a second opinion about their results and allows Myriad to charge a high rate for its test over $3,000. Critics said the company, which has vigorously enforced its patents, has blocked development and use of better technologies and driven up costs.

Advocates of the patents and Myriad Genetics said companies must be able to reap financial rewards for investment in genetic research and that isolating genes and other processes amount to invention that can be patented. Myriad spokesman Ron Rogers said the test is covered by all insurance companies and pricing is in line with other molecular diagnostic tests. If someone doesn't have insurance, Myriad provides inexpensive and sometimes free testing, he said.

Theres no question that the tests Myriad developed to find BRCA mutations can be patented. But lower courts have been divided on whether Myriad can claim that isolating and pulling out that gene from the human body is creative enough to patent, since nature cannot be patented. The federal district court tossed the patents. An appeals court disagreed with the lower court, 2-1, and ruled Myriad Genetics made the genes more useful when it isolated segments. That court was unanimous in saying that cDNA, which resulted from removing noncoding material, was patentable.

The choices

The Supreme Court has three options, said Shobita Parthasarathy, associate professor in the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Go here to see the original:
Can a human gene be patented? Myriad Genetics says yes; Supreme Court poised to decide

Recommendation and review posted by Bethany Smith

Seattle Genetics Announces Initiation of Phase 1/2 Trial of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Combination with …

BOTHELL, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) today announced the initiation of a phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with bendamustine for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after first relapse. The multi-phase study is divided into two cohorts to determine the recommended dosing level and tolerability of combination use and to assess the complete remission rate associated with ADCETRIS in combination with bendamustine. Seattle Genetics is the leader in the field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and ADCETRIS is an ADC directed to CD30, a defining marker of classical HL. ADCETRIS is not approved for salvage HL patients who are deemed eligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

One of the key goals of our broad ADCETRIS clinical development program is to evaluate its use in earlier lines of HL therapy. This trial will assess the ability of ADCETRIS in combination with bendamustine to induce durable complete remissions in second-line treatment of HL patients prior to transplant, said Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Seattle Genetics. In this treatment setting, single-agent bendamustine has been shown to induce a high rate of remissions with limited durability. Data from an investigator-sponsored trial with single-agent ADCETRIS demonstrated encouraging activity and tolerability in this setting. This trial is designed to determine if the combination can result in durable complete remissions, potentially increasing the number of patients eligible to receive a transplant.

This phase 1/2 single-arm, open-label clinical trial will evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ADCETRIS in combination with bendamustine in HL patients after first relapse. Patients will be eligible to receive up to six cycles of ADCETRIS in combination with bendamustine followed by additional single-agent ADCETRIS for up to a total of 16 cycles. As a part of the trial design, after patients receive ADCETRIS plus bendamustine combination therapy, they have the option to pause therapy to receive an ASCT and then resume treatment with single-agent ADCETRIS as consolidation. Bendamustine is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemias and lymphomas. The primary endpoint of the phase 1 cohort is to determine the recommended dosing level of bendamustine in combination with ADCETRIS as well as the safety and tolerability of the combination. The primary endpoint of the phase 2 cohort is to assess the complete remission rate. Key secondary endpoints include best response, duration of response and progression-free survival. The study is expected to enroll up to 50 patients at multiple centers in the United States.

At the 54th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held December 8-11, 2012 in Atlanta, GA, encouraging data were presented from an abstract titled Brentuximab Vedotin as a First Line Salvage Therapy in Relapsed/Refractory HL (Abstract #3699). The investigator-sponsored trial was conducted to evaluate ADCETRIS as a salvage therapy for HL. Fourteen patients were evaluated for response and safety and all had relapsed or refractory HL after initial therapy with chemotherapy regimens or a combination of chemotherapy with or without consolidative radiation treatment.

Of the 14 evaluable patients, 12 patients (85.7 percent) had an objective response rate, including seven (50 percent) complete remissions and five (35.7 percent) partial remissions. The most common Grade 1 or 2 adverse events were peripheral sensory neuropathy (42.9 percent), acneiform rash (35.7 percent), AST elevation (28.6 percent) and fatigue (28.6 percent). Grade 3 adverse events were rash acneiform (7.1 percent) and urinary tract infection (7.1 percent), and there were no Grade 4 adverse events. The abstract can be found at http://www.hematology.org.

More information about the phase 1/2 trial of ADCETRIS in combination with bendamustine, including enrolling centers, is available by visiting http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

About ADCETRIS

ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

ADCETRIS was granted accelerated approval by the FDA in August 2011 and approval with conditions by Health Canada in February 2013 for two indications: (1) the treatment of patients with HL after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates, and (2) the treatment of patients with sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The indications for ADCETRIS are based on response rate. There are no data available demonstrating improvement in patient-reported outcomes or survival with ADCETRIS.

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Seattle Genetics Announces Initiation of Phase 1/2 Trial of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Combination with ...

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Atossa Genetics Supports Are You Dense, Inc. and Its Work to Enact Dense Breast Notification Laws

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - Jun 10, 2013) - Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, today announced its support for Are You Dense, Inc., an independent, national breast health advocacy organization dedicated to informing the public about dense breast tissue and its significance for the early detection of breast cancer. Are You Dense, Inc. was founded by Nancy M. Cappello, Ph.D., who was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer in February 2004 after receiving "normal" mammography reports for a decade.

Dr. Steven Quay, chairman, CEO & president of Atossa Genetics and inventor of the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test for breast cancer risk assessment, stated, "According to published data, women with dense breasts are at higher risk of breast cancer. In addition, dense breasts make spotting tumors by mammography more difficult, increasing the chances that a tumor will be missed. We believe that the efforts of Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. to enact legislation requiring that women be notified if they have dense breasts are in the public interest. We support the efforts of Are You Dense Advocacy and encourage the enactment of dense breast notification laws."

Dense breast notification legislation requires that women who are found through mammography to have dense breasts must be notified of this fact. Seven states, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Texas and Virginia have enacted such legislation. Similar dense breast measures have been introduced or advanced in many other states. At the federal level, the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011 (HR 3102) was introduced in the previous Congress in October 2011 by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Representative Steve Israel (D-NY).

"We know that early detection of breast cancer saves lives," said Kathleen Vielhaber of Bellingham, Washington, whose sister passed away in 2013 at the age of 53 from breast cancer after her advanced cancer was not detected by a mammogram. "Women with dense breasts, such as my sister, may need additional screening with newer methods, such as Atossa's ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, that are not affected by dense breast tissue. That's why I support Are You Dense to help raise awareness of the need for more and better screening of women with dense breasts and to make sure they get information that could save their lives."

Dr. Quay said that Atossa looks forward to working with Vielhaber in Washington State to enact a breast density notification law.

In January 2013, Atossa launched the ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, which analyzes cells from the linings of the milk ducts where approximately 95 percent of breast cancers arise. Atossa believes that its test is advantageous for women with dense breasts since dense breast tissue does not affect the test's ability to collect and analyze cells and assess breast cancer risk.

For additional information on breast cancer risk, including the risks associated with dense breasts, please visit the Breast Cancer Overview page on the American Cancer Society's website.

About Atossa Genetics, Inc.

Atossa Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATOS), The Breast Health Company, is based in Seattle, WA, and is focused on preventing breast cancer through the commercialization of patented diagnostic medical devices and patented laboratory developed tests (LDT) that can detect precursors to breast cancer up to eight years before mammography, and through research and development that will permit it to commercialize treatments for pre-cancerous lesions. Are You Dense, Inc. is not affiliated with Atossa Genetics.

The National Reference Laboratory for Breast Health (NRLBH), a wholly owned subsidiary of Atossa Genetics, Inc., is a CLIA-certified high-complexity molecular diagnostic laboratory located in Seattle, Washington. The NRLBH provides the patented ForeCYTE Breast Health Test, a risk assessment test for women 18 to 73 years of age akin to the Pap Smear, and the ArgusCYTE Breast Health Test, a blood test for recurrence in breast cancer survivors that provides a "liquid biopsy" for circulating breast cancer cells and a tailored treatment plan for patients and their caregivers.

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Study Published in Journal of Dental Research Demonstrates Value of Genetics in Preventing Periodontal Disease

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

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. (ILIU) today announced the online publication of the research study Patient Stratification for Preventive Dental Care in Journal of Dental Research. The study provides new insights into the prevention of periodontitis (gum disease) and the opportunity for significant advancement in the delivery of personalized, preventive dental care. Periodontitis affects 47 percent of the adult population.

The study explored the influence of three key risk factors for periodontal diseasesmoking, diabetes and geneticson tooth loss given varied frequencies of preventive dental visits that included cleanings. By examining claims data from 5,117 patients without periodontitis throughout a 16 year period and conducting genetic testing, researchers determined that patients with genetic variations of the IL-1 genotype, or one or more other risk factors examined, were at significantly increased risk for tooth loss and therefore require more preventive dental care. The IL-1 genetic variation was the single most prevalent risk factornearly one in three Americans carry this genetic variation. This study demonstrates the important opportunity to provide more effective preventive oral care through the use of risk-based patient assessment that includes genetic testing.

Research was conducted under the direction of Dr. William Giannobile, Najjar endowed Professor of Dentistry and Biomedical Engineering, and Chair of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan.

Periodontitis is a bacterially induced chronic inflammatory disease that destroys the bone and gum tissues that support the teeth. It is one of the most common chronic diseases of the body. It causes bleeding and swelling of the gums, loose teeth, bad breath and can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Severe periodontitis has been associated with increased risk for multiple other diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. One in four Americans over age of 65 have lost all their teeth.

Dentistry has long been a leader in the delivery of preventive healthcare to patients. The findings of this study provide dental clinicians with the opportunity to offer personalized, preventive care that is based on new insights into the importance of genetic risk factors, said Dr. Kenneth Kornman, Chief Executive Officer of Interleukin Genetics, which developed the genetics test used in the study.

Personalized medicine is an important frontier in healthcare driven by the clinical application of genetic and molecular information. Genetic-based risk assessment has long promised to improve prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, said Sir Gordon Duff, Professor Emeritus of Molecular Medicine the University of Sheffield and co-author of the paper. The findings of this study represent perhaps the first broad scale application of genetics to help prevent a disease that is very prevalent, costly and preventable.

Periodontitis initiation and progression is driven by two factors: bacterial plaque that initiates the disease and the bodys inflammatory response to bacteria which, when overly aggressive, causes breakdown of the bone and tissue that support the teeth. This inflammatory response varies greatly within the population and is significantly impacted by individual genetic make-up. Genetic testing can identify patients who have an increased inflammatory response to oral bacteria which significantly increases risk of periodontitis and tooth loss. Smoking and diabetes also contribute significantly to the risk of periodontal disease.

Ultimately, patients should be evaluated by their dentist regularly and receive needed preventive care before any symptoms of periodontal disease appear. This disease can result in disfiguring bone loss around teeth and has been implicated as a risk factor for multiple systemic conditions that benefit from early stage prevention, said periodontist Donald S. Clem, III, D.D.S., Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology, Past President American Academy of Periodontology. Historically, we have lacked the prognostic tools to effectively identify patients at greatest risk for periodontitis. This study underscores the need to adopt a genetic, risk-based approach and gives patients a compelling new reason to visit the dentist for a comprehensive periodontal evaluation. As we see with other chronic diseases, identifying and understanding genetic predisposition to disease is a critical component of long term prevention."

For additional details, the study Patient Stratification for Preventive Dental Care Giannobile et al. 2013 from Journal of Dental Research, can be accessed online.

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Study Published in Journal of Dental Research Demonstrates Value of Genetics in Preventing Periodontal Disease

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Quality genetics proves successful for top Maori farmer

New Zealands top red meat genetics company, Focus Genetics is congratulating the Maori Farmer of the Year, to whom it supplies quality genetics.

Te Awahohonu Forest Trusts Tarawera Station has picked up the 80th Ahuwhenua Trophy Maori Excellence in Farming award.

Te Awahohonu Forest Trustee, Bob Cottrell says a core focus for the Trust is thinking about future generations and investing in good farming practices for the next 100 years.

"Having trust in our breeders and genetics is all part of our plan for long term sustainability. We want to build a successful platform to which our children and grandchildren can also build on."

Tarawera Station is a medium to steep hill country farm and sits along State Highway 5 on the Napier-Taupo road.

Tarawera Station Manager, Carl Read-Jones puts some of the farms success down to using superior genetics.

"It goes without saying that using good genetics has improved our production. We invested in Highlander ewes, Primera rams and Red Stabilizer bulls and we are now seeing some good results."

The farms Highlander composite flock includes 16000 ewes and 5000 replacement ewe lambs. The propertys Red Stabilizer beef herd is made up of 1000 breeding cows plus heifer replacements and finishing steers and bulls.

Mr Read-Jones says the Trust goals are to make the farm a profitable and sustainable business.

"We increased our lambing percentage considerably by changing our Romney flock to a Highlander flock. The station used to struggle to get 120% lambing when it used Romneys but now the farm docks over 140% even in the 2007 drought when we felt the pinch with grass, the Highlander ewes performed well."

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