Lot 21. Hannafords Crown Prince- Auctions Plus Progressive Genetics Sale
Lot 21. Hannafords Crown Prince- Auctions Plus Progressive Genetics Sale This colt is the real deal. He has the looks and the breeding, his dam is by Acres Destiny, out of Tassas Robin Hood #39;s dam. Destinys Gold Dust is a full sister to Cal Gibson #39;s mare who finalled at Warwick, as well as being a full sister in blood in Serene Acres More Information: localmedia.auctionsplus.com.au http://www.landmark-classic.com.au Sale on Auctions Plus 10th December 2012From:LandmarkEquineViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:46More inSports

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Lot 18. Hannaford Forever Babe - Auctions Plus Progressive Genetics Sale
Lot 18. Hannaford Forever Babe - Auctions Plus Progressive Genetics Sale Beautiful temperament and body type, typical of her deceased sire. Has bred some beautiful foals for us. Will have a foal by sale time to Hannafords Chief Justice AQHA Q-74413, ASHS C2-199215. who is by Acres Destiny. More Information: localmedia.auctionsplus.com.au http://www.landmark-classic.com.au Sale on Auctions Plus 10th December 2012From:LandmarkEquineViews:3 0ratingsTime:00:57More inSports

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The Angus Report, Dec. 3, 2012: Performance Insights
What is an EPD? Angus Genetics Inc. #39;s Tonya Amen gives you the no-nonsense explanation.From:apicreativemediaViews:2 0ratingsTime:02:04More inPets Animals

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THE MIRACLE OF EVOLUTION
The word "evolution" is an accordion-word that can be expanded or contracted to suit the occasion. The evolutionary biologist Francisco Ayala points out that the word "evolution" can be used to mean at least three different things: 1. The process of change and diversification of living things over time. It is in this sense that biologists say that evolution is a fact. But obviously this fact, so stated, is innocuous and would not be disputed even by the most fundamentalist Young Earth Creationist. 2. Reconstruction of evolutionary history, showing how various lineages branched off from one another on the universal tree of life. 3. The mechanisms which account for evolutionary change. Darwin appealed to natural selection operating on random variations in living things in order to explain the adaptedness of organisms to their environment. With the development of modern genetics, genetic mutations came to supplement the Darwinian mechanism of natural selection by supplying an explanation for the variations on which natural selection works. Accordingly, we can call this hypothesis "neo-Darwinism." Evolution in the senses of (2) and (3) is not an established fact, despite what is said and believed in popular culture. According to Ayala, "The second and third issues mdash;seeking to ascertain evolutionary history as well as to explain how and why evolution takes place mdash;are matters of active scientific investigation. To reconstruct evolutionary history, we have to know how the ...From:POTTERS HOUSE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHRISTCHURCHViews:2 0ratingsTime:01:56More inTravel Events

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Celebrating IR100k at IRRI!
Also see playlist of other videos from this ceremony at http://www.youtube.com On 29 November 2012, the IRRI community celebrated the100,000th rice breeding cross at IRRI, a true milestone in the Institute #39;s 52-year history existence. The parents for the 100000th cross were IR09M105 and NSICRC 214.The objective of this particular cross was to improve eating quality. Making opening comments at the event were Eero Nissila, head of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology at IRRI -www.irri.org - and Glenn Gregorio, senior scientist/plant breeder - http://www.irri.org Alvaro Pamplona, senior research manager, demonstrates how the 100000th cross was made--as are all crosses at IRRI--for more on how the cross is made, see http://www.youtube.com Bas Bouman (right) director of the Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP) and Bruce Tolentino, deputy director general for communications and partnerships, "lift" the ribbon at the display showing the mature plants resulting from the cross along with the parents in the background.From:irrivideoViews:3 0ratingsTime:02:06More inEducation

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SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) reported today that the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari agreeing to hear the case of The Association for Molecular Pathology, et al., v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., et al (Docket No. 12-398). The Supreme Court will review the earlier decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which declared that Myriad's composition of matter claims covering isolated DNA of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are patent-eligible under Section 101 of the United States Patent Act.

"Two previous decisions by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals confirmed the patentability of our groundbreaking diagnostic test that has helped close to one million people learn about their hereditary cancer risk," said Peter Meldrum, President and CEO of Myriad Genetics. "Myriad devoted more than 17 years and $500 million to develop its BRACAnalysis(R) test. The discovery and development of pioneering diagnostics and therapeutics require a huge investment and our U.S. patent system is the engine that drives this innovation. This case has great importance for the hundreds of millions of patients whose lives are saved and enhanced by the life science industry's products."

About Genetic Patents and Genetic Testing

The BRACAnalysis test detects the presence of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that can help determine a patient's risk of breast and ovarian cancer and inform treatment options. Women who test positive using Myriad's BRACAnalysis have an 82 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer and a 44 percent higher risk of ovarian cancer in their lifetimes. The test is widely available for all women with a family history of cancer and is cost effective for both patients and the healthcare system. Approximately one million women have already benefited from taking the BRACAnalysis test.

Myriad supports research studies on BRCA1, BRCA2 and other genes. More than 18,000 scientists have studied the BRCAgenes and published more than 9,000 research papers, making these genes among the most widely researched genes in history. In addition, Myriad has facilitated research through a partnership with the National Institutes of Health and provided at-cost testing for nearly 6,000 researchers receiving NIH grants.

Health economic studies conclude that Myriad's genetic tests are fairly priced. Excerpts supporting this conclusion include the following:

Additionally, Myriad has also established a Financial Assistance Program, which provides coverage at no charge to low-income patients who lack insurance. Over the past three years alone, more than 5,000 people have received free BRACAnalysis testing from Myriad. Approximately 95% of all patients in the United States have access to BRACAnalysis either through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. The average out-of-pocket cost to a patient is less than $100.

Even though Myriad automatically retests all positive results to confirm the findings at no additional charge to the patient, second-opinion testing is also available for all patients. Since 1999, many laboratories have performed confirmatory and second-opinion testing. The NCBI Genetic Testing Registry lists seven laboratories in the United States that conduct second-opinion testing on the BRCA 1 gene and six laboratories that test the BRCA 2 gene.

About Myriad's Patent Landscape

Myriad's intellectual property for its BRACAnalysis(R) test is strong, with 24 issued patents and more than 500 claims. This provides Myriad with extensive patent protection through 2018.

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Supreme Court of the United States to Hear Isolated DNA Patent Case

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Scott C. Baraban, PhD discusses the current trend in epilepsy research
Dr. Scott Baraban, PhD, a Professor and William K. Bowes Endowed Chair in Neuroscience Research at the University of California, San Francisco, discusses the current trends of epilepsy research and the future direction of epilepsy care, particularly noting the role of gene therapy in management. This video was taken on Friday, November 30th at the American Epilepsy Society #39;s 2012 Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.From:AJMCtvViews:5 0ratingsTime:00:59More inEducation

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Personalized medicine to save lung cancer patients
This video focuses on Ventana Medical Systems collaboration with Pfizer to save lung cancer patients. This segment is part of a series featuring Ventana Medical Systems luminaries, created to raise awareness of Ventana #39;s innovative work in cancer over the past 25 years and expectations for the future.From:VentanaMarcomViews:7 0ratingsTime:02:00More inScience Technology

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Four Different Types of Biomarkers
Daniel Winkelman from BioTrends defines the different types of biomarkers at the HBAGP event, "An Overview of Personalized Medicine Future Opportunities" held at Merck on November 29, 2012From:HBAGPViews:0 0ratingsTime:00:55More inEducation

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Personalized Medicine Definition
Daniel Winkelman from BioTrends at the Healthcare Businesswomen #39;s Association Greater Philadelphia chapter event "Personalized Medicine Future Opportunities." Held at Merck, the seminar was presented by the HBAGP Women In Science affinity group.From:HBAGPViews:2 0ratingsTime:00:18More inEducation

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Voluntary Motor Function and Spasticity After A Spinal Cord Injury PodChat
Molly addresses the question about how long after injury she was able to move voluntarily. This conversation addresses her relationship to spasticity and the anti-spasmodic drug Baclofen.From:abilityproductionViews:25 1ratingsTime:07:38More inEducation

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RICKY HONABLUE - Spinal Cord Injury
When a car jumped the sidewalk and hit 2-year-old Ricky Honablue head on, his mother #39;s world was shattered in an instant. Ricky suffered a severe spinal cord injury and was paralyzed from the chest down. A few years after the accident, the Honablue family moved to Michigan. Ricky receives weekly physical therapy at the Children #39;s Hospital of Michigan and is actually walking using a special brace called an RGO (Reciprocating Gait Orthosis.) While his wheelchair is still his most convenient mode of transportation, the ability to walk gives Ricky a sense of freedom and joy that can only come from standing on your own two feet.From:ChildrensDMCViews:1 0ratingsTime:07:22More inEducation

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"Spinal Cord Injury in Nepal and Challenges in Rehabilitation" - Damodar Thapa, PT
Mr. Thapa shares some of the unique challenges faced by survivors of SCI in his homeland of Nepal. His words and pictures illustrate the tools and techniques he uses to maximize recovery in his patients.From:unite2fightparalysisViews:0 0ratingsTime:11:35More inNonprofits Activism

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Quadriplegic opening easy-open cans
Watch how SPINALpedia member and C6-7 quadriplegic, Paul, demonstrates how he opens easy-open cans without the use of his fingers (but with the help of a spoon!) Even if you #39;re paralyzed from a spinal cord injury, you can find ways to adapt normal tasks. Learn more at SPINALpedia.com!From:Spinal PediaViews:3 0ratingsTime:02:06More inHowto Style

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Study moves scientists one step closer to creating youthful heart patches from old cells

TORONTO, ON A new method of growing cardiac tissue is teaching old stem cells new tricks. The discovery, which transforms aged stem cells into cells that function like much younger ones, may one day enable scientists to grow cardiac patches for damaged or diseased hearts from a patients own stem cellsno matter what age the patientwhile avoiding the threat of rejection.

Stem cell therapies involving donated bone marrow stem cells run the risk of patient rejection in a portion of the population, argues Milica Radisic, Canada Research Chair in Functional Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto.

One method of avoiding the risk of rejection has been to use cells derived from a patients own body. But until now, clinical trials of this kind of therapy using elderly patients own cells have not been a viable option, since aged cells tend not to function as well as cells from young patients.

Its a problem that Radisic and her co-researcher, Dr. Ren-Ke Li, think they might have an answer for: by creating the conditions for a fountain of youth reaction within a tissue culture.

Li holds the Canada Research Chair in Cardiac Regeneration and is a Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, cross-appointed to IBBME. He is also a Senior Scientist at the Toronto General Research Institute.

Radisic and Li first create a micro-environment that allows heart tissue to grow, with stem cells donated from elderly patients at the Toronto General Hospital.

The cell cultures are then infused with a combination of growth factorscommon factors that cause blood vessel growth and cell proliferationpositioned in such a way within the porous scaffolding that the cells are able to be stimulated by these factors.

Dr. Li and his team then tracked the molecular changes in the tissue patch cells.

We saw certain aging factors turned off, states Li, citing the levels of two molecules in particular, p16 and RGN, which effectively turned back the clock in the cells, returning them to robust and healthy states.

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Aida Wong - ZÉLL-V Sheep Placenta Anti Aging Satisfied Customer
Aida : #25317; #26377; #20581; #24247;= #25317; #26377; #20840; #19990; #30028; #12290; http://www.zell-v.com We specialise in cell therapy products for anti aging. we are supported by an international medical board of practitioners, biologist and wellness professionals.From:zellvsheepplacentaViews:1 0ratingsTime:01:34More inHowto Style

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Metastatic melanoma patient discusses how T-cell therapy saved her life
Nicho Bourque, a metastatic melanoma patient, was the first MD Anderson clinical trial patient to receive a new form of adoptive T-cell therapy, called T-cell therapy with dendritic cells. Learn about her experience with the treatment. Bourque was under the care of Nicholas Papadopoulos, MDFrom:mdandersonorgViews:0 0ratingsTime:04:22More inScience Technology

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"Achilles Tendinitis is now being treated using Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy," according to Dr. Farshchian , the medical director for The Center for Regenerative Medicine.

(PRWEB) November 30, 2012

Achilles tendonitis refers to irritation and inflammation of the Achilles tendon which is located in the back of the ankle. Pain and swelling are typical symptoms, but over the long run the tendon can weaken and rupture this is a serious matter since it may cause chronic pain and disability. Typically patients experience most of the pain during running and jumping.

Changes in footwear and training schedules as reported by the above patient could be a contributory factor to development Achilles tendinitis.

The Center for Regenerative Medicine in Miami, Florida concentrates on helping arthritic and injured people to get back to a functional level of life and their activities using non-surgical techniques and Orthopedic medicine. The center's expertise is in treatment of conditions of spine, knees , shoulders , and other cartilage damages. They have developed non-surgical and rehabilitation techniques focused on treatment and management of joint pain. Their team includes health professionals organized around a central theme.

Their wbsite is http://www.arthritisusa.net

Marty Eugene http://www.arthritisusa.net 305 8668384 Email Information

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Dr.Farshchian: Achilles Tendinitis is Now Being Treated Using Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy

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Company's ability to do something nobody has done before confirms world-leader status.

Scottsdale, AZ (PRWEB) November 30, 2012

In the companys news yesterday,

International Stem Cell Corp. has achieved a critical milestone towards the clinical development of its non-embryonic stem cell therapy.

Through much dedication and hard work, the companys research and development team has created the worlds first human clinical-grade stem cell lines that can be immune-match to millions of individuals. ISCOs existing research-grade parthenogenetic stem cell lines, one of which may be an immune-match to approximately 70 million people, are being used in pre-clinical development. ISCO is now in a position to conduct clinical trials in the United States.

Weve been working diligently for three years to perfect this technology, which was first developed by our scientific founder, Dr. Elena Revazova in Moscow, and Im excited to report that we have been able to derive new stem cell lines in the United States under the US and California regulatory frameworks. Im optimistic that the new parthenogenetic stem cell lines, by providing a potentially unlimited supply of cells and tissue for transplantation, will be of great benefit to the medical community and patients world-wide, stated Dr. Semechkin, CEO and Co-Chairman of the Board.

Created using ISCOs proprietary technology, the new stem cell lines represent the first of a new generation of clinical-grade human parthenogenetic stem cell (hpSC) lines created in the United States under US regulatory oversight and designed to meet FDA regulations. The US Food and Drug Administration developed Good Tissue Practice (GTP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards to ensure the safety of products developed for clinical use. Conforming to GMP is necessary to conduct clinical development programs.

Independent third-party testing has confirmed the new lines to be homozygous in the HLA coding regions. This means that they have a simple genetic profile in the critical areas of the DNA that code for immune rejection; a distinct clinical advantage over embryonic stem cells. The company anticipates the new lines to immune-match millions of individuals. They will be added to ISCOs existing bank and provide a platform from which to develop cells and tissue for clinical use.

The importance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated, emphasized Dr. Craw, Executive Vice President of ISCO. Expanding our collection is not only important for our therapeutic programs, but also further establishes our leadership position in human stem cell technology. Achieving this critical milestone moves us along the path to make the transition into a clinical stage company.

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CARLSBAD, CA--(Marketwire - Nov 29, 2012) - International Stem Cell Corporation ( OTCQB : ISCO ) (www.internationalstemcell.com) ("ISCO" or "the Company"), a California-based biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutic products, today announced the achievement of a critical milestone towards the clinical development of its stem cell therapy.

The Company's research and development team has created the world's first human clinical-grade stem cell lines with the ability to immune-match millions of individuals. ISCO's existing research-grade parthenogenetic stem cell lines, one of which contains the most common immune type in the Caucasian population and may be an immune-match to approximately 70 million people, are used in pre-clinical development. These new clinical-grade stem cell lines position ISCO to be able to conduct clinical trials in the United States.

Dr. Semechkin, CEO and Co-Chairman of the Board, comments, "We've been working diligently for three years to perfect this technology, which was first developed by our scientific founder, Dr. Elena Revazova in Moscow, and I'm excited to report that we have been able to derive new stem cell lines in the United States under the US and California regulatory frameworks. I'm optimistic that the new parthenogenetic stem cell lines, by providing a potentially unlimited supply of cells and tissue for transplantation, will be of great benefit to the medical community and patients world-wide."

The new stem cell lines, created using ISCO's proprietary technology, are the first of a new generation of clinical-grade human parthenogenetic stem cell (hpSC) lines created in the United States under US regulatory oversight and designed to meet FDA regulations. The US Food and Drug Administration developed Good Tissue Practice (GTP) and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards to ensure the safety of products developed for clinical use. Conforming to GMP is extremely important as it means that the cells can be used in clinical development programs.

The new lines have been confirmed by independent third-party testing to be "homozygous" in the HLA coding regions meaning that they have a simple genetic profile in the critical areas of the DNA that code for immune rejection. This feature is one of the most important differences of hpSC when compared with embryonic stem cells and a distinct clinical advantage because of their ability to be immune-matched to the patient. We expect the new lines to immune-match millions of individuals, and will be added to ISCO's existing bank providing a platform from which to develop cells and tissue for clinical use.

"The importance of this breakthrough cannot be overstated," commented Dr. Craw, Executive Vice President of ISCO. "Expanding our collection is not only important for our therapeutic programs, but also further establishes our leadership position in human stem cell technology. Achieving this critical milestone moves us along the path to make the transition into a clinical stage company."

About International Stem Cell Corporation

International Stem Cell Corporation is focused on the therapeutic applications of human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) and the development and commercialization of cell-based research and cosmetic products. ISCO's core technology, parthenogenesis, results in the creation of pluripotent human stem cells from unfertilized oocytes (eggs) hence avoiding ethical issues associated with the use or destruction of viable human embryos. ISCO scientists have created the first parthenogenetic, homozygous stem cell line that can be a source of therapeutic cells for hundreds of millions of individuals of differing genders, ages and racial background with minimal immune rejection after transplantation. hpSCs offer the potential to create the first true stem cell bank, UniStemCell. ISCO also produces and markets specialized cells and growth media for therapeutic research worldwide through its subsidiary Lifeline Cell Technology (www.lifelinecelltech.com), and stem cell-based skin care products through its subsidiary Lifeline Skin Care (www.lifelineskincare.com). More information is available at http://www.internationalstemcell.com.

To receive ongoing corporate communications via email, visit: http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1468&to=ea&s=0

To like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for company updates and industry related news, visit: http://www.facebook.com/InternationalStemCellCorporation and http://www.twitter.com/intlstemcell

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International Stem Cell Corporation Announces Significant Progress Towards Clinical Development

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Autologous Cell Therapy Market reserach report gives a detailed analysis about state of the art of both autologous stem cell and non-stem cell treatments. It includes the current advances and applications of the technology and trends in terms of market size and growth of autologous cellular therapies in medical treatments globally.

(PRWEB) November 30, 2012

Browse ACT market research data tables/figures spread through 111 slides and in-depth TOC on Autologous Cell Therapy (ACT) Market (2012 - 2017).

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/autologous-cell-therapy-market-837.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports.

There is a wide market potential and favorable landscape for adoption across many geographical locations of the world. During the forecast period, these technologies are expected to revolutionize the area of bio-pharma and personalized medicine. High incidence and lack of effective treatment for several diseases will drive the ACT technology in developed and developing nations.

Investment activities, for past five years are actively held in research and developments, attracting interests of cell therapy industry firms, medical centers and academic institutions. ACT potential can be demonstrated by mergers, collaborations, acquisitions and partnerships that happened actively between the ACT technology developing companies in past three years. Development of sophisticated automation devices for cell expansion and culture process for use in the treatment is one of the emerging trends of ACT market.

The global market for ACT is valued around $650 million by 2011 with a CAGR of 21%. Several products and technologies of ACT are in pipeline which is expected to hit the market during the forecast period, which will result in increased growth rate.

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is a global market research and consulting company based in the U.S. We publish strategically analyzed market research reports and serve as a business intelligence partner to Fortune 500 companies across the world. MarketsandMarkets also provides multi-client reports, company profiles, databases, and custom research services.

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Autologous Cell Therapy Market expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2017, growing at a CAGR of 21% : MarketsandMarkets

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Gene predicts time of death
Researchers led by Dr. Andrew Lim, a neurologist at Sunnybrook and professor at University of Toronto, have discovered a gene that is associated with the timing of one #39;s sleep-wake rhythm or cycle, as well as one #39;s circadian rhythm of death. Read more: sunnybrook.caFrom:SunnybrookMediaViews:10 0ratingsTime:01:12More inScience Technology

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ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2012) A team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and the Institut Pasteur, Paris has come up with a novel way to describe a time-dependent brain development based on coherent-gene-groups (CGGs) and transcription-factors (TFs) hierarchy. The findings could lead to new drug designs for mental disorders such as autism-spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia.

In the paper, published November 22 as an online-first publication in the journal Genes, Brain and Behavior, the researchers identified the hierarchical tree of CGG-TF networks that determine the patterns of genes expressed during brain development and found that some "master transcription factors" at the top level of the hierarchy regulated the expression of a significant number of gene groups.

Instead of a taking the approach that a single gene creates a single response, researchers used contemporary methods of data analysis, along with the Gordon supercomputer at the university's San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC), to identify CGGs responsible for brain development which can be affected for treatment of mental disorders. The team found that these groups of genes act in concert to send signals at various levels of the hierarchy to other groups of genes, which control the general and more specific (depending of the level) events in brain structure development.

"We have proposed a novel, though still hypothetical, strategy of drug design based on this hierarchical network of TFs that could pave the way for a new category of pharmacological agents that could be used to block a pathway at a critical time during brain development as an effective way to treat and even prevent mental disorders such as ASD and schizophrenia," said lead author Igor Tsigelny, a research scientist with SDSC, as well as the university's Moores Cancer Center and Department of Neurosciences. "On a broader scale, these findings have the potential to change the paradigm of drug design."

Using samples taken from three different regions of the brains of rats, the researchers used Gordon and SDSC's BiologicalNetworks server to conduct numerous levels of analysis, starting with processing of microarray data and SOM (self-organizing maps) clustering, before determining which gene zones were associated with significant developmental changes and brain disorders.

Researchers then conducted analyses of stages of development and quick comparisons between rat and human brain development, in addition to pathway analyses and functional and hierarchical network analyses. The team then analyzed specific gene-TF interactions, with a focus on neurological disorders, before investigating further directions for drug design based on analysis of the hierarchical networks.

Tsigelny's collaborators included Valentina L. Kouzentsova (SDSC and Moores), Michael Baitaluk (SDSC); and Jean-Pierre Changeux, with the Institut Pasteur, in Paris, France. Changeux also is a Skaggs distinguished visiting professor in pharmacology at UC San Diego (2008) and a member of the foreign faculty at UC San Diego's Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind. In addition to SDSC and its computational resources, support for the research paper, called A Hierarchical Coherent-Gene-Group Model for Brain Development, was provided by National Institutes of Health grant # GM084881 for Baitaluk.

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The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether human genes can be patented, taking up an issue that has split the medical community and will shape the future of personalized health care and the biotechnology industry.

The justices yesterday said they will hear a challenge to Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN)s patents on genetic material used in tests for breast and ovarian cancer. Doctors, researchers and patients are opposing the patents, arguing that Myriads monopoly over the genes is blocking clinical testing and research.

Myriad and other gene patent holders have gained the right to exclude the rest of the scientific community from examining the naturally occurring genes of every person in the United States, the group argued in its appeal, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Biotechnology companies say they have been getting patents on genes for 30 years -- and cant attract investment dollars unless they can protect their research from competitors. A study published in 2005 by Science magazine found that 20 percent of human genes had some level of patent protection.

Any move to change that system, particularly with the deeply settled reliance interests of the technology and investing communities at stake, should be addressed to Congress, not the courts, Salt Lake City-based Myriad argued in court papers that urged rejection of the appeal.

The nations highest court will hear arguments, probably in March, and rule by the end of June.

The central legal question is whether isolated DNA -- genetic coding that has been removed from the body and separated from other material -- is a product of nature and thus ineligible for patent protection. In largely backing Myriads patents, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said isolated DNA could be patented.

The isolated DNA molecules before us are not found in nature, Circuit Judge Alan Lourie wrote. They are obtained in the laboratory and are man-made, the product of human ingenuity. While they are prepared from products of nature, so is every other composition of matter.

Genes are encoded strands of nucleotides in different sequences that are responsible for inherited traits. In isolating genes, Myriad strips out unneeded information to home in on aspects that determine whether a person has a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

The challengers say isolated DNA is identical to the coding that exists naturally in the body.

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Gene Patents Draw High Court Review in Biotechnology Test

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ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2012) Lung cancer researchers at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz., in collaboration with researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute and other institutions, have identified a gene that plays a role in the growth and spread of non-small cell lung cancer tumors, opening the door for potential new treatment options.

The study, titled "Elevated Expression of Fn14 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Correlates with Activated EGFR and Promotes Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion," was published in the May 2012 issue of The American Journal of Pathology. Landon J. Inge, PhD, is the lead scientist in the thoracic oncology laboratory at St. Joseph's Center for Thoracic Disease and Transplantation and was a member of the study's research team.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and approximately 85 percent of these cancers are non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC frequently have tumors with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. When activated, this mutated gene leads to tumor development and growth. By studying lung cancer samples from patients who had undergone tumor resection, the researchers discovered that many patients with EGFR mutations also exhibited higher than normal levels of the gene fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14). The researchers believe that activation of EGFR can lead to increased expression and activity of the Fn14 gene.

The research team also discovered that while over-expression of Fn14 enhances lung tumor formation and metastasis, suppression of Fn14 reduces metastasis in NSCLC.

"Our data suggest that Fn14 levels can contribute to NSCLC cell migration and invasion," says Dr. Inge. "Thus, tumor suppression through the targeting of Fn14 may prove to be a therapeutic intervention in NSCLC and other tumor types."

The Fn14 gene has been found to be elevated in other types of tumors, as well, including glioblastoma and certain types of breast cancer, suggesting that Fn14 may be a therapeutic target for multiple cancer therapies.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

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Gene involved in lung tumor growth identified

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