http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2012 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Tue, 29 May 2012 01:05:35 GMT Tue, 29 May 2012 01:05:35 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Flu-Viruses-Fall-Prey-to-Newly-Developed-Protein-272105.shtml In a paper published in the latest issue of the esteemed journal Nature Biotechnology, investigators with an international team say they have been able to create genes that can be used as antivirals. The material has the ability to disrupt some of the key functions of the flu virus, potentially preventing epidemics.

Gene therapies ha... (read more)]]> Mon, 28 May 2012 12:18:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Flu-Viruses-Fall-Prey-to-Newly-Developed-Protein-272105.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Flu-Viruses-Fall-Prey-to-Newly-Developed-Protein-272105.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Critical-Gene-Silencing-Protein-Reveals-Its-3D-Structure-271903.shtml The three-dimensional structure of one of the most important molecular players in RNA interference (RNAi), the protein Argonaute-2, has just been resolved by investigators at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL).

This study is very important, and could have far-reaching ramifications for molecular biology, primarily becau... (read more)]]> Sat, 26 May 2012 10:10:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Critical-Gene-Silencing-Protein-Reveals-Its-3D-Structure-271903.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Critical-Gene-Silencing-Protein-Reveals-Its-3D-Structure-271903.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Stabilizing-Polymers-Developed-at-UCLA-271049.shtml During transport and storage, proteins are very prone to suffering degradation, or losing their active properties. Excipients such as polyethylene glycol are used to stabilize them, but experts now announce the development of special polymers that could do this more effectively.

The materials are capable of stabilizing proteins for lon... (read more)]]> Tue, 22 May 2012 12:29:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Stabilizing-Polymers-Developed-at-UCLA-271049.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Stabilizing-Polymers-Developed-at-UCLA-271049.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Living-Cells-Control-Their-Growth-Process-270586.shtml Scientists involved in studies of how living cells grow observed a long time ago that cells are able to figure out when and where to develop. Determining how this is possible has been a long-standing goal, but researches have thus far yielded few results. A new study finally makes some headway.

Working together with biologists at the U... (read more)]]> Sat, 19 May 2012 09:38:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Living-Cells-Control-Their-Growth-Process-270586.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Living-Cells-Control-Their-Growth-Process-270586.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rare-Genetic-Variations-Are-Not-That-Rare-After-All-270363.shtml University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) investigators have recently finished conducting a large-scale genetic survey of the population. Their work led to several interesting conclusions, including the fact that thought-to-be-rare genetic variations are not that uncommon after all.

Details of their study appear in the May 1... (read more)]]> Fri, 18 May 2012 09:25:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rare-Genetic-Variations-Are-Not-That-Rare-After-All-270363.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Rare-Genetic-Variations-Are-Not-That-Rare-After-All-270363.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Discovery-Explains-the-Properties-of-Cancer-269548.shtml The protein Cdt1, which is required for a process known as DNA replication, was recently discovered to play a very important role in mitosis, a critical part of the cellular division cycle. The finding sheds light on why cancers are based on genomic instabilities and unusual numbers of chromosomes.

DNA replication is an extremely... (read more)]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 08:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Discovery-Explains-the-Properties-of-Cancer-269548.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Discovery-Explains-the-Properties-of-Cancer-269548.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Light-Powered-Retinal-Implants-Created-269325.shtml Stanford University investigators have created a new type of retinal implant, which can partially restore vision in people who suffer from the effects of accidents or medical conditions. The implants contain photovoltaic cells, which means that they can be powered by light.

The designers of the medical device say that it represents a crossove... (read more)]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 09:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Light-Powered-Retinal-Implants-Created-269325.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Light-Powered-Retinal-Implants-Created-269325.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Viruses-Used-in-New-Piezoelectric-Generators-269300.shtml Being able to recharge your mobile devices as you do everyday tasks is something that was recently brought closer to reality by experts at the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).

Scientists here announce the creation of an electricity generator that uses harmless viruses and a property of... (read more)]]> Mon, 14 May 2012 08:58:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Viruses-Used-in-New-Piezoelectric-Generators-269300.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Viruses-Used-in-New-Piezoelectric-Generators-269300.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Test-Assesses-Metastatic-Risk-of-Eye-Cancers-269153.shtml A group of scientists has created a genetic test that enables doctors to detect the potential eye cancers have of spreading to other parts of the body. The liver is usually targeted more often than other organs, and liver cancers are very dangerous. Therefore, the test may help determine metastasis risks.

The investigation conducted to c... (read more)]]> Sat, 12 May 2012 08:04:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Test-Assesses-Metastatic-Risk-of-Eye-Cancers-269153.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Test-Assesses-Metastatic-Risk-of-Eye-Cancers-269153.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Potential-Treatment-for-Anthrax-Under-Development-268718.shtml The fatal infections caused by Bacillus anthracis, commonly known as anthrax, may soon become treatable, thanks to the work of experts at the University of Michigan (U-M), in the United States.

In a recent study, the team was able to identify a series of new potential targets on the bacteria, which may be used by the next generation... (read more)]]> Thu, 10 May 2012 09:24:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Potential-Treatment-for-Anthrax-Under-Development-268718.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Potential-Treatment-for-Anthrax-Under-Development-268718.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tumor-Cells-Exhibit-Great-Genetic-Diversity-268238.shtml Experts with the Stanford University School of Medicine have determined that cells shed by cancer tumors in the human body exhibit great genetic diversity. Some of these cells are able to influence gene expression, enabling them to take up residence in organs other than the one they originated in.

When tumors begin to shed cells, the sit... (read more)]]> Tue, 8 May 2012 09:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tumor-Cells-Exhibit-Great-Genetic-Diversity-268238.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tumor-Cells-Exhibit-Great-Genetic-Diversity-268238.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancers-Delete-Suppressing-Genes-on-Chromosomes-268195.shtml Numerous cancer types are known to have an influence on human chromosomes, deleting certain portions in order to be able to infect the body. Now, researchers have shown that some of these deleted sections contain clusters of tumor-suppressing genes.

Experts say that this has been suspected for quite some time, but that evidence to pr... (read more)]]> Tue, 8 May 2012 07:50:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancers-Delete-Suppressing-Genes-on-Chromosomes-268195.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancers-Delete-Suppressing-Genes-on-Chromosomes-268195.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Noise-Finally-Taken-Out-of-Living-Cell-Studies-267725.shtml Molecular biologists seeking to understand how living cells behave under various conditions may soon be able to move forward in this field, thanks to a new study conducted by investigators in the United Kingdom. The scientists managed to develop a way of removing noise from observations of such cells.

Noise is a generic name given to s... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 10:02:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Noise-Finally-Taken-Out-of-Living-Cell-Studies-267725.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Noise-Finally-Taken-Out-of-Living-Cell-Studies-267725.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Nanoparticles-to-Target-Drug-Resistant-Bacteria-267719.shtml A collaboration of investigators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge and Brigham and Women's Hospital has recently come up with a new therapeutic approach for addressing drug-resistant bacteria. Their method relies on the use of special nanoscale particles.

Drug resistance developed in bacteria for a larg... (read more)]]> Fri, 4 May 2012 09:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Nanoparticles-to-Target-Drug-Resistant-Bacteria-267719.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Nanoparticles-to-Target-Drug-Resistant-Bacteria-267719.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fragile-X-Gene-Autism-Linked-in-New-Study-266610.shtml A paper published in the latest online issue of the renowned journal Neuron indicates that a series of associations exist between genes that exhibit abnormal function in autism patients and genes targeted by a protein involved in the development of the Fragile-X Syndrome.

Investigators say that FMRP is a protein generated by the gene FMR1, ... (read more)]]> Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:16:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fragile-X-Gene-Autism-Linked-in-New-Study-266610.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Fragile-X-Gene-Autism-Linked-in-New-Study-266610.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Method-to-Assist-Boost-Nerve-Repair-Developed-265875.shtml Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in the UK, and the Laser Zentrum Hannover, in Germany, say that they are currently working on a new method for aiding neural growth. Their approach could come in handy for people who've suffered recoverable nerve damage.

The approach is primarily developed for people who went through traumatic... (read more)]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:16:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Method-to-Assist-Boost-Nerve-Repair-Developed-265875.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Method-to-Assist-Boost-Nerve-Repair-Developed-265875.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Protein-Controlling-Brain-Function-Identified-265862.shtml Researchers at the University of Bristol, in the United Kingdom, announce the discovery of an interesting link between the SUMO molecule and kainate receptors, a series of proteins involved in a number of conditions. The work may lead to the creation of new drugs against epilepsy and stroke.

SUMOs (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) ar... (read more)]]> Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:52:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Protein-Controlling-Brain-Function-Identified-265862.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Protein-Controlling-Brain-Function-Identified-265862.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Study-Reveals-How-Antibiotics-Work-265509.shtml A collaboration of investigators from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge, and Boston University, has recently conducted a study that finally revealed how all three major classes of antibiotics work. These mechanisms have never been fully understood until now.

Though antibiotics first started being used about 70 years ago... (read more)]]> Fri, 20 Apr 2012 08:25:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Study-Reveals-How-Antibiotics-Work-265509.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Study-Reveals-How-Antibiotics-Work-265509.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Triple-Negative-Breast-Cancer-Genome-Decoded-263743.shtml A collaboration of investigators in the United Kingdom and Canada announce that they were recently able to decode the entire genome of triple negative breast cancer, which is the most dangerous and deadly form this condition can take.

The discovery is very important, since a deeper understanding of how this cancer operates could lead to ... (read more)]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:46:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Triple-Negative-Breast-Cancer-Genome-Decoded-263743.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Triple-Negative-Breast-Cancer-Genome-Decoded-263743.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genetic-Tests-Could-Reveal-If-You-re-Nice-263718.shtml The presence of certain hormone receptor genes in a person's genetic material may determine whether they are nice or mean, the conclusions of a new study show. The research basically sets the foundations for developing a genetic test meant to gage a person's niceness.

Scientists have always wondered why twins – who are brought up by ... (read more)]]> Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:56:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genetic-Tests-Could-Reveal-If-You-re-Nice-263718.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Genetic-Tests-Could-Reveal-If-You-re-Nice-263718.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-Genes-Involved-in-Underlying-Autism-Discovered-263030.shtml For a very long time, scientists had a hard time figuring out whether autism is triggered by environmental factors, or if it develops based on genetic aberrations and predispositions. A new study demonstrates that three genes play a role in allowing the condition to develop.

While the results of the new investigation will not le... (read more)]]> Thu, 5 Apr 2012 12:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-Genes-Involved-in-Underlying-Autism-Discovered-263030.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Three-Genes-Involved-in-Underlying-Autism-Discovered-263030.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Personalized-Cancer-Treatments-Made-Possible-by-DNA-Sequencing-262467.shtml According to the conclusions of a new scientific investigation, it would appear that powerful DNA sequencing tools can be used to find the genetic mutations that lead to cancer in individual patients, to map the evolution of their conditions over time, and to determine whether therapies are effective or not.

The discove... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Apr 2012 08:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Personalized-Cancer-Treatments-Made-Possible-by-DNA-Sequencing-262467.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Personalized-Cancer-Treatments-Made-Possible-by-DNA-Sequencing-262467.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Involved-in-Building-Tissues-Identified-262461.shtml A group of biologists in the United States announces the discovery of a new protein in fruit flies. The molecule plays an important role in allowing the diminutive insect's wings to develop properly. An analog may exist in humans as well, and identifying it could lead to developing treatments for a host of medical conditions.

These in... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Apr 2012 08:29:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Involved-in-Building-Tissues-Identified-262461.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Involved-in-Building-Tissues-Identified-262461.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Leukemia-Treatment-Shows-Great-Promise-262441.shtml Using unsuspecting lab mice as models for the human body, investigators in the United States were recently able to demonstrate that blocking a molecule called the PRC2 protein inhibits the uncontrolled proliferation of white blood cell cancer within the bone marrow.

The condition, called acute myeloid leukemia (AML), is extremely severe, ... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Apr 2012 07:43:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Leukemia-Treatment-Shows-Great-Promise-262441.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Leukemia-Treatment-Shows-Great-Promise-262441.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Organisms-Switched-to-Oxygen-Producing-Photosynthesis-262425.shtml When various organisms and plants first began conducting photosynthesis, the process did not result in the production of oxygen (anoxygenic photosynthesis). However, in time, a switch occurred, which enabled the emergence of an oxygenic (oxygen-production) version of the process. A team of experts now analyzes how this happened.
<... (read more)]]> Tue, 3 Apr 2012 07:13:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Organisms-Switched-to-Oxygen-Producing-Photosynthesis-262425.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Organisms-Switched-to-Oxygen-Producing-Photosynthesis-262425.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Resistance-to-Disease-May-Sometimes-Be-a-Bad-Thing-261906.shtml A study conducted on the water flea species Daphnia dentifera revealed how the freshwater zooplankton lifeform behaves during periodic infections by an extremely virulent yeast parasite. The work showed that more resistance to the disease is not always a good thing.

When these periodic epidemics reoccur, as many as 60 percent of al... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Resistance-to-Disease-May-Sometimes-Be-a-Bad-Thing-261906.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Resistance-to-Disease-May-Sometimes-Be-a-Bad-Thing-261906.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Microbes-Survive-When-They-Shouldn-t-Be-Able-To-261862.shtml A team of scientist that published a new opinion piece in the March 27 issue of the journal mBio argues that the Black Queen Hypothesis (BQH) helps explain why some microbes continue to live and multiply even when they lose an ability that is considered to be critical for their survival.

Instances of this happening have been obser... (read more)]]> Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Microbes-Survive-When-They-Shouldn-t-Be-Able-To-261862.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/How-Microbes-Survive-When-They-Shouldn-t-Be-Able-To-261862.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancer-Stopped-from-Invading-the-Brain-With-New-Approach-261600.shtml Investigators from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Emory University say that they were able to obtain some promising results in their attempt to develop a method of stopping highly invasive forms of brain cancer from affecting large portions of the brain.

Their research, which was conducted on animals, ... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancer-Stopped-from-Invading-the-Brain-With-New-Approach-261600.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Cancer-Stopped-from-Invading-the-Brain-With-New-Approach-261600.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Promoting-Cancer-Cell-Survival-Identified-261589.shtml In a study that could lead to the development of new therapies and prognostics for breast cancer, researchers in the United States were recently able to study a series of molecular interactions occurring in breast cancer cells.

They discovered how the protein survivin is able to escape the nucleus of such a cancer cell, and then ac... (read more)]]> Thu, 29 Mar 2012 08:32:00 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Promoting-Cancer-Cell-Survival-Identified-261589.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Protein-Promoting-Cancer-Cell-Survival-Identified-261589.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Two-Toxic-Cancer-Drugs-May-Be-Used-on-Humans-After-All-261374.shtml Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center (JHKCC) investigators say that small amounts of two epigenetic drugs could be used to reprogram cancer cells, helping to cure tumors. These chemicals were thought to be way too toxic for use on humans at first, but the team developed a way to make them safe.

Both azacitidine and decitabine are e... (read more)]]> Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:01:02 GMT Softpedia News - Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Two-Toxic-Cancer-Drugs-May-Be-Used-on-Humans-After-All-261374.shtml Microbiology/Genetics http://news.softpedia.com/news/Two-Toxic-Cancer-Drugs-May-Be-Used-on-Humans-After-All-261374.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Tudor Vieru)