Genetic variation helps to understand predisposition to schizophrenia
...genetic expression. Law and colleagues showed that alteration of the promoter in the genetic sequence linked to schizophrenia resulted in altered amounts of Neuregulin 1 type 4. For the first time, we have identified a promoter for the Neuregulin 1 gene and showed that the activity of that gene is altered b...Chickadee, nutchatch presence in conifers increases tree growth, says CU-Boulder study
...ne composition of pine tissues, said Linhart. The alteration of terpene "flavor" can have wide ranging effects, since terpenes influence decisions that creatures like bark beetles, porcupines and squirrels make when deciding which trees to eat, said Linhart. "Terpenes act a bit like an immune system by esse...Discovery in plant virus may help prevent HIV and similar viruses
..., blocking of one of the plant's genes caused some alteration of leaves, flowers and trichomes (tiny hairlike structures) and delayed flowering on the mutated plants, he said. In addition, mutant plants in which both genes were blocked died in the embryonic stage just as would an organism with only one gene. ...St. Jude study solves mystery of mammalian ears
...nses to sound. Results of the studies showed no alteration in hearing, which suggested that it did not matter whether the outer hair cells contracted or extended itself, that is, raised or lowered the cilia. There was no effect on amplification. The researchers concluded that somatic motility was not simply ...Research team discovers gallstone gene
...he medical researcher concludes that, "The genetic alteration probably makes the pump run permanently at high speed." The researchers now hope that their finding will have positive consequences for prevention and therapy. Professor Lammert thinks that, "It may be possible for certain patients to be helped wi...Psychiatric Genomics Center established at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
...omplex but the greatest contributing factor is the alteration in the DNA sequence of genes. For such complex psychiatric disorders, where it appears that rare gene variants might be involved, researchers must study as many patients as possible at the level of the individual base pairs of DNA. The new Center...Researchers discover inherited mutation for leukemia
...e off altogether, leading to leukemia. This latter alteration is a chemical change that is not inherited. The findings could help identify people at risk for chronic leukemia, but they also may provide new insights into the process of natural cell death. They may even lead to new strategies for treating the ...A nurse makes the decision on who will live
...a process called positive selection). The genetic alteration in the animals studied results in female mice whose thymocytes undergo positive selection, exclusively, while all thymocytes in male mice are negatively selected. If thymic nurse cells only internalize thymocytes that will be killed and removed, one...Gene analysis might explain ethnic differences in sensitivity to chemotherapy in lung cancer
...hism that involved shortening part of the gene, an alteration that causes the amount of EGFR to increase. East Asians with lung cancer also tended to have several effects occur on a single chromosome: the polymorphism that involves shortening of the gene, a spontaneous mutation that increases EGFR levels, and...Can a taste for poison drive speciation?
... the host toxins. The researchers conclude that an alteration in the expression pattern of the two genes produces this behavioral shift. In future experiments, the researchers plan to minimize the interaction of these two genes to understand their separate functions. Until then, it appears that D. sechellia's...Scientists identify a candidate gene for osteoporosis
...he DARC gene, they did not pinpoint the specific alteration that was responsible for the BMD differences between the two strains of mice. However, Mohan and his colleagues predict that changes in the amino acid sequence or alterations in regulatory regions of the DARC gene may lead to key functional change...Jefferson scientists uncover gene mutation that cuts colon polyps, may suppress cancer
... the development of intestinal tumors in mice. An alteration in the corresponding human gene, APC, is the first step in most cases of the development of colon polyps and the majority of colorectal cancers. It turns out that Atp5a1, which is crucial for the cells energy production, is also a modifier gene. M...CSHL scientists confirm genetic distinction between heritable and sporadic cases of autism
...that at least 10% of children with autism carry an alteration in their DNA that is not found in either parent, a much higher rate than is observed in healthy children. To date, most genetic studies of autism have focused on families with multiple autistic children. "Our findings suggest that sporadic autism is...Sphingolipids with therapeutic ends
...this important? Imagine a metabolic dysfunction or alteration that causes the growth of a tumour. Perhaps the advance of this can be detained by adding certain sphingolipids. We would then, in a way, be treating cancer. Today there are sphingolipids that are used in many clinical trials with very good results. ...Researchers find the mechanism by which cells resist chemotherapy
...er to repair them. The researchers also found that alteration of this mechanism makes tumour cells much more sensitive to certain drugs. This discovery will make it possible to develop strategies to make tumours more vulnerable to chemotherapy. One of the main mechanisms responsible for repairing mutations i...Single genetic defect causes early heart disease
...nt signaling pathwayor acquired defects that cause alteration of Wnt pathway activitymight commonly contribute to metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease," he said. Basic understanding of how the Wnt pathway malfunctions could lead to new treatments for coronary artery disease. "Although its a long way o...Major link in brain-obesity puzzle found
...eir SH2B1 restored in just their brains by genetic alteration did not experience this and in fact had less fat than normal mice. Since these mice lacked the ability to make SH2B1 in their fat cells, the authors suspect that fat-cell SH2B1 encourages the storing of fat. When they tested this theory, they fou......the pelagic and benthic character of the eggs. The alteration in the function (neo-functionalization) of one of the duplicated genes (paralogues) allowed its yolk protein products to be broken down to free amino acids and thus drive hydration of the maturing eggs. The timing of these events matches the appearan...Getting one's protein in a bunch -- When quality control fails in cells
...dified the protein. Further tests showed that this alteration left the modified enzymes incapable of preventing mistakes during protein production. "It revealed an essential function for this group of enzymes in hydrolysis," Ibba said. In related work, Ibba and other researchers have found that bacteria gro......ever, the destabilizer is released, triggering the alteration of microtubule structure and dynamics. Thus, microtubule dynamics change in response to a dramatic switch in the interactions of a set of proteins....