Genetic regions influencing male sexual orientation identified
... one of the two sex chromosomes, the present study examined all 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes in addition to the X chromosome. The other sex chromosome, called Y, was not explored because it is not believed to contain many genes. Identical stretches of DNA on three chromosomes -- chromosomes 7, 8 and 10 --......ournal of Clinical Investigation. The researchers examined pancreatic b cells from mice with a naturally mutated, nonfunctioning form of Rab27a a protein involved in vesicle trafficking and showed that mutant cells have a defect in docking of insulin-containing vesicles onto the cell membrane and diminishe...Rush physicians using gene therapy for heart patients with moderate to severe chest pains
... treatment, patients enrolled in the study will be examined for chest pain at one month, three months and six months. A total of 404 patients will be enrolled in the study at the 20 study sites across the country....Assessment of recent rapid land-cover change yields portraits of global human impact
...iversity of Louvain in Belgium and six co-authors, examined forest-cover changes, degraded lands in dry regions (often referred to as desertification), cropland expansion and abandonment, and urban settlements. The assessment is based on data compiled from remote sensing and censuses as well as expert opinion...Research using mouse models reveals a novel key player in the initiation of colon cancer
... to arise in 1/3rd of the normal time. The authors examined the integrity of the APC gene in these tumor cells and found that more than ninety per cent of the tumors had lost the normal copy of the APC gene and now were completely deficient. What is the significance of these results on understanding the init...'Man the Hunter' theory is debunked in new book
...We wanted evidence, not just theory. We thoroughly examined literature available on the skulls, bones, footprints and on environmental evidence, both of our hominid ancestors and the predators that coexisted with them." Since the process of human evolution is so long and varied, Sussman and Hart decided to f...Asthma gene clusters identified
...identifying an imminent asthma attack. Researchers examined 54,675 genes. They discovered eight gene clusters in all, consisting of 161 genes. At least one cluster was identified that was comprised of genes active in acute asthma, but not stable asthma. They also identified gene clusters that were active in s...Experimental domestication of foxes yields clues to cognitive evolution
...niversity and the Russian Academy of Science, have examined the effect of domestication on the social intelligence of foxes in order to address this question of how social problem solving evolves. Recently, it was found that during domestication dogs evolved an unusual ability to communicate with humans: dogs...Research news from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University
...Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts, examined dietary factors in relation to osteoporosis and uncovered a positive association between vitamin B12 and bone health. In other words, the authors conclude that vitamin B12 deficiency may be an important modifiable risk factor for osteoporosis. "Oste...Research focusing on why estrogenic hormones produce differing results
...the soy phytoestrogens genestein and daidzein were examined and compared in uterine, mammary and bone cell lines. The researchers found vast differences based on the four regions. "The model has always been that the estrogen receptor binds to DNA to activate transcription, but now we show that that's not alwa...Scientists document complex genomic events leading to the birth of new genes
...gent from those of RanBP2, Bork and his co-workers examined the subcellular localization of one of the RGP-family isoforms. In contrast to RanBP2, which is found exclusively at the nuclear envelope, this RGP-family protein was detected in discrete cytoplasmic locations, thereby confirming its functional dive...Study methods, strains of Pfiesteria are both critical in determining organism's toxicity
...without direct exposure to Pfiesteria. These tests examined whether direct contact with Pfiesteria was needed to cause death, and whether fish could become sick or die without direct contact with Pfiesteria. FMAs had been proposed by other scientists as useful tests for ruling out the presence of toxic Pfies...Mouse model of leukemia yields exciting therapeutic implications for rare childhood cancer
...Brigham and Women's Hospital and Emory University, examined the effect of Shp2 mutants on bone marrow and blood cell proliferation. Leukemia-associated Shp2 mutations caused a fatal leukemia in mice that resembled JMML. The leukemia-associated Shp2 mutants were much more likely to transform bone marrow cells...Findings suggests that blocking estrogen may be crucial to lung cancer survival
...gy at the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues examined methods to block the action of estrogen in human l...t of pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh, examined the effect of estrogen on the expression of genes in lung cancer cells. Using gene arrays, Dr. Hersh...Other highlights in the February 16 JNCI
... Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues examined the reproducibility of the proteomic pattern found in a previous study from a researcher at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, that used publicly available ovarian cancer datasets produced by Lance A. Liotta, M.D., Ph.D., of the National ...Singers (and parents) take note: Worst songbird rehearsals precede best debuts
...oratory who participated in the research The study examined the effect of sleep on song learning in young zebra finches. Individuals of this species are active in the daytime, do not sing in darkness, and develop their song during a critical window of brain "plasticity" between one and three months after hatc...Mechanical tension helps shape lung development
...g bud formation was reduced by more than half when examined 48 hours later. When treated with agents that activate Rho and promote cytoskeletal contraction, budding increased. The agents had similar effects on the growth and development of nearby capillary blood vessels, which must grow in tandem with lung ti...Tips from the Journals of the American Society for Microbiology
...ositive for the virus were healthy when physically examined so it remains unclear as to whether or not the virus is pathogenic in bats. "Here, we report the identification of a novel bat coronavirus," say the researchers. "It is not known whether this virus would cause zoonotic disease in humans or other an......entific research are legally sold as food, Palumbi examined variations in mitochondrial DNA from individual whales. He was amazed at their genetic variation an indicator of the past size of their population. Piecing together their ancient family trees, he has discovered that the Antarctic population of minke......ture.com/ng/ . "This is the first time anyone has examined methylation in leukemia on a genome-wide basis in a mouse, and the findings offer important implications for patient care, since we know that methylation, which alters gene function, can be reversed," says Christoph Plass, senior co-author and a memb...