Category Archives: Human Genetics

Heidi Richmond walks her dog, Grizz, who is being treated with the canine melanoma vaccine. The medication is a form of immunotherapy, teaching the dog's immune system to fight the cancer. Ray Boone, Deseret News MURRAY The lifelong bonding between humans and dogs is eloquent. Dogs are loved as members of families. And just like family members, when they become ill, owners want them to have the best medical care. It appears dogs and humans are much more alike genetically than was originally believed, and what's saving their lives could save human lives as well. In fact, researchers are "going to the dogs," so to speak, to form a unique partnership. At Cottonwood Animal Hospital in Murray, Heidi Richmond's dog "Grizz" is being treated with a vaccine that's a form of immunotherapy. The treatment is approved only for oral melanomas in dogs, but designed from human genetics. Veterinarian Nathan Cox said this kind of match-up intrigues researchers. "The genetics of cancer in dogs is very similar to what it is in people," Cox said, "and that allows us a baseline to be able to study cancer in an alternate species." With traditional therapy, a dog with melanoma undergoes surgery or … Continue reading →

Dogs, humans attack cancer together By Ed Yeates September 18th, 2014 @ 7:02pm SALT LAKE CITY It appears dogs and humans are much more alike genetically than we believed, and what's saving their lives could save our lives as well. In fact, researchers are "going to the dogs," so to speak, to form a unique partnership. And why shouldn't they? The lifelong bonding between humans and dogs is eloquent. We love them as members of our families. Their loyalty to us is boundless. And now, that bond goes much deeper. At Cottonwood Animal Hospital, Heidi Richmond's dog Grizz is being treated with a vaccine that's a form of immunotherapy. The treatment is approved only for oral melanomas in dogs, but designed from human genetics. Veterinarian Nathan Cox says this kind of match-up intrigues researchers. "The genetics of cancer in dogs is very similar to what it is in people, " he said. "That allows us a baseline to be able to study cancer in an alternate species." For Grizz and other dogs with cancer this human genetic product is different enough to trigger an immune response but similar enough to the dogs own melanoma to cross react training the immune … Continue reading →

Human Genetics DNA and RNA.mp4 Table of Contents: 00:00 - Methylation and acetylation 01:30 - Who's in control? 01:32 - What is DNA and RNA? 02:45 - How do DNA and RNA differ? 03:56 - How ... By: Marc Reynolds … Continue reading →

A team of international scientists have found 10 genes with high levels of mutations which they believe could lead to intellectual disabilities including autism. Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Adelaide, Dr Jozef Gecz, said the landmark study was essentially looking for patterns and genetic mutations. "This work really maps a map of a human genome, starting from about 29,000 children with these disabilities, and about 20,000 controls," he said. The team, including scientists from Australia, set out to find genetic mutations that lead to common intellectual disabilities, including autism and language problems. "We look at the differences which are consistent, and of course, statistically, mathematically, significant," Professor Gecz said. "And then the group at the University of Washington in Seattle actually interrogates a selected number of genes, in this case about 26, for next level possible mutations, to see whether there were differences." The team found 10 genes with high levels of mutations, which they believe could lead to intellectual disabilities that present differently in each case. "What it tells us is that these genes for autism, learning disability, and perhaps some of the psychiatric problems, or behavioural problems, are actually the same - they just may … Continue reading →

A team of international scientists have found 10 genes with high levels of mutations which they believe could lead to intellectual disabilities including autism. Professor of Human Genetics at the University of Adelaide, Dr Jozef Gecz, said the landmark study was essentially looking for patterns and genetic mutations. "This work really maps a map of a human genome, starting from about 29,000 children with these disabilities, and about 20,000 controls," he said. The team, including scientists from Australia, set out to find genetic mutations that lead to common intellectual disabilities, including autism and language problems. "We look at the differences which are consistent, and of course, statistically, mathematically, significant," Professor Gecz said. "And then the group at the University of Washington in Seattle actually interrogates a selected number of genes, in this case about 26, for next level possible mutations, to see whether there were differences." The team found 10 genes with high levels of mutations, which they believe could lead to intellectual disabilities that present differently in each case. "What it tells us is that these genes for autism, learning disability, and perhaps some of the psychiatric problems, or behavioural problems, are actually the same - they just may … Continue reading →

Google has a mission to organize the worlds information and make it accessible to everyone. The companyis mostly known for its search engine and the largest mobile operating system, but you may not be aware that Google is also heavily involved in the life sciences sector. Google has invested in a number of biotech and life science companies through its venture capital arm, Google Ventures. Lift Labs Yesterday, Google acquired Lift Labs. Lift Labs is a company that has built a high-tech device handle, which can stabilize what is being held using an attachable spoon or fork. This type of device benefits someone that has Parkinsons Disease or Essential tremor (ET). The Lift Labs team is joining the Life Sciences division at Google[x], which is a skunkworks lab led by Google co-founder Sergey Brin. DNAnexus DNAnexus is a DNA sequencing data software company that works with several genome sequencing organizations to better understand human genetics contributing to heart disease and aging.Last year, DNAnexus partnered with Baylor College of Medicine to process 3,751 whole human genomes and 10,771 exomes. DNAnexus uses Amazon Web Services cloud computing to sequence DNA data and store it.GoogleVentures invested in DNAnexus$15 million Series B and $15 … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise New York, NYSeptember 9, 2014Led by Itsik Peer, associate professor of computer science at Columbia Engineering, a team of researchers has created a data resource that will improve genomic research in the Ashkenazi Jewish population and lead to more effective personalized medicine. The team, which includes experts from 11 labs in the New York City area and Israel, focused on the Ashkenazi Jewish population because of its demographic history of genetic isolation and the resulting abundance of population-specific mutations and high prevalence of rare genetic disorders. The Ashkenazi Jewish population has played an important role in human genetics, with notable successes in gene mapping as well as prenatal and cancer screening. The study was published online on Nature Communications today. Our study is the first full DNA sequence dataset available for Ashkenazi Jewish genomes, says Peer, who is also a co-chair of the Health Analytics Center at Columbias Institute for Data Sciences and Engineering, as well as a member of its Foundations of Data Science Center. With this comprehensive catalog of mutations present in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, we will be able to more effectively map disease genes onto the genome and … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 2-Sep-2014 Contact: Nalini Padmanabhan press@ashg.org 301-634-7346 American Society of Human Genetics BETHESDA, MD - The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have named Katherine D. Blizinsky, PhD, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University in Chicago, the newest ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Public Policy Fellow. The 16-month appointment begins today. The Genetics and Public Policy Fellowship is intended to help early-career genetics professionals develop and implement genetics-related health and research policy at a national level. Fellows in the program gain policy experience in diverse settings by completing rotations in the non-profit science advocacy sector at ASHG, in the executive branch at NHGRI, and in the legislative branch as a staff member on Capitol Hill. ASHG and NHGRI have jointly sponsored the fellowship since 2002. Dr. Blizinsky has served in various genetics research roles since 2008, studying varying topics in the areas of psychiatric neurogenetics and genomics, gene-environment coevolution of psychiatric susceptibility, and imaging genetics of neurological and psychiatric conditions. She received the Sage Bionetworks Young Investigator Award in 2012 and co-founded Science Policy Initiative Northwestern, an organization that fosters science policy dialogue in the university … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 2-Sep-2014 Contact: Nalini Padmanabhan press@ashg.org 301-634-7346 American Society of Human Genetics BETHESDA, MD The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, have named Elizabeth P. Tuck, MA, Upper School Science Teacher at The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio, the first ASHG/NHGRI Genetics and Education Fellow. The 16-month appointment begins today. The Genetics and Education Fellowship is intended to help early-career genetics professionals expand their skills, experience, and network to prepare for a career in genetics education. Fellows in the program will complete rotations at both sponsoring organizations in areas that may include curriculum development, education research, faculty professional development, public education and outreach, and science education policy. Ms. Tuck has served in various roles related to science education since 2008, including teaching high school biology, developing biotechnology and neuroscience curricula for underserved youth, and organizing science caf events for teenagers. She has also conducted laboratory research at the undergraduate and graduate levels, focusing on the genetics and cellular mechanisms underlying neurological diseases. "With her background in both laboratory genetics research and science education, Ms. Tuck is exceptionally well-qualified to take advantage of the … Continue reading →

Human Genetics - The Complexity of Living Cells Debunks Evolution. Dr Mark Harwood explains human genetics and the probabilities of life evolving from nothing. By: Max Bauer … Continue reading →