Daily Archives: June 10, 2013

A Patent on DNA? Top Court to Rule

Posted: June 10, 2013 at 2:43 pm

Can someone else patent your genes? The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule some time this month on that question a suit filed against Myriad Genetics for its patent on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which raise the risk of breast, ovarian and certain other cancers.

Opponents of patenting human DNA say a ruling in favor of Myriad will mean companies can own your genes, even though experts say it's more complicated than that. The patents set off a cascade of effects, opponents argue: it gives the company a monopoly on the test that can identify whether patients have the BRCA mutations so other companies can't offer their own tests as a second opinion. There's also no one to compete with the Myriad's $3,000 price tag on the test.

Myriad has long argued that it's not patenting anyone's genes. Instead, the company says, it separates them from the rest of the DNA and creates lab-made copies and that's what is patented and used in the test. The company has also licensed a few medical centers to run second-opinion tests.

But some say that regardless of how the court decides, it's likely the average person won't really be affected in any obvious, immediate way. Myriad's first 20-year patent on the genes runs out next year, although patent experts say the company has a variety of opportunities to extend that by a few years.

(Read More: Crick LetterRevealing DNA Sells for $6 Million)

"Even if the patents are thrown out today, that doesn't make the test available" since it would take time for other companies to develop a test, said John Conley, a law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who's taken a special interest in the case. "The patents are going to expire before any competitors could come into the field anyway.

"This case would have been a lot more important had it been decided 10 or 12 years ago," he added. "A lot of things have happened in law and science since then."

The science has now moved far beyond the clunky, whole-gene sequencing method that Myriad uses so it's becoming less relevant. Companies can now sequence your entire genome for you, and in a few years they might even be able to interpret the information in a meaningful way.

Others are working from the opposite end breaking the DNA sequences up into smaller, more digestible bits for analysis.

Myriad, the University of Utah and the U.S. government's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences filed an application for the first patent on the BRCA gene mutations in 1994. The Patent and Trademark Office granted the patent on BRCA1 mutations in 1997. Another patent, on BRCA2, was granted in 1998.

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DNA tracer for school laptops

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A DNA test to determine a stolen laptop's rightful owner? It could happen in Timaru.

South Canterbury schools now have the option to use DNA sequence technology as a way of marking ownership of their computers and other valuable property.

The programme, a collaboration among police, CrimeStoppers and the company SelectaDNA, allows schools to swab valuables with a small amount of solution that is invisible to the naked eye, but can be detected using a special light.

Each school receives a kit with a DNA sequence unique to that institution. If recovered property is found to be marked with the DNA solution, police can send the item away for a forensic analysis to identify its owner.

"We're asking schools to encourage their staff to put this into use," Constable Michael Donaldson said. "It's just another way for the community to get involved in the fight against crime."

Schools are also encouraged to post signs showing that the technology is in use in order to deter would-be thieves.

Representatives from about 12 Timaru and Temuka schools turned up at the Timaru police station yesterday to receive their kits and learn how to use the technology.

Mr Donaldson said he was pleased with the turnout, but "we're trying to get all South Canterbury schools on board."

SelectaDNA was trialled in Auckland schools and, after its implementation, police there saw a significant drop in crime rates, a company representative said.

The kits, valued at $150 each, will be distributed to schools throughout the South Island through funding provided by sponsor BNZ.

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How to Sequence a Genome 1 Mapping – A-Level (A2) Biology – Video

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How to Sequence a Genome 1 Mapping - A-Level (A2) Biology
For A Level Biology, suited for Unit 5 of the OCR exam board.

By: ocrbiologya2

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Duck genome provides new insight into fighting bird flu

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June 9, 2013 The duck genome consortium, consisted of scientists from China Agricultural University, BGI, University of Edinburgh and other institutes has completed the genome sequencing and analysis of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos), one principal natural host of influenza A viruses, which caused a new epidemic in China since this February. This work reveals some noteworthy conclusions and provides an invaluable resource for unraveling the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses.

The new H7N9 bird flu strain killed 36 people and caused $6.5 billion loss to China's economy. As a natural host of influenza A viruses (including H5N1), the duck is known to often remain asymptomatic under influenza infection. To uncover the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses, researchers sequenced the genome of a 10-week-old female Beijing duck, and conducted transcriptomic studies on two virus-infected ducks.

This work yielded the draft sequence of a waterfowl-duck for the first time, and the data indicated that the duck, like the chicken and zebra finch, possessed a contractive immune gene repertoire comparing to those in mammals, and it also comprises novel genes that are not present in the other three birds (chicken, zebra finch and turkey).

By comparing gene expression in the lungs of ducks infected with either highly or weakly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses, the team identified genes whose expression patterns were altered in response to avian influenza viruses. They also identify factors that may be involved in duck host immune response to avian virus infection, including the avian and mammalian -defensin gene families.

Jianwen Li, project manager from BGI, said, "This study provides very important data to better understand the interaction between the host and the avian influenza. Scientists will be able to explore more deeply the mechanisms on the spread and infection of avian influenza."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by BGI Shenzhen.

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The duck genome provides new insight into fighting bird flu

Posted: at 2:43 pm

Public release date: 9-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jia Liu liujia@genomics.cn BGI Shenzhen

Shenzhen, China - The duck genome consortium, consisted of scientists from China Agricultural University, BGI, University of Edinburgh and other institutes has completed the genome sequencing and analysis of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos), one principal natural host of influenza A viruses. This work reveals some noteworthy conclusions and provides an invaluable resource for unraveling the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses.

The new H7N9 bird flu strain killed 36 people and caused $6.5 billion loss to China's economy. As a natural host of influenza A viruses (including H5N1), the duck is known to often remain asymptomatic under influenza infection. To uncover the interactive mechanisms between the host and influenza viruses, researchers sequenced the genome of a 10-week-old female Beijing duck, and conducted transcriptomic studies on two virus-infected ducks.

This work yielded the draft sequence of a waterfowl-duck for the first time, and the data indicated that the duck, like the chicken and zebra finch, possessed a contractive immune gene repertoire comparing to those in mammals, and it also comprises novel genes that are not present in the other three birds (chicken, zebra finch and turkey).

By comparing gene expression in the lungs of ducks infected with either highly or weakly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses, the team identified genes whose expression patterns were altered in response to avian influenza viruses. They also identify factors that may be involved in duck host immune response to avian virus infection, including the avian and mammalian -defensin gene families.

Jianwen Li, project manager from BGI, said, "This study provides very important data to better understand the interaction between the host and the avian influenza. Scientists will be able to explore more deeply the mechanisms on the spread and infection of avian influenza."

###

About BGI

BGI was founded in Beijing, China, in 1999 with the mission to become a premier scientific partner for the global research community. The goal of BGI is to make leading-edge genomic science highly accessible, which it achieves through its investment in infrastructure, leveraging the best available technology, economies of scale, and expert bioinformatics resources. BGI, and its affiliates, BGI Americas, headquartered in Cambridge, MA, and BGI Europe, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, have established partnerships and collaborations with leading academic and government research institutions as well as global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, supporting a variety of disease, agricultural, environmental, and related applications.

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Teenagers who spend time in the sun are 'significantly' less likely to develop hay fever and eczema

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Teens who spend four hours a day in sun have lower risk of both conditions Amount of time spent in sun at age eight does not affect allergy risk Isn't thought to be related to higher levels of 'sunshine vitamin', vitamin D Could be because UV exposure suppresses the immune system and inflammatory activities

By Emma Innes

PUBLISHED: 07:59 EST, 10 June 2013 | UPDATED: 07:59 EST, 10 June 2013

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Teenagers who spend more time outside in the sun have a lower risk of hay fever and eczema, according to a new study.

Those who spend more than four hours per day exposed to sunlight on summer days benefit from decreased rates of both conditions, Australian scientists found.

Higher sun exposure during summer holidays and summer weekends in adolescence was associated with significantly reduced eczema and rye grass positive rhinitis, they wrote.

Teenagers who spend more than four hours per summer day outside in the sun have a lower risk of developing hay fever and eczema but scientists do not know why this is

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LIBERATE DE LA PSORIASIS PARA SIEMPRE CON ESTE TRATAMIENTO – Video

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LIBERATE DE LA PSORIASIS PARA SIEMPRE CON ESTE TRATAMIENTO
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¿BUSCAS UNA CURA PARA TU PSORIASIS? – Video

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BUSCAS UNA CURA PARA TU PSORIASIS?
http://curaparalapsoriasis.ytaev.biz larr; EL UNICO TRATAMIENTO NATURAL PARA CURAR LA PSORIASIS QUE EXISTE Y QUE REALMENTE FUNCIONA!!! Usted ha sido an capaz...

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Research and Markets: Global Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline Capsule – 2013

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/55snsq/global_plaque) has announced the addition of the "Global Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline Capsule - 2013" report to their offering.

Fore Pharma's latest report Global Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline Capsule - 2013' provides up-to-date information on key Research and Development (R&D) activities in the global plaque psoriasis market. It covers active plaque psoriasis pipeline molecules in clinical trials, preclinical research, and drug discovery.

This report helps executives track competitor pipeline molecules. The pipeline data presented in this report can be used for identifying partners, evaluating opportunities, formulating business development strategies, and executing in-licensing and out-licensing deals.

The scope of the report includes information on plaque psoriasis pipeline molecules by clinical trial stages, company, mechanism of action, and country (The US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, and Rest of the World). Plaque psoriasis pipeline molecules licensing activities are also covered in this report.

Key Topics Covered

1. Plaque Psoriasis - Disease Overview

2. Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline Overview

3. Plaque Psoriasis Pipeline by Geography

4. Plaque Psoriasis Phase 3 Clinical Trial Pipeline Insights

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Defying censorship, the reporter who exposed the killings

Posted: at 2:42 pm

In 1984, Brahma Chellaney was a 27-year old correspondent for the wire service, Associated Press. He had managed to defy the media blackout in the summer of 1984 to stay on in Amritsar, becoming the only foreign correspondent to cover Operation Blue Star.

His story, front-paged in major international publications like The Times of London on June 14 that year, reported that over 1200 people militants, civilians and security personnel had died during the operation. This was double the official figures. Mr. Chellaney also highlighted the presence of sophisticated weapons in the arsenal of the militants.

But the second element which angered the establishment was the claim in the report that several young Sikhs had been shot, with their hands tied behind their backs. The report quoted medical sources, who had conducted the post-mortem.

Mr. Chellaneys report was used only in the foreign press, and AP claimed that given the censorship, it had taken steps to ensure that the report did not appear in Indian media. Similar reports were to be published in India Today and the Indian Express, among others, in the following weeks and months.

But the government was furious. It slammed preliminary charges of sedition, inciting communal discord and hatred, and violating press censorship on Mr. Chellaney. The police issued a warrant, searched his home, and visited AP offices. His passport was impounded, and press credentials not renewed. The case went to the Supreme Court, which instructed the police not to arrest him but asked Mr. Chellaney to cooperate in the investigations. He was to remain on temporary bail through the period, but was subjected to over 35 hours of interrogation. He was pressured to reveal his sources, which he refused to do, citing journalistic ethics and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press.

There was a backlash, both domestically and internationally. The AP Managing Editors Association asked the government to cease all proceedings, underway and contemplated against their correspondent, adding responsible Indian officials had corroborated the news dispatches. In an editorial, Truth on Trial, in October that year, The New York Times said Mr. Chellaney had provoked displeasure by doing his job too well, and what was at issue was not just censorship, but vindictiveness. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) protested the continued harassment of Mr. Chellaney.

In September 1985, the government finally dropped the charges, and renewed Mr. Chellaneys passport and press credentials. The New York Times lauded the decision, saying then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had written the right ending to the case where Mr. Chellaneys only offenses were enterprise and accuracy. Fresh revelations in a new documentary have only vindicated his story. He was travelling outside the country and did not offer comments on how he looked back at the episode, 29 years later.

Mr. Chellaney moved on from journalism to academia, and is now a well-known strategic affairs analyst.

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