Daily Archives: October 18, 2013

Weird space cloud spotted outside space station

Posted: October 18, 2013 at 9:48 am

NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins tweeted photos of a weird looking cloud in space. It was a Russian missile launched in space, according to Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Astronauts on the International Space Station have beamed home photos of an eerie space cloud outside their orbital home, a strange sight apparently created by a recent missile launch.

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The astronaut photos were captured on Oct. 10 by NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano whotook to Twitter under their pen names (@AstroIllini and @astro_luca, respectively) to share the unnatural looking space cloud formation with Earth.

"Saw something launch into space today," Hopkins wrote. "Not sure what it was but the cloud it left behind was pretty amazing." At first, Hopkins wasn't sure what created the odd looking cloud outside the window of the orbiting laboratory, but Parmitano cleared up the confusion with a Twitter post of his own. [Amazing Space Photos by Astronaut Luca Parmitano]

"A missile launch seen from space: an unexpected surprise!" Parmitano wrote in a post on Oct. 11. One of the Italian astronaut's photos shows a curving contrail left in the missile's wake and another features a wispy cloud formed in space after the missile disintegrated.

Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces launched the missile, according to a blog post on RussianForces.org. The Topol/SS-25 missile launched from Kapustin Yar to the Sary Shagan test site in Kazakhstan.

"According to a representative of the Rocket Forces, the test was used to confirm characteristics of the Topol missile, to test the systems of the Sary Shagan test site, and 'to test new combat payload for intercontinental ballistic missiles,'" RussianForces.org wrote on Oct. 10.

Russia also conducted a similar test from Kapustin Yar to Sary Shagan in June 2012, RussiaForces.org said.

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Weird space cloud spotted outside space station

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MARC travel awards announced for the 2013 American Society for Human Genetics meeting

Posted: at 9:47 am

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

17-Oct-2013

Contact: Gail Pinder gpinder@faseb.org 301-634-7021 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Bethesda, MD FASEB MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) Program has announced the travel award recipients for the 2013 American Society for Human Genetics (ASHG) annual meeting in Boston, MA from October 22-26, 2013. These awards are meant to promote the entry of students, postdoctorates and scientists from underrepresented groups into the mainstream of the basic science community and to encourage the participation of young scientists at the ASHG annual meeting.

Awards are given to poster/platform presenters and faculty mentors paired with the students/trainees they mentor. This year MARC conferred 21 awards totaling $38,850.

The FASEB MARC Program is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health. A primary goal of the MARC Program is to increase the number and competitiveness of underrepresented minorities engaged in biomedical and behavioral research.

POSTER/ORAL PRESENTERS (FASEB MARC PROGRAM)

Elinette Albino, Ponce School of Medicine [ASBMB member] Kinsley Belle, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine [ASHG member] Randi Burns, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor Monique Courtenay, University of Miami [ASHG member] Michael Gonzalez, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine [ASHG member] Wenndy Hernandez, University of Chicago James Hicks, University of Miami [ASHG member] Crystal Humphries, University of Miami [ASHG member] Catherine Igartua, University of Chicago Latifa Jackson, Drexel University [ASHG member] Janina Jeff, Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai [ASHG member] Danjuma Quarless, University of California, San Diego [ASHG member] Nicole Restrepo, Vanderbilt University [ASHG member] Ronnie Sebro, University of California, San Francisco [ASHG member] Hira Shabbir, University of Florida Krystal Tsosie, Vanderbilt University [ASHG member] Virginia Ware, Northern Arizona University Marquitta White, Vanderbilt University [ASHG member]

FACULTY/MENTOR & STUDENTS/MENTEES (FASEB MARC PROGRAM)

Dr. Nadeem Fazal, Chicago State University [ASHG member] Osayi Ikponmwosa, Chicago State University Mohammed Diabor, Chicago State University

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MARC travel awards announced for the 2013 American Society for Human Genetics meeting

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Angiochem to Present at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 Annual Meeting

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MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Angiochem, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing drugs that are uniquely capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), today announced that an abstract on its Angiopep-2 (An2) conjugate technology has been selected for presentation at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2013 Annual Meeting being held October 22-26, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts.

These data demonstrate the ability of Angiochem technology to create proteins that can access the CNS; a key attribute for enzyme replacement therapy, commented Jean E. Lachowicz, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Angiochem Inc. We are applying this approach to an enzyme associated with mucopolysaccharidosis to create a brain-penetrant enzyme replacement therapy that will address neurological symptoms.

Poster Presentation:

(Abstract/Poster #2288F): Friday, October 25, 2013, 11:30-12:30 p.m. ET, Fusion with Angiopep-2 to create proteins that cross the blood-brain barrier and are taken up into cells, Jean E. Lachowicz, Ph.D., Therapy for Genetic Disorders Session, Convention Center, Exhibit Hall, Level 1.

About Angiochem

Angiochem is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing new breakthrough peptide drug conjugates that leverage the LRP-1 mediated pathwayto cross the BBB to treat neurological diseases. These new compounds have the potential to address significant medical needs, many of which are insurmountable due to the fundamental physiological challenge posed by the BBB.

Angiochem is developing a focused product pipeline, including small molecules and biologics, for the potential treatment of a wide range of CNS diseases, including primary brain cancer, brain metastases, lysosomal storage diseases and pain. Founded in 2003, Angiochem maintains headquarters in Montreal, Canada. For additional information about the Company, please visit http://www.angiochem.com.

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Angiochem to Present at the American Society of Human Genetics 2013 Annual Meeting

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Rosetta Genomics' Announces Poster Presentation at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting 2013

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PRINCETON, NJ and REHOVOT, ISRAEL--(Marketwired - Oct 17, 2013) - Rosetta Genomics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ROSG), a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announces that the Company's Cancer Origin Test will be highlighted in a poster presentation at the upcoming American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting 2013 (ASHG 2013) taking place October 22-26 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, Mass.

Poster presenters will be available October 23rd from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and posters will be available for viewing beginning October 23rd at 10:30 a.m. until October 25th at 2:00 p.m. The following poster highlighting Rosetta Genomics' Cancer Origin Test will be presented at ASHG 2013:

Prediction of the risk of cancer in families, genetic testing, counseling and other options are heavily dependent upon accurate diagnosis of cancers that have occurred in other family members. When a deceased relative's medical records are incomplete or inaccurate in any way, appropriate counseling and decision-making is impaired. Relatives of patients who die from cancers of unknown or uncertain primary (CUP), which occurs in over 3-5% of all cancers, are particularly challenged in accurately assessing their cancer risk.

Molecular profiling with Rosetta's microRNA-based Cancer Origin Test has been shown to effectively identify the underlying tumor type in CUP cases, and allows for more accurate identification of potentially unrecognized genetic risks, or the correct assessment when risk might otherwise have been over-estimated by the family or their genetic counselors. As microRNA has been shown to be particularly stable in FFPE preserved tumor blocks for over 10-years, archival material analysis of a deceased relative's cancer when CUP or uncertain results confounded a pedigree is now possible with this assay.

The poster presentation highlights a study outlining the findings in a population of deceased CUP patients. The study demonstrated the frequency with which the results might impact the cancer risk assessment in their family if this test were not utilized to resolve the uncertainty of the actual cancer diagnosis of the deceased CUP patient. The study concluded that, "microRNA profiling in CUP patients has an incrementally important clinical utility in uncovering previously unknown or inaccurate genetic risks associated with specific cancer diagnoses in at least one-third of cases, potentially directing specific genetic testing for relatives."

"The Cancer Origin Test may be of importance in clarifying the disease pedigree for families with a history of CUP seeking information on their genetic risk of cancer. Our findings showed a high frequency of breast, ovarian and colon cancers, including significant numbers of male breast cancers in the CUP population, which clearly indicates that pedigrees with unresolved diagnoses from CUP cases could be highly informative if the Cancer Origin Test is applied," said Dr. Wassman. "In addition, our identification of exceedingly rare cancers with high genetic risks in families further highlights the value of this testing."

About the American Society of Human Genetics Annual MeetingThe ASHG Annual Meeting is the largest human genetics meeting and exposition in the world. ASHG 213 is expected to attract over 6,500 scientific attendees, plus nearly 200 exhibiting companies. ASHG members and leading scientists from around the world are selected to present their research findings at invited, platform, and poster sessions. Abstracts of work submitted for presentation at the Annual Meeting are published online. ASHG's Annual Meeting also features a trade show floor that offers attendees the opportunity to view state-of-the-art medical and laboratory equipment, products, services, and computer software designed to enhance human genetics research, teaching, and consultation.

About Rosetta Cancer Testing Services Rosetta Cancer Tests are a series of microRNA-based diagnostic testing services offered by Rosetta Genomics. The Rosetta Cancer Origin Test can accurately identify the primary tumor type in primary and metastatic cancer including cancer of unknown or uncertain primary (CUP). The Rosetta Mesothelioma Test diagnoses mesothelioma, a cancer connected to asbestos exposure. The Rosetta Lung Cancer Test accurately identifies the four main subtypes of lung cancer using small amounts of tumor cells. The Rosetta Kidney Cancer Test accurately classifies the four most common kidney tumors: clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC and the benign oncocytoma. Rosetta's assays are designed to provide objective diagnostic data; it is the treating physician's responsibility to diagnose and administer the appropriate treatment. In the U.S. alone, Rosetta Genomics estimates that 200,000 patients a year may benefit from the Cancer Origin Test, 60,000 from the Mesothelioma Test, 65,000 from the Kidney Cancer Test and 226,000 patients from the Lung Cancer Test. The Company's assays are offered directly by Rosetta Genomics in the U.S., and through distributors around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.rosettagenomics.com. Parties interested in ordering the test can contact Rosetta Genomics at (215) 382-9000 ext. 309.

About Rosetta GenomicsRosetta develops and commercializes a full range of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics. Founded in 2000, Rosetta's integrative research platform combining bioinformatics and state-of-the-art laboratory processes has led to the discovery of hundreds of biologically validated novel human microRNAs. Building on its strong patent position and proprietary platform technologies, Rosetta is working on the application of these technologies in the development and commercialization of a full range of microRNA-based diagnostic tools. Rosetta's cancer testing services are commercially available through its Philadelphia-based CAP-accredited, CLIA-certified lab. Frost & Sullivan recognized Rosetta Genomics with the 2012 North American Next Generation Diagnostics Entrepreneurial Company of the Year Award.

Forward-Looking Statement DisclaimerVarious statements in this release concerning Rosetta's future expectations, plans and prospects, including without limitation, Rosetta's Cancer of Origin Test, the Cancer Origin Test improving the ability of physicians to accurately diagnose CUP, the Cancer Origin Test's ability to help physicians to optimize treatment, Rosetta's development or commercialization of molecular diagnostics, the market acceptance of Rosetta's cancer testing services, particularly the Cancer Origin Test, the clinical utility of microRNA profiling in CUP patients in uncovering previously unknown or inaccurate genetic risks associated with specific cancer, the possible importance of the Cancer Origin Test in clarifying the pedigree in families seeking information on their genetic risk of cancer and the value of such testing constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including those risks more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of Rosetta's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the SEC. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent Rosetta's views only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Rosetta does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements unless required by law.

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Rosetta Genomics' Announces Poster Presentation at the American Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting 2013

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Maury: 2 of My Kids Died… Will I Lose Another to DNA? (2008) – Video

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Maury: 2 of My Kids Died... Will I Lose Another to DNA? (2008)
J.R. vs. Erica.

By: therazorsedge28

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Maury: 2 of My Kids Died... Will I Lose Another to DNA? (2008) - Video

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Yeti DNA linked to ancient polar bear

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A British geneticist says he may have solved the mystery of the yeti, after matching DNA from two animals said to be the mythical beast to an ancient polar bear.

'We have found an exact genetic match between two samples from the Himalayas and the ancient polar bear,' said Bryan Sykes, emeritus professor at Oxford University, on Thursday.

There have for centuries been legends about hairy, ape-like creatures, also known as 'migoi' in the Himalayas, 'bigfoot' in North America and 'almasty' in the Caucasus mountains.

The myth was given credence when explorer Eric Shipton returned from his 1951 expedition to Everest with photographs of giant footprints in the snow.

Eyewitness accounts have since fuelled speculation that the creatures may be related to humans, but Sykes believes they are likely to be bear hybrids.

He made a global appeal last year for samples from suspected yeti sightings and received about 70, of which 27 gave good DNA results. These were then compared with other animals' genomes stored on a database.

Two hair samples came up trumps - one from a beast shot in the Kashmiri region of Ladakh 40 years ago and the other found in Bhutan a decade ago.

'In the Himalayas, I found the usual sorts of bears and other creatures amongst the collection,' Sykes told BBC radio, ahead of the broadcast of a TV program about his findings.

'But the particularly interesting ones are the ones whose genetic fingerprints are linked not to the brown bears or any other modern bears, (but) to an ancient polar bear.'

The DNA from the Himalayan samples was a 100 per cent match with a sample from a polar bear jawbone found in Svalbard in Norway, dating back between 40,000 and 120,000 years.

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DNA testing suggests elusive Yeti could be a polar bear hybrid roaming the Himalayas

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LONDON A British scientist says he may have solved the mystery of the Abominable Snowman the elusive ape-like creature of the Himalayas. He thinks it's a bear.

DNA analysis conducted by Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes suggests the creature, also known as the Yeti, is the descendant of an ancient polar bear.

Sykes compared DNA from hair samples taken from two Himalayan animals identified by local people as Yetis to a database of animal genomes. He found they shared a genetic fingerprint with a polar bear jawbone found in the Norwegian Arctic that is at least 40,000 years old.

Sykes said Thursday that the tests showed the creatures were not related to modern Himalayan bears but were direct descendants of the prehistoric animal.

- Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes

He said, "it may be a new species, it may be a hybrid" between polar bears and brown bears.

"The next thing is go there and find one."

Sykes put out a call last year for museums, scientists and Yeti aficionados to share hair samples thought to be from the creature.

One of the samples he analyzed came from an alleged Yeti mummy in the Indian region of Ladakh, at the Western edge of the Himalayas, and was taken by a French mountaineer who was shown the corpse 40 years ago.

The other was a single hair found a decade ago in Bhutan, 800 miles to the east.

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DNA testing suggests elusive Yeti could be a polar bear hybrid roaming the Himalayas

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DNA Links Mysterious Yeti to Ancient Polar Bear

Posted: at 9:46 am

A British scientist says he may have solved the mystery of the Abominable Snowman the elusive ape-like creature of the Himalayas. He thinks it's a bear.

DNA analysis conducted by Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes suggests the creature, also known as the Yeti, is the descendant of an ancient polar bear.

Sykes compared DNA from hair samples taken from two Himalayan animals identified by local people as Yetis to a database of animal genomes. He found they shared a genetic fingerprint with a polar bear jawbone found in the Norwegian Arctic that is at least 40,000 years old.

Sykes said Thursday that the tests showed the creatures were not related to modern Himalayan bears but were direct descendants of the prehistoric animal.

He said, "it may be a new species, it may be a hybrid" between polar bears and brown bears.

"The next thing is go there and find one."

Sykes put out a call last year for museums, scientists and Yeti aficionados to share hair samples thought to be from the creature.

One of the samples he analyzed came from an alleged Yeti mummy in the Indian region of Ladakh, at the Western edge of the Himalayas, and was taken by a French mountaineer who was shown the corpse 40 years ago.

The other was a single hair found a decade ago in Bhutan, 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the east.

Sykes said the fact the hair samples were found so far apart, and so recently, suggests the members of the species are still alive.

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AncestryDNA(TM) Now a More Comprehensive DNA Test for Exploring Ethnic Origins

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PROVO, UT--(Marketwired - Oct 17, 2013) - Ancestry.com DNA, LLC announced today an update to its popular DNA test. Armed with one of the most comprehensive collections of location based DNA samples from around the world and the latest DNA testing technology, AncestryDNA now maps a test taker's ethnic origins to 26 global regions, including expanded regions for people of European and West African descent.

"We are rapidly advancing DNA testing for family history," said Dr. Ken Chahine, Senior Vice President and General Manager of AncestryDNA. "The greatest benefit of this test is that it provides an easy way to help explore one's ancestral background and discover your family's past in amazing detail never before available."

Whether you're just getting started researching your family history or you are an advanced genealogist tracking down a specific portion of a family tree where records are going cold, the new update to AncestryDNA can help people explore their ancestry beyond historical records.

The new update to AncestryDNA includes:

"Five years ago, a genealogical DNA test would predict the rough proportions of a person's ancestry from Europe, Asia, or Africa -- but most people could determine that without the aid of a DNA test," said Dr. Catherine Ball, Vice President of Genomics and Bioinformatics for AncestryDNA. "Today, the AncestryDNA science team has examined more than 700,000 DNA markers to create a genetic portrait for groups of people around the world. By comparing someone's DNA to this core reference set, we can calculate an ethnicity estimate based on 26 global populations."

Updates to AncestryDNA Further Advances Family History Exploration

Last year, with the initial launch of AncestryDNA, a test taker was able to receive results that mapped back to 22 different ethnic regions. Today's announcement marks an expanded range of genetic ethnicity and geographic origins that is currently not available in other consumer DNA tests on the market.

In May 2012, Ancestry.com launched AncestryDNA, a service that analyzes a person's genome at more than 700,000 marker locations. It is available at http://www.ancestrydna.com for $99, plus shipping and handling. The price includes a DNA testing kit, genetic lab processing, online results delivered in a private and secure account, as well as continual ethnicity and cousin matching updates. Additional information on AncestryDNA can be found at http://www.ancestryDNA.com.

About Ancestry.com DNA LLC and Ancestry.com

Ancestry.com DNA is a subsidiary of Ancestry.com, the world's largest online family history resource with approximately 2.7 million paying subscribers across all its websites.More than 12 billion records have been added to the Ancestry.com sites and users have created more than 50 million family trees containing more than 5 billion profiles.In addition to its flagship site http://www.ancestry.com, the Company operates several Ancestry international websites along with a suite of online family history brands, including AncestryDNA, Archives.com, Fold3.com and Newspapers.com, all designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.

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DNA match helped lead to family reunion

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They called it a family reunion, but for most, it was actually their first meeting.

Charlotte resident Vivian Y. Stuart had spent years communicating with cousins across the country she had never met. They discovered as adults they share a DNA match, and their relationships solidified through a mutual love of family history and countless phone calls, emails and Facebook posts.

So last month, Stuart opened her home to six of her distant cousins so they could get to know more about each other and their shared history.

Extended family

Stuart, 65, moved to Charlotte from New York in 2010. A retired clinical laboratory technologist Stuart became interested in her genealogy back in the 80s and is her familys historian.

In 2010, she had a DNA test done to see whether there were any family members she didnt know. The first test was through the National Geographic Genographic Project. But it was through Family Tree DNA that Stuart found a match. She had sent in a cheek swab for the mtDNA test, which uses mitochondrial DNA to find genetic cousins along the direct maternal line.

The match was the Rev. Dan W. Tullis Sr., who lived in California and had DNA on his mothers side that matched Stuarts. She sent an email to establish contact and got a reply from his daughter, Dwainia, that Tullis had died in 2009.

Stuart and Dwainia Tullis, 57, shared an interest in family history and began communicating regularly. Dwainia Tullis had also done a DNA test through the Genographic Project and gotten her results in 2006. The results had already led her to another cousin, Sara McNary, 48, in Atlanta, and cousin Sylvia Payne-Goodner, 62, in Franklin, Ky. While they dont know how closely they are related, Stuart said, their DNA all matches to Dan Tullis.

For the past three years these four family historians have stayed in contact. The more they got to know one another, the more family they found, Stuart said.

Since then, shes been able to connect with three more cousins who also came to visit, all with a DNA match to Dan Tullis Sr., Dwainias father.

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