Category Archives: DNA

Mar. 9, 2013 Can the length of strands of DNA in patients with heart disease predict their life expectancy? Researchers from the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, who studied the DNA of more that 3,500 patients with heart disease, say yes it can.

In the new study, presented Saturday, March 9, at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session in San Francisco, the researchers were able to predict survival rates among patients with heart disease based on the length of strands of DNA found on the ends of chromosomes known as telomeres -- the longer the patient's telomeres, the greater the chance of living a longer life.

The study is one of 17 studies from the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center that are being presented at the scientific session, which is being attended by thousands of cardiologists and heart experts from around the world.

Previous research has shown that telomere length can be used as a measure of age, but these expanded findings suggest that telomere length may also predict the life expectancy of patients with heart disease.

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosome from becoming damaged. As people get older, their telomeres get shorter until the cell is no longer able to divide. Shortened telomeres are associated with age-related diseases such as heart disease or cancer, as well as exposure to oxidative damage from stress, smoking, air pollution, or conditions that accelerate biologic aging.

"Chromosomes by their nature get shorter as we get older," said John Carlquist, PhD, director of the Intermountain Heart Institute Genetics Lab. "Once they become too short, they no longer function properly, signaling the end of life for the cell. And when cells reach this stage, the patient's risk for age-associated diseases increases dramatically."

Dr. Carlquist and his colleagues from the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center tested the DNA samples from more than 3,500 heart attack and stroke patients.

"Our research shows that if we statistically adjust for age, patients with longer telomeres live longer, suggesting that telomere length is more than just a measure of age, but may also indicate the probability for survival. Longer telomere length directly correlate with the likelihood for a longer life -- even for patients with heart disease," said Dr. Carlquist.

Dr. Carlquist and his colleagues from the Intermountain Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center drew on two unique resources that offer unparalleled opportunity for researchers to study the effects of telomere length and survival rates of heart patients:

"With so many samples and very complete electronic records, it's a unique resource," said Dr. Carlquist. "It's unmatched in the world, and it allows us to measure the rate of change in the length of a patient's telomeres over time rather than just a snapshot in time, which is typical for most studies."

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Length of DNA strands can predict life expectancy

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire - Mar 8, 2013) - Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. ( OTCBB : APDN ), (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today that Chris Taylor, a recognized leader in forensic marking products, has joined the company as Director, Europe.

APDN welcomed Mr. Taylor, who will help lead the company in comprehensively expanding its offerings in the United Kingdom, the European continent, and in Scandinavia.Taylor formerly was Managing Director of RedWeb Technologies, a provider of advanced forensic tagging and bespoke GPS tracking security solutions.

"I am excited at the chance to extend APDN's market-leading solutions even farther in the European markets," said Mr. Taylor."With my background in forensic marking, I know that APDN has far and away the most advanced and effective technology, nothing comes close."

Mr. Taylor will drive the commercialization of a fast growing product line.SigNature DNA, the well-known APDN evidentiary marking product, is now used to protect over 26% of the cash in the United Kingdom as money is moved to and from banks and retailers.The cash in transit technology was also adopted last year by the Scandinavian security firm Nokas AS to be used nationally in Sweden.The company's DNANet product, a tactical forensic marking system, is used by law enforcement in the United Kingdom and Sweden for covert police operations.smartDNA, an anti-intrusion forensic marker, is used to protect over forty jewelry stores in Sweden, and to defend against copper theft in that country.

Mr. Taylor said, "APDN technology is redefining the performance level expected by businesses and law enforcement organizations.We are confident we can now extend into new markets and new territories, including in defense, textiles, and brand protection."

Chris Taylor will report directly to Tony Benson, APDN's Risk & Security Director, based in the United Kingdom.Mr. Benson commented, "I am very pleased to be able to work with Chris.His vast technical knowledge and experience are valued assets for APDN and will help to deliver top-notch solutions for clients and grow our European markets."

Said Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences, "Chris Taylor brings to the company world class skills in management, in guiding advanced technical products to market, and in all aspects of forensic marking.His blue chip experience with recognized firms in our space will serve the company well as we challenge for leadership in our markets in Europe."

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature.Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 20, 2012 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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Applied DNA Sciences Announces New Director of Europe Operations, Chris Taylor

8 March 2013 Last updated at 14:25 ET

Preliminary tests have found six new beef products that may contain horse DNA, the Food Standards Agency says.

The checks were conducted by local councils following the earlier recalls of supermarket and caterer meat products containing horsemeat.

They also found three beef products with pig DNA above a 1% threshold.

The FSA has lifted its suspension of the Peter Boddy slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, raided in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

The company denied any wrongdoing after FSA officials attended the site last month as part of its inquiry into the alleged mislabelling of horsemeat.

In a statement, the FSA said it "has now decided to lift the suspension of the approval of this slaughterhouse, which means it will once again be allowed to operate".

The FSA has requested that local authorities test minced beef products and ready meals sold at shops, wholesalers and catering suppliers for horse and pig DNA above a 1% threshold.

It said 212 out of 224 samples on minced beef-based products had tested negative.

It said further tests will now be carried out on seven samples taken from the six beef products that may contain horse DNA, as well as on three products suspected of containing pig DNA.

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'Horse DNA ' found in more products

Preliminary tests on beef products for traces of other meats have found seven samples may contain horse DNA above 1%, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

Further tests will now be carried out on the samples, which come from six different products.

The checks also found three products that contain levels of pig DNA above 1%.

These have already been listed on the companies' websites and are Asda's spaghetti and meatballs, its beef cannelloni and Apetito beef lasagne, the agency said.

Both Asda products have been withdrawn from sale while Apetito has indicated that almost all of its product will have been served although unused stock can be returned.

The test results represent the first and second phase of testing by the FSA with samples taken from a wide range of businesses including shops, wholesale and catering suppliers to schools and hospitals.

The agency said in a statement: "For phase one, two products contain levels of pig DNA above 1%. So far, no products are verified as containing horse DNA at a level above 1%. Preliminary tests show that seven samples, representing six different products, may contain horse DNA above 1% and a further three may contain pig DNA above 1%. However, further checks are needed to verify this. Where levels over the 1% threshold are confirmed, the FSA will publish details as soon as this information is received. For phase two, one product tested to date contains levels of pig DNA above 1%; none contain horse DNA above this level. Full results of phase two are awaited."

Many of the UK's biggest food firms and supermarkets have recalled beef products after tests found they contained horse DNA.

The first phase of testing saw 224 samples of minced beef products including burgers, minced beef, beef sausage or meatballs checked for horse and pig DNA, while the second involves 140 samples of beef-based ready meals including frozen, chilled or canned lasagne, chilli con carne, cottage pie, ravioli, cannelloni and spaghetti bolognese being tested for horse and pig DNA. A third phase of testing is seeing a further 150 samples examined for traces of horse DNA. Full details of the sampling programme are to be published in a report by the FSA next month.

The agency also said that it has lifted its suspension of the Peter Boddy slaughterhouse in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, after it was raided as part of the investigation on February 12.

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Beef product tests find horse DNA

Illumina will work with SynapDxs to find a blood-test that could allow treatment to start earlier.

Massachusetts startup SynapDx announced on Wednesday that it will work with DNA sequencer manufacturer Illumina to develop early detection tools for autism spectrum disorders, according to a release.

SynapDx is trying to develop a blood-based test that will catch most cases of autism spectrum disorders in children earlier than current methods (see Can a Blood Test Detect Autism Early?). The advantage would be that treatments seem to work better the sooner they start. The challenge is that there arent clear biomarkers or genetic signals for the disorder, which is most likely a mix of many different conditions.

But that doesnt seem to deter sequencing giant Illumina, which has been growing the diagnostic side of its business over the last few months (see A Brave New World of Prenatal DNA Sequencing). According to the release:

SynapDx and Illumina share a vision of better pediatric care through the use of advanced molecular assays and sequencing technologies, said Stanley Lapidus, SynapDxs CEO. We look forward to broadly collaborating on multiple joint initiatives.

SynapDx is currently recruiting participants into a clinical study of gene expression and autism in children less than 5 years old, which might help them identify biomarkers of the condition.

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DNA Sequencing Giant Illumina Joins Hunt for Autism Blood Test

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

All she knew was that he was the red-hot retriever prancing around the neighborhood.

So, she had a DNA test done.

It was obvious that Leila's mom, a mixed-breed who belonged to her in-laws, had some border collie, but McKee wasn't sure what else. She suspected Leila's dad was likely the product of some heat-of-the-moment mixed matings as well.

A drop of blood revealed more than Leila's pedigree, or lack of. "You can find out what kind of medical conditions they might run into," said McKee, a receptionist at a Mukilteo vet clinic. "Or how big the dog might get."

DNA analysis showed Leila's dad was half Labrador and her mom half border collie. Well, that explained the pup's bossiness and the spring in her step.

Her parents' other halves were of mixed breed ancestry, as was Leila's.

The DNA blood test, which distinguishes more than 235 breed types, determined the five next best breed matches in Leila's makeup were: Argentine dogo (17.75 percent); Russian wolfhound (10.88 percent); Akita (5.4 percent); Great Dane (4.75 percent); and Cesky terrier (2.95 percent).

Health risks for Leila's main breeds include exercise-induced collapse, drug sensitivity, narcolepsy, skeletal dysplasia and eye problems.

So far, she's a healthy, frisky 4-year-old who keeps a nose in everything that goes on with McKee's two kids and husband at their Marysville home.

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A DNA test can reveal what your mutt's made of

By Larry Altman,The Daily Breeze

TORRANCE, Calif. - Kevin T. Kemp's blood sample sat in a coroner's office refrigerator, pretty much forgotten.

But 23 years after the fluid was drawn from Kemp's dead body, Torrance police have used the sample to solve a murder in Venice that was long ago put on the "cold case" shelf.

Discovering the blood in April, detectives and Sheriff's Department crime lab officials examined the sample to determine its DNA code to see if it matched any other crimes.

Kemp's DNA revealed that he killed a man in Venice in 1990, just three weeks before a Torrance woman shot him to death when he attacked her in front of her home, Torrance police Sgt. Robert Watt said.

Kemp's blood matched the forensic evidence found on the Venice victim's body, allowing Los Angeles police detectives to close another case, Torrance police Sgt. Robert Watt said.

The 33-year-old Hawthorne man died Sept. 8, 1990, shortly after he ambushed the 28-year-old woman in an apparent attempt to rape her.

Police at the time said Kemp randomly attacked the woman in her driveway, wrapping a canvas strap around her neck. He tried to drag her toward his car, but she fought back.

Kicking and screaming as she scraped along the ground with the strap tugging at her neck, the woman reached into her purse, where a .22-caliber handgun was concealed inside.

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DNA ties slain would-be rapist to 1990 California killing

Ovodov et al. / PLOS ONE

The skull of a 33,000-year-old canid was found in a cave in the Altai Mountains of southern Siberia.

By Stephanie Pappas LiveScience

A canine skull found in the Altai Mountains of Siberia is more closely related to modern domestic dogs than to wolves, a new DNA analysis reveals.

The findings could indicate that dogs were domesticated around 33,000 years ago. The point at which wolves made the transition to man's best friend is hotly contested, though dogs were well-established in human societies by about 10,000 years ago. Dogs and humans were buried together in Germany about 14,000 years ago, a strong hint of domestication, but genetic studies have pinpointed the origin of dog domestication in both China and the Middle East.

The Altai specimen, a well-preserved skull, represents one of the two oldest possible domestic dogs ever found. Another possible domestic dog fossil, dated to approximately 36,000 years ago, was found in Goyet Cave in Belgium.

Anatomical examinations of these skulls suggest they are more doglike than wolflike. To confirm, researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences and their colleagues drilled a tiny amount of bone from the Altai dog's incisor and jaw, and analyzed its DNA. They conducted all of the work in an isolated lab and used extra precautions to prevent contamination, as ancient DNA is extremely fragile.

The researchers then compared the genetic sequences from the Altai specimen with sequences from 72 modern dogs of 70 different breeds, 30 wolves, four coyotes and 35 prehistoric canid species from the Americas. [10 Breeds: What Your Dog Says About You]

They found that the Altai canid is more closely related to modern domestic dogs than to modern wolves, as its skull shape had previously suggested. That means that the Altai canid was an ancient dog, not an ancient wolf though it had likely diverged from the wolf line relatively recently, the researchers report Wednesdayin the journal PLOS ONE.

If the Altai dog was really domesticated, it would push back the origin of today's house pets more than 15,000 years and move the earliest domestication out of the Middle East or East Asia, as previous studies have suggested. However, the analysis was limited to only a portion of the genome, the researchers wrote.

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DNA suggests dogs were tamed 33,000 years ago

At the recent Who Do You Think You Are? Live roadshow in London, customers were offered a range of DNA tests claiming to determine whether they were related to Richard III or descended from Roman soldiers.

A warning about the accuracy of the tests was made by the Sense About Science campaign group, which said "such histories are either so general as to be personally meaningless or they are just speculation from thin evidence."

The warning was backed by a number of leading genetics experts. Steve Jones, Emeritus Professor of Human Genetics at UCL said: On a long trudge through history two parents, four great-grandparents, and so on very soon everyone runs out of ancestors and has to share them.

"As a result, almost every Briton is a descendant of Viking hordes, Roman legions, African migrants, Indian Brahmins, or anyone else they fancy.

His colleague Prof Mark Thomas said: "These claims are usually planted by the companies that provide these so-called tests and are not backed up by published scientific research. This is business, and the business is genetic astrology.

Tracey Brown, Director of Sense About Science added: Genetics researchers are telling us that you are better off digging around in your loft than doing a DNA ancestry test if you want to find out about your family tree."

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DNA ancestry tests branded 'meaningless'

6 March 2013 Last updated at 22:05 ET By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent, BBC News

Scientists have described some services provided by companies tracing ancestry using DNA as akin to astrology.

Some test findings tell people that they have links to groups such as Vikings, to particular migrations of people and sometimes to famous figures such as Napoleon or Cleopatra

But researchers working with a campaign group say DNA tests cannot provide accurate information about ancestry.

Ancestry companies insist they are able to provide a valuable service.

Almost every Briton is a descendant of Viking hordes, Roman legions, African migrants, Indian Brahmins, or anyone else they fancy

An increasing number of companies are offering to profile the genetic history of individuals based on a DNA sample for around 200.

But in a public guide, published by Sense About Science, Prof David Balding and Prof Mark Thomas of University College London warn that such histories are either so general as to be "personally meaningless or they are just speculation from thin evidence".

The scientists say that genetic profiles cannot provide accurate information about an individual's ancestry.

They say "the genetic ancestry business uses a phenomenon well-known in other areas such as horoscopes, where general information is interpreted as being more personal than it really is".

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DNA ancestry 'astrology' claim