Category Archives: DNA

Public release date: 17-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Greg Lester glester@wistar.org 215-898-3934 The Wistar Institute

Long segments of RNA encoded in our DNA but not translated into proteinare key to physically manipulating DNA in order to activate certain genes, say researchers at The Wistar Institute. These non-coding RNA-activators (ncRNA-a) have a crucial role in turning genes on and off during early embryonic development, researchers say, and have also been connected with diseases, including some cancers, in adults.

In an online article of the journal Nature, a team of scientists led by Wistar's Ramin Shiekhattar, Ph.D., detail the mechanism by which long non-coding RNA-activators promote gene expression. They show how these RNA molecules help proteins in the cell to create a loop of DNA in order to open up genes for transcription. Their experiments have also described how particular ncRNA-a molecules are related to FG syndrome, a genetic disease linked to severe neurological and physical deficits. "These ncRNA-activators can activate specific genes by working with large protein complexes, filling in a big piece of the puzzle," said Shiekhattar, Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor and senior author of the study. "Our DNA encodes thousands of these ncRNA-activators, each with a role in timing the expression of a specific gene. As we learn more about non-coding RNA, I believe we will have a profoundly better understanding of how our genes function."

Their findings also provide a plausible mechanism of how locations along chromosomes, classically known as "enhancer" elements, can influence the expression ("reading") of genes located 5,000 to 100,000 base pairs ("letters") of DNA away. According to their findings, ncRNA-a molecules bind to large protein complexes to form a loop of DNA, which then opens up the gene to the molecular machinery that transcribes DNA. "There is an abundance of evidence to indicate that enhancers are critical components of transcription during embryonic development and disease process," Shiekhattar said.

"Non-coding RNAs are probably one of the earliest molecules that determine spatial and temporal gene expression in a developing embryo," Shiekhattar said. "These enhancers can help turn genes on and off as a growing embryo would need, but as we have seen in other genetic mechanisms of embryonic development, they can lead to cancer if they are switched on inappropriately in adult cells."

In the classic "central dogma" of biology, chromosomal DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is then translated by the cell into proteins. In recent years, however, scientists have found that not all transcribed RNA molecules become translated into proteins. In fact, studies have shown that large portions of the genome are transcribed into RNA that serve tasks other than functioning as blueprints for proteins. In 2010, the Shiekhattar lab first published the discovery of these ncRNA enhancer molecules in the journal Cell (2010 Oct 1;143(1):46-58), and theorized on their role as "enhancers" of gene expression. Since then, laboratories around the world have published and linked ncRNAs not only to transcriptional enhancers but also to certain diseases, including some cancers.

To discover how such enhancer-like RNAs function, the Shiekhatter laboratory deleted candidate molecules with known roles in activating gene expression, and assessed if they were related to RNA-dependent activation. They found that depleting components of the protein complex known as Mediator specifically and potently diminished the ability of ncRNA-a to start the process of transcribing a gene into RNA. Further, they found that these activating ncRNAs can attach to Mediator at multiple locations within the Mediator protein complex, and Mediator itself can interact with the enhancer element site on DNA that encodes these activating ncRNAs. Their results also determined how mutations in a protein that makes up the Mediator complex, called MED12, drastically diminishes Mediator's ability to associate with activating ncRNAs.

Mutations in the MED12 protein are a marker for FG syndrome (also know as OpitzKaveggia syndrome), a rare genetic disorder that leads to abnormalities throughout the body and varying degrees of physical and neurological problems. "This clearly shows how activating ncRNAs can influence disease development, an idea that has been gaining evidence in the scientific literature," Shiekhattar said. To confirm that ncRNA-a works with Mediator to form a loop in DNA, the researchers used a technique called chromosome conformation capture (3C) to gain a better understanding of the three-dimensional structure of chromosomes. Their results show how Mediator gets a foothold of sorts on the portion of DNA that encodes the ncRNA-a, and twists the DNA to form a loop.

"The looping mechanism serves to physically bring together a distant enhancer element with the start site of the targeted gene, allowing Mediator to recruit the proteins responsible for reading the gene to the location," Shiekhattar said. "It is at least one answer to how these classical enhancer elements function while being physically distant from their target genes."

Originally posted here:
'Activating' RNA takes DNA on a loop through time and space

17 February 2013 Last updated at 18:43 ET

"It's a very specific test so if you just have a trace level of horse in beef it will be able to pull that out and identify it without any doubt."

The words of Paul Hancock, manager of a Worcestershire Scientific Services (WSS), which has been carrying out three times the normal number of tests it does, all looking for traces of horsemeat.

Mr Hancock said they have had "some positive tests" for horse DNA in the 300 samples they tested last week, but would not be drawn on the exact number.

"Hopefully over next few days we should get a complete picture of what's going on in the food chain," he said.

WSS is an official food enforcement control laboratory tucked away on an industrial estate in Worcester.

The Worcestershire County Council-run laboratory has 27 staff, 12 of whom work in food testing.

Mr Hancock said it normally tests foods to ensure that it contains "what it says it does on the label" and to look for contaminants and anything to else do with food standards.

Since the adulterated food scandal began last month, all its work has been testing for traces of horse DNA.

They are currently testing a range of meats from all over the UK, including anything from joints to mince, beefburgers and sausages.

More here:
Test 'finds any trace of horse DNA'

Coveney: DNA meat tests will be routine

Monday, February 18, 2013

By Lyndsey Telford

DNA testing of meat will become a routine part of food testing nationwide, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said.

The company said it had isolated the contaminated meat and informed the Department of Agriculture.

QK Cold Stores can confirm that, as part of its own quality controls, the company conducted DNA testing on consignments of imported beef product which revealed the presence of equine DNA, it said in a statement.

Upon discovery, these consignments were immediately isolated and either returned to the suppliers concerned or detained at QK Cold Stores facility.

The Department of Agriculture and Food Safety Authority of Ireland agreed a national protocol for DNA testing of meat would be applied at retail, catering, and processing level.

We intend to introduce DNA testing from now on as part of routine food testing across the country, said Mr Coveney.

Earlier, one of the countrys largest catering companies revealed it discovered horsemeat in burgers it supplied to a number of sites both north and south of the border.

Visit link:
Coveney: DNA meat tests will be ‘routine’

DNA FT. YUNG OCHO - #39; #39;I GOT U #39; #39;

By: DNAJERKS1

See the article here:
DNA FT. YUNG OCHO - ''I GOT U'' - Video

Little Mix - DNA (x2)
Little Mix #39;s DNA (Unplugged) mashed with the original version of the song. I made this with Virtual DJ and am very very proud of my work. I do not own either of the songs but I own this mash up so please do not take credit. Thank you. x.

By: characterinmydream

Read the original post:
Little Mix - DNA (x2) - Video

15 February 2013 Last updated at 15:10 ET

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Catherine Brown, FSA chief executive, says "it is unlikely we will ever know" how many unwittingly ate horsemeat

Catering giant Compass Group and Whitbread, one of Britain's largest hotel chains, have found horse DNA in products sold as beef, it has emerged.

Horsemeat has also been found in cottage pies supplied to 47 schools in Lancashire - they have been withdrawn.

But the Food Standards Agency says that after 2,501 fresh tests no new products have been identified as containing more than 1% horsemeat.

It said the 29 positive results were on seven previously withdrawn products.

FSA chief executive Catherine Brown said she remained "confident" that the testing was the right way to address the issue.

"It is industry's responsibility to get this right - not the government's - and we consider that a comprehensive testing programme at all points of the supply chain and in all sectors is an essential step in addressing this issue.

"And as this programme of testing and publishing results continues, and as action is taken to tackle this issue in supply chains across Europe, we will reach the point where we can say with confidence that horse meat is no longer illegally entering the UK food chain."

Read more here:
Tests by food giants find horse DNA

Incipio FAXION Case for HTC Droid DNA
Shock-absorbing TPU and impact resistant polycarbonate are fused into one sleek design, and the custom-molded FAXION case is the epitome of reliable and stylish protection. The case allows you to take unobstructed pictures through an intelligent cutout while the device stays well-protected. Simply snap away without adjusting the case. The HTC Droid DNA FAXION case is designed with the traveling enthusiast in mind. Charge your smartphone through the strategically placed cutout around your USB port. Revamp your battery life anytime. Scroll through your photo albums or play games comfortably when you use the FAXION case. The HTC Droid DNA FAXION case safeguards the device around the back and edges while leaving the touchscreen fully functional for a satisfying user experience. Buy this and other Droid DNA accessories here: http://www.shopandroid.com Black/Black Part# A13692 Mnf# HT-334 White/Gray Part# A13693 Mnf# HT-335 White/Neon Pink Part# A13694 Mnf# HT-336 Gray/Teal Part# A13695 Mnf# HT-337

By: MobileNationsGear

Read the rest here:
Incipio FAXION Case for HTC Droid DNA - Video

3 MEN...3 DNA TESTS...THE TRUTH COMES OUT TODAY!
Briana fell in love with Joe three years ago. Although she loved him, Briana admits that she cheated on Joe and had a baby. Despite the infidelity, they stayed together and had another baby. But now Joe says that the baby doesn #39;t look like him so he is convinced that the child does not belong to him. Briana #39;s twin sisters Lakresha and Lakendra say they are tired of being parents to Joe #39;s child and its time he steps up! Will the DNA test confirm that Joe is the father? And later, Miriam is at cross-roads with the man she loves, Sadaris, and her childhood best friend, Derrick. Sadaris is accusing Miriam of cheating with Derrick, and he believes that Derrick may be the father of her son Sadaris Jr. Derrick says if he finds out that Miriam has been cheating, he is gone!

By: Trisha Goddard

View post:
3 MEN...3 DNA TESTS...THE TRUTH COMES OUT TODAY! - Video

Vibrational Resonance its connection to our brain waves and DNA

By: MysticUnity

Read the original:
Vibrational Resonance its connection to our brain waves and DNA - Video

DNA Test of Netaji Subhas chandra Bose leaked!
When I was in Kolkata recently, I asked everyone around, "Did you see Dr Who?" That #39;s because there are tell-tale signs that the time lord was in the city and he might have helped the state #39;s top newspaper to effectively wipe out one of the three options that offer explanations as to what happened to Subhas Chandra Bose. The Anandabazar Patrika group doesn #39;t fancy the Netaji mystery like we do. It supports the air crash theory so the question of their backing something as outlandish as Netaji-had-returned-to-India-as-a-holy-man theory doesn #39;t even arise. I will write about Bhagwanji later on, but for now let #39;s get straight about something most intriguing. Whatever happened to Netaji can be explained by only one of three options before us today. He either died in Taiwan, or in Russia or in Faizabad. The Mukherjee Commission (1999-2005) took on record two things which could have settled whether or not the unseen holy man of Faizabad was Subhas Bose indeed. One, a matchbox containing 7 teeth assumed to be of Bhagwanji aka Gumnami baba. Two, his handwriting samples in English and Bangla. There is considerable evidence on record to suggest that the positive report given by independent handwriting expert outweighed the fraudulent negative reports given by the government experts. But let us assume for the time being that the opinions of the experts was divided and ball was in the court of the DNA experts. That #39;s where Anandabazar Patrika comes in. On 21 December 2003, the paper ...

By: pinkubaby007

Go here to read the rest:
DNA Test of Netaji Subhas chandra Bose leaked! - Video