Private MD News - DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing

Home | News | DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing

View Articles by Date

Year: 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009

Month: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

The future of genetic testing could be forever changed following a report that was recently published in The FASEB Journal. Researchers at The Royal Veterinary College in North Mymms, England, have successfully inserted new genes into mice, which resulted in three generations of transgenic animals and an advancement in biology and medicine.

The findings of the lab tests were massive, as study author Anil Chandrashekran, Ph.D., and his colleagues from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Services were able to alter the genes through viral vectors. Injecting a green fluorescent protein into the male germ line, the team found that 42 percent of the subjects showed the transgenic gene passed down to the third generation. The results could lead to the elimination of faulty genes and disorders in humans, as well as organ regeneration and new genetic markers.

"Transgenic technology is a most important tool for researching all kinds of diseases in humans and animals, and for understanding crucial problems in biology," said Chandrashekran.

Going forward in medicine... Full Story

Findings published in the December issue of Cell detail the astounding results from lab tests conducted to determine the cause of aging in mammals. Led by David Sinclair, Ph.D, the team was able to restore cell communication pathways that breakdown and essentially discovered a possible method of reversing the aging process.

"The aging process we discovered is like a married couple - when they are young, they communicate well, but over time, living in close quarters for many years, communication breaks down. And just like with a couple, restoring communication solved the problem," explained Sinclair, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.

Inside cells, mitochondria carry out essential functions for the body by generating chemical energy and communicating with the nucleus. As this cellular conversation breaks down, the process of aging begins to accelerate. This dysfunction of cells is what causes age-related medical conditions such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. According to the team, scientists have always been hesitant to believe the effects of getting physically older could be reversed due to the theory that these diseases centered around aging are the result of irreversible mutations at the genetic level.

Working with SIRT1... Full Story