Human Genome | Human Genome Project

Study Shows that KIF6 Gene is Not a Genetic Marker for Coronary Heart Disease

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The genetic marker KIF6 has been found to not be predictive for coronary artery disease in a large replication study.

Researchers found in the study that mutations in the KIF6 gene were not associated with the development of coronary artery disease. Because this was such a large study, the researchers expected that if there was a connection between coronary artery disease and the genetic marker, it would have been found during the analysis.

The researchers looked at 19 case-control studies that included 17,000 cases and 39,369 controls with the vast majority of the patients being of European descent. There were some African Americans, South Asians and Hispanics included in the analysis. The researchers found that none of the 19 studies analyzed showed an higher risk of coronary artery disease in people with the 719Arg allele mutation of the KIF6 gene when compared with people without the allele. There were no associations found in the various ethnic groups as well.

Mutations in the KIF6 gene had previously been shown to be associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Other studies found that patients who would benefit from treatment with statin medications to lower this risk.

The earlier studies which found the associations with the KIF6 gene and coronary artery disease were funded by the biotech company Celera which was a key player in the Human Genome Project. Celera issued a press release disputing the findings of the most recent trial in that the new data does not disprove the association with coronary artery disease.

The scientists associated with the current study acknowledge that the results of the study may be limited by the fact that they evaluated only non-fatal cases of coronary artery disease and that if the mutation is more related to fatal effects of heart disease, it would not show up during the evaluation. However, these researcher stand by their findings and suggest more research is needed.

Filed Under: Biotech, Health, Human Genome

Researchers Find New Gene that Triggers Depression

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At Yale University, researchers have identified a gene that may trigger clinical depression.

The gene MKP-1 may be a primary or contributing cause to the factors that lead to depression. The researchers looked at the brain of 21 decreased people who had been diagnosed with depression through genome scans. They then compared those results with the brains of 18 people who had not been diagnosed with the disease.

The gene, MKP-1, increased more than two-fold in the brains of people with depression. This gene interferes with a pathway that is important to the survival of neurons in the brain. The findings in the brains of the subjects led to studies in mice. When this gene was impaired in mice, the mice became more resistant to stress but when it was activated, the mice showed the signs and symptoms of depression and other diseases.

There are other scientists who suggest that this study is flawed and that this may be a gene for one type of depression but not for all. There has been other evidence that depression has some genetic origin but there are other factors in the development of the condition. These genetic findings may be useful but not applicable to all people with the disease.

Depression affects nearly 16 percent of Americans and costs the country over $100 billion every year. Trying to pinpoint the cause of depression has been challenging for scientists. Current antidepressants work in different ways for different people and for up to 40% of people, these medications may not work at all.

Other researchers suggest that this particular finding may lead to a new line of therapy for people with depression. The goal of this experimental medication would be to inhibit the MKP-1 gene in people; this is an early step in a potentially multiple-year odyssey to a drug therapy through a pharmaceutical or biotech company.

Filed Under: Biotech, Human Genome Tagged With: Brain, Gene, Major depressive disorder, Mouse, Pharmaceutical drug, Research, United States, Yale University

Is There an Addiction Gene?

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Through the Human Genome Project, scientists hope to learn more about the billions of individual genes that are found inside every person. While the human genome has a specific structure that we can begin to understand, how those genes react with each other and how they affect individuals varies from person to person. By learning more about the human genome, scientists hope to teach us more about ourselves…both the good, and the bad.

Many scientists believe the “addiction gene,” Tetrahyroisoquinoline (or THQ), is a reality. Some people who inherit the gene go on to act out addictive and potentially self-destructive behaviors. If you are addicted to cigarettes, you may simply be acting out a hereditary instinct. There may be no way to change genetics (at least, not right now), but there is a way cigarette addicts can get help.

Electronic cigarette cartridges look like a 5-pack of cigarettes, a mini version of what you might buy in a convenience store. Electronic cigarettes also have another major difference that distinguishes them from store-bought brands: they won’t kill you. Unlike cancer-causing cigarettes, which are stuffed with chemical agents, electronic cigarette cartridges contain only a small amount of nicotine and water vapor. Smokers will puff away on a cigarette that looks and feels just like the real thing, but they won’t be compromising their health by doing so.

Cigarettes are dangerous; if they weren’t, every single pack wouldn’t carry a warning from the Surgeon General. Addiction may, in fact, be a genetic trait, and the Human Genome Project may be successful in further isolating and identifying the problem. In the meantime, turn to products that will help you kick the habit, and start a new chapter in your life.

Filed Under: Biotech, General, Human Genome Tagged With: Biology, Cigarette, Eukaryotic, Gene, Genetics, Human genome, Human Genome Project, Substance dependence

Controlling Weeds a Major Biotech Challenge

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In spite of governmental attempts to determine what to do about the significant and expanding problem of herbicide-resistant weeds, at least one proposal is no longer being considered: Restricting how farmers use the biotech crops that scientists believe are linked to the problem.

Scientists and biotech researchers believe that farmers’ over-dependence on the the Roundup herbicide has led to this increased concern over herbicide-resistant weeds. For example, biotech crops like soybeans are immune to Roundup, leading to many farmers using it exclusively for weed control due to its effectiveness and reliability. The weeds growing in soybean and other immune crops have been shown to be increasingly resistant to Roundup, leading to a call for regulation of the popular weed-killer.

For now at least, the USDA has no plans to impose controls on the use of these biotech crops. One expert on the herbicide-resistance issue believes it’s far too late for government intervention anyway.

The deputy undersecretary at the USDA, Ann Wright, recently told a House oversight committee that they are committed to protecting the ongoing and unrestricted usage of genetically engineered seeds, believing that they are a critical tool for farmers in addressing major global issues such as hunger and disease control. Ms. Wright testified that limiting the usage of herbicide-tolerant crops would force farmers to return to older, more costly, and less environmentally-friendly methods of weed control.

A biotech scientist at Iowa State University supported this theory, stating that restrictions of Roundup and other herbicides would only delay the development of weeds, not prevent them from growing. He believes that the best solution is to persuade farmers to stop relying on Roundup and to instead use other herbicides and non-chemical solutions such as crop rotation and area-specific cultivation. He acknowledged that this is a hard sell to farmers because the Roundup-resistant crops they rely on are popular precisely because they allow them to keep the weeds out of their fields with a single chemical.

Filed Under: Biotech, Human Genome Tagged With: Ann Wright, Biotechnology, Herbicide, Iowa State University, Roundup, United States Department of Agriculture, United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Weed control

Genome Research and Better Bio-fuels

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Since the completion of the human genome project, genome research in the area of plants has increased exponentially. One area of great developmental interest is in the area of biofuels. Biofuels are portable energy sources that are compatible with the existing infrastructure of petroleum based transportation. Because of the focus on becoming a greener planet and the phase out of fossil fuel dependence; researchers are moving quickly to develop plants that can serve these purposes.

Food crops have seen some progress due to genetic engineering in recent years but energy crops have not been as successful. For energy crops to be most beneficial they need to have high growth rates, grow in varied and difficult climates, and break down easily into their basic sugars. Scientists are also studying how plant enzymes and insects like termites to speed up the breakdown of biofuel producing plants. This is important because until now breaking these plants down has proven to be costly and time consuming.

Presently, ethanol seems to be the biofuel of choice, but researchers are looking to the future and for a fuel that does not have the same drawbacks as ethanol such as: the requirement for large quantities of water and low energy output per gallon compared to petroleum products. They are currently working on a product called butanol that is a better alternative but still needs work.

It is a complicated biotech challenge to engineer the vanguard marriage of microorganism and plant genes that will optimize the production of biofuels in the coming age. Progress is being made at a great rate and much of the credit goes to what was thought by most to be health medicine research to start, human genome research has led to plant genome research that will eventually and most assuredly lead to a cleaner produced and burning fuel product for the world. Despite the original goals of genome research it is now a growing and important part of biofuel futures.

Filed Under: General, Human Genome Tagged With: biofuel, Energy, Genetic engineering

Buy Electronic Cigarettes Online and Lower Cancer Risk

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Cancer affects millions of people the world over. There are over a hundred types of cancers that affect various parts of the human body like the lungs, jaws, blood, breasts and prostate. Cancer Genome research aims to find ways to beat cancer at the root level. However, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Considering the number of people suffering from cancer, it is obvious that modern day lifestyles are encouraging the spread of the disease. There are several day to day habits that we may think as normal but go a great way towards causing cancer. These include our dietary habits, physical activity level, cosmetic products we use etc. Also, habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption have a huge impact on the risk of cancer.

Smoking tobacco products greatly increase the risk of lung cancer in a person. This is the reason why tobacco products like cigarettes and pipes carry a health hazard warning, made mandatory by the law. Billions of dollars are spent every year by consumers buying tobacco products. Nearly as much money goes into research of products that help smokers quit smoking reduce the risk of cancer. There are several such products already available for purchase in the market. These include chewing gums and patches that release nicotine in controlled amounts, helping the smoker cope with withdrawal symptoms and gives him/ her a better chance at quitting smoking. Another such product which is fast gaining popularity is the electronic cigarette. These vaporizing devices release flavored liquid with low nicotine or zero nicotine. They look just like a cigarette and work like one too, giving a smoker the psychological satisfaction of smoking a real cigarette. People can buy electronic cigarettes online as well at most health stores. Using alternative products go a long way in preventing cancer and helps chain as well as passive smokers live a healthier life.

Filed Under: Health, Human Genome Tagged With: Cigarette, Health, Tobacco smoking

Human Genomes Reveal Longevity Secrets

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Thanks to advances in the study of human genomes, health medicine and insurance premiums may never be the same. Scientists are studying the DNA of the world’s oldest individuals and have pinpointed certain genetic characteristics that lead to longevity. Soon a test may be available that would tell a person if they contain the genetic predisposition to live 100 years or more.

Scientists have been looking for clues to healthy aging and research has shown that in most developed countries most people live around 80 years and age continues to go up due to health medicine advances, better nutrition, and public health. These studies are targeting and researching the genes of those who live decades beyond this to see what characteristics they have in common genetically. So far, scientists have pinpointed 150 genetic markers that when taken together are linked to extra long life. One specific gene, when present, can triple an individual’s chances of living past 100.

These genes and the manner in which they interact is of course a very complex study. The study of specific genes that help the body to respond to disease, famine, and other physical and environmental stressors could play a role in teaching us more about ways to ward off diseases and other effects of aging in the future.

This kind of information is tantalizing and provoking especially for health medicine research, but what are the social consequences of making this sort of predictive test available to the public and or individual? These genome may reveal more information that many want or need to know. For instance, how would a person make life decisions regarding health care, retirement, life insurance, etc., if they knew they were likely or unlikely to live a very long life? Would life insurance and medical insurers exploit or deny coverages based upon genetic predisposition?

As biotech advances continue to reveal more information about the human species, more questions are raised about the social implications of such powerful and no less life altering information.

Filed Under: Biotech, Human Genome Tagged With: Biology, DNA, Gene, Human

Dog Genome Studies and Health Medicine

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Biotech engineers have sequenced the first dog genomes. Now they will be able to check pedigree by simply sending a mouth swab to the lab, but the benefits go beyond mere pedigree purity. Greater understanding of canine disease will hopefully reveal new health medicine advances for diseases that humans have in common with dogs such as cancer and diabetes.

The first breed of dog that scientists attempted to map was a standard poodle, but it was not a complete map. Now they have successfully mapped the complete genome sequence of a boxer breed and poodle. Not only can they compare the two breeds but they can compare these dog disease genomes to those in humans. The dog genome is proving to be a great model for study of genomes because of the selective breeding, and each species ability to adapt and take on molecular changes that make them more resilient or susceptible to disease.

Disease genes in dogs are similar and different from those in humans. They are similar because the same mutated gene causes the disease in dogs and in humans, the are different in that mutations in several different genes can cause a disease in humans, but with dogs it only takes a single mutated gene to cause the disease. Genomes in dogs contain over 19,000 genes and a great number of them can be matched with a similar human gene.

Because dogs have been selectively bred for many years, their genes are easy to pinpoint certain diseases. We already know that certain breeds are more likely to have disorders such as cancer, blindness, diabetes, and other diseases. Additionally, since purebred dogs populations have pedigrees which have been traced for generations scientists can access detailed breeding and relationship information. This speeds up the research process a great deal.

The human genome project is not the only research being done that can lead to health medicine breakthroughs and advances. Apparently, dogs really are man’s best friend in more ways that one.

Filed Under: Biotech, Human Genome Tagged With: Dog, Genome, Human, Mammal

A Kinder Way to Collect Dolphin DNA

Researchers have found a better and highly resourceful way to get the DNA samples that they need for genetic testing from dolphins and others aquatic animals. Until recently, samples were collected using dart guns from captive and wild dolphins, whales, and porpoises. Recently, researchers have found a more humane way to get the samples they need, replacing the old dart gun methods which are dangerous to the animals and required great skill to avoid injuring the mammals. Additionally, researchers were not able to use this method to extract samples from young or smaller mammals. Now they have begun to capture DNA tissue from the blowhole of the dolphins.

This technique requires the researchers to hold a test tube over the blowhole of the mammal to collect the excretions. Many captive dolphins have even been trained to exhale on cue. Then researchers took blood samples and compared them to the collected blow. The samples were identical and therefore proved that dolphin blow is just as effective as a test sample as the actual blood. This research application has been taken into a wild population in Australia and proven to also be successful in the wild.

Why would a viable and less invasive mode of DNA collection be important for health medicine? One reason is that the dolphin brain is of great interest to human genome researchers because it is the second largest in mass to the human brain based upon body size. Their brains are large and complex with personalities and behaviors that rival that of higher primate species. Scientists have often marveled at the dolphin’s intelligence and unsurpassed intuition when encountering their human counterparts.

The ability to easily collect DNA information from these amazing creatures opens the doors for comparative studies that just might shed light on how the human brain functions and malfunctions which could lead to insights and cures for brain and personality disorders in humans.

Filed Under: Biotech, Human Genome Tagged With: Australia, DNA, Dolphin, Research

Growing Diversity Good for Genome Studies

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Earlier this year, Africa added two sets of fully sequenced human genomes to the list of donations. The DNA came from a well known civil-rights activist and a tribal hunter-gatherer. These two men live lives and in environments that could not be more different and their samples were different indeed. These samples are important to researchers as they attempt to study where humans originated in Africa and which parts of populations were involved in migrations out of Africa. Scientists want to understand present diversities and track human evolution throughout time and development of diseases.

Some drugs designed to treat Europeans do not respond to the genetic makeup of Africans. This is due to the very diverse genetic patchwork that makes up the country. For example, certain tribes in Africa are more susceptible to Tuberculosis than the rest of the population and are unresponsive to the European drugs. Researchers hope that gathering more genomic data will eventually assist with the development of drugs that will work in these populations. Until this year none of the large human genome projects have been targeted at minority populations despite scientific interest.

Scientists have found the genomes specifically tantalizing as they revealed certain characteristics or adaptations that were most likely environmentally influenced over the course of time. For example one gene is linked to faster sprinting abilities and yet another that helps the kidneys to reabsorb chloride ions; both characteristics would enable a greater chance of survival in the desert environment where they have lived for generations as hunter-gatherers. On the downside, they lack certain genes that would protect them from certain diseases because they were so isolated they never developed them. As the country continues to encroach upon them they are exposed for the first time to illnesses such as malaria.

The few samples that scientists have from Africa only scratch the surface of the information they need to see the whole picture. As the cost of sequencing goes down and genome technology increases they are hopeful that they will be able to sequence a greater number of the diverse African population soon.

Filed Under: Human Genome Tagged With: Africa, DNA, Genome, Human