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454 Life Sciences, Applied Biosystems, and Illumina Inc have joined an international team to help sequence the entire human genome of more than 1000 people worldwide. Complete sequence data will give scientists a broader picture of rarer diseases not identified via the HapMap catalog that was released in 2003.

The genetic blueprints, or genomes, of any two humans are more than 99 percent the same. Still, the small fraction of genetic material that varies among people holds valuable clues to individual differences in susceptibility to disease, response to drugs and sensitivity to environmental factors.

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HIV is a rapidly mutating virus that easily becomes drug resistant. To effectively eliminate the virus, all strains must be identified and destroyed. While traditional DNA sequencing produces accurate data for virus identification, researchers are combining statistics with pyrosequencing technology in an effort to produce faster and more economical results.

Using this method, medicines and vaccines against diseases caused by viral infections could be developed and deployed in a more targeted way in the future.

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Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. concluded phase III clinical trials for a new drug that may be able to replace methotrexate in treatment of head and neck cancers in certain patients. It shows fewer negative side effects than methotrexate, thus improving the quality of life for the patient in treatment. Life expectancy also increased for patients with a favorable p53 profile.

Cells become cancerous because p53 no longer functions. Restoring p53 works unlike any current cancer treatment because it treats the cancer genome.

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Adeno-associated virus (AVV) has been identified as an attractive candidate for delivering gene therapy because it is able to infect cells without causing disease. Studies show that a certain vector DNA modification has drastically improved the efficiency for reaching the nucleus. This type of genetically altered AVV could reduce the amount of vector (payload virus) needed for treatment and save significant research dollars through improved effectiveness.

Two weeks after the mice were injected with the corrective gene, one of the new AAV-gene combos was working 29 times better than the standard vector was at incorporating the new gene into cells, at a 10-fold lower dose.

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real time pcr

Research in yeast and bacteria shows that the effects of some "bad" genetic mutations may be reduced through vitamin supplements. This news offers hope for solutions to human genetic mutations. Knowing an individual's DNA sequence could tell them more than genetic problems, it could point to a cure.

Marini and Rine estimate that the average person has five rare mutant enzymes, and perhaps other not-so-rare variants, that could be improved with vitamin or mineral supplements.

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Real time PCR is responsible for the majority of DNA and RNA sequencing in clinical laboratories.  This technique is used in paternity tests, forensics,  and virology.  The future of real time PCR just became smaller and more efficient.

...the researchers were able to isolate 30 cells implanted with the genetic information for a green-fluorescing protein from 25 µL of blood, concentrate them 100-fold, wash them, rupture them, and detect the gene for the green protein by real-time PCR—all within just 17 minutes!

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Chemotherapy is expensive and often causes crippling side effects. With these known negatives, cancer patients face a tough choice when choosing treatment. Now consider that the patient's DNA may limit or even prevent their ability to respond to chemotherapy.

If we can get genetic information before giving a drug, we can help patients, their families and doctors by saving money and delivering faster cure.

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While the instrument used in this crime lab has been discontinued, there is no question that automation has enabled it to produce DNA-based evidence at an accelerated schedule. Increased automation in forensic labs will help reduce sample backlogs and allow many more crimes to be solved.

The M-48 does in an hour what it would take dozens of technicians to do in weeks.

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Looks like the USDA released the complete genetic data for 150 avian influenza viruses to improve diagnostic tests. This should help categorize and isolate the next big Bird Flu virus coming out of Asia.

The sequence data includes about 10 or 15 viruses collected in the 1930s and held at the USDA laboratory at Plum Island, New York, Suarez reported. There are also isolates from the 1970s and 1980s, but most are from the 1990s and 2000s...

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