Weekly KromoNews: Volume 5, Issue 2
Editor's Note
Note the brand new "Genetics Trivia" section below! We hope to make this a regular feature - this is kind of a catch all for
us to show and tell all the interesting items that we find about genetics, that don't easily fit into the other established categories.
And here you can find all
(ahem, all 2 of them that is) genetics trivia entries that have been added since this content area
was established earlier today.
A brand new google gadget "Gene of Day" is available for you. (Quite simply, it shows a different gene every day.)
You can add it to your google dashboard (or other similar dashboards) by clicking here:
You can find all google gadgets, and RSS feeds by clicking on the "Feeds" link in the left menu.
If you have thought about becoming a premium member but have not done it yet,
this is easily the best 3.33$ that you can spend each month. It is $0.07 less than the price of a medium Caramel Machiato at Starbucks (and in case you do decide to go with Starbucks instead, then may we suggest upping it to Venti - at only $0.25 more, it is much better deal).
Buy/extend your premium membership
Later,
--
Amrinder Arora,
Guest Editor, KromoNews
This Week in Genetics
Gene related to heart disease identified in South Asian population
Jan 19, 2009
Heart disease is the number one killer in the world and India carries more than its share of this burden. Moreover, the problem is set to rise: it is predicted that by 2010 India's population will suffer approximately 60% of the world's heart disease. Today, an international team of 25 scientists from four countries provides a clue to why this is so: 1% of the world's population carries a mutation almost guaranteed to lead to heart problems and most of these come from the Indian subcontinent, where the mutation reaches a frequency of 4%.
[Nature Genetics]
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Connection between circadian rhythm and type 2 diabetes established
Jan 17, 2009
An international research team has succeeded in identifying a new gene variant which is associated with elevated fasting glucose levels and a high risk for type 2 diabetes. The gene mediates insulin secretion indirectly via the release of melatonin, which implicates a previously unknown relationship between the sleep-wake rhythm and the fasting glucose level. The gene mediates insulin secretion indirectly via the release of melatonin, which implicates a previously unknown relationship between the sleep-wake rhythm and the fasting glucose level. The finding could open up new possibilities of treatment which go far beyond the primarily symptomatic therapy approaches to diabetes that have been practiced until now.
[Nature Genetics]
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Secondary molecular mechanisms of heredity
Jan 18, 2009
Researchers have detected evidence that DNA may not be the only carrier of heritable information. The study showed that epigenetic factors – acting independently from DNA – were more similar in monozygotic twins than dizygotic twins. This finding suggests that there is a secondary molecular mechanism of heredity. The epigenetic heritability may help explain currently unclear issues in human disease, such as the presence of a disease in only one monozygotic twin, the different susceptibility of males (e.g. to autism) and females (e.g. to lupus), significant fluctuations in the course of a disease (e.g. bipolar disorder, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis), among numerous others.
[Nature Genetics]
Read Full Story
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Upcoming Genetics Event
Chromatin Conference: Histones, Nucleosomes, Chromosomes and Genomes |
| When: | Mon Feb 9, 2009 to Wed Feb 11, 2009 |
| Title: | Chromatin Conference: Histones, Nucleosomes, Chromosomes and Genomes |
| Description: | This conference will deal with histone modifications, enzymology and biochemistry, histone variants, Genome mapping of the chromatin primary structure, Nuclear organization, RNA and chromatin. |
| Where: | The Pan Pacific hotel , 7 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore |
| Contact: | Neil Clarke |
| Email: | events@abcam.com |
| Website: | http://www.abcam.com/index.html?pageconfig=resource&rid=11490 |
Genetics Term of the Week: Homeotic Gene
Homeotic Gene: Homeotic genes, also known as Hox genes, specify the location and aid in the cellular differentiation during early embryonic development. These genes control the proper number and placement of embryonic segment structures (such as legs, antennae, and eyes). Incorrect expression of homeotic genes can lead to major changes in the development of an individual.
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Trivia!
Nobel Prize - 1995: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1995 was awarded to Edward B. Lewis, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, and Eric F. Wieschaus, for finding how embryonic development is changed by genes. A starting point in this research on the genetic basis for so-called homeotic transformations during early embryonic development was Lewis' work with the now famous Drosophila-mutant with four wings instead of two.
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