Biology News

Local chemical signals released by fat cells in the mammary gland appear to provide a crucial link between exposure to unrelenting social stressors early in life, and the subsequent development of breast cancer, researchers from the University of Chicago report in the July 2013 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research .

Mannitol, a sugar alcohol produced by fungi, bacteria, and algae, is a common component of sugar-free gum and candy.

Aspirin is known to lower risk for some cancers, and a new study led by a UC San Francisco scientist points to a possible explanation, with the discovery that aspirin slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells in at least one pre-cancerous condition.

The Supreme Court came to a landmark decision on Thursday ruling that the discovery of gene sequences is not patentable.

A dapper older gentleman spurns his mate of a certain age to take a fresh-faced young lover.

Although a family history of Alzheimer's disease is a primary risk factor for the devastating neurological disorder, mutations in only three genes - the amyloid precursor protein and presenilins 1 and 2 - have been established as causative for inherited, early-onset Alzheimer's, accounting for about half of such cases.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 40,000 women in the United States will succumb to breast cancer this year.

Two new studies offer some solace to those who can't control their weight despite diet and exercise by providing more evidence that genetics may play a role in obesity.

In a recent interview with the Washington Blade , breast cancer survivor Melissa Etheridge called Angelina Jolie's decision to have a double mastectomy "the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer."

"These findings represent an effort to help solve one of the major global health crises of our time -- the resurgence of TB and its dangerous drug-resistant strains," said Peter G. Schultz, the Scripps Family Chair Professor of Chemistry at TSRI, who was senior author of the study with William R. Jacobs, Jr., member of the Howard Hughes Medical ... (more)

Derek Lovley, a microbiologist at the University of Massachusetts, led a U.S. government-supported project to make the gasoline substitute, butanol, from microbes in the laboratory.

DALLAS June 17, 2013 The quality of wakefulness affects how quickly a mammal falls asleep, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report in a study that identifies two proteins never before linked to alertness and sleep-wake balance.

This photomicrograph shows cancerous cells detected by a Pap test. Experiments carried out by a team at University College London uncovered what causes the disease to migrate.

Jacqueline Price had a double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA genetic mutation linked to a higher risk of cancer.

National Paracycling Champion Tom Staniford has an extremely rare condition which, until now, has puzzled his doctors.

Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience ; Ovarian Cancer ; Water - Air Quality / Agriculture Article Date: 17 Jun 2013 - 0:00 PDT Frontiers in Microbiology Insights into fungal communities in composts revealed by 454-pyrosequencing: Implications for human health and safety Composting is a ... (more)

The US Supreme Court's unanimous ruling last week that newly discovered genes belong to humankind and cannot be patented will be a boon "to patients, their families, their doctors, scientists - and common sense," said the University of Washington's Prof.

A technician loads patient samples into a machine for testing at Myriad Genetics Friday, May 31, 2002, in Salt Lake City.

The U.S. Supreme Court Building is seen in this March 31, 2012, file photo in Washington, D.C. Naturally occurring human gene sequences cannot be patented but artificially copied and replicated DNA can be, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 13, 2013.

The $14.5 billion investment by the U.S. in the Human Genome Project, completed a decade ago, has paid off more than 60-fold in new jobs, drugs and a rapidly expanding genetics industry, an analysis has found.