Schizophrenia as Misstep by Giant Gene

Researchers have made progress in understanding how a variant Gene linked to schizophrenia may exert its influence in the brain.

The findings are tentative but, if confirmed, could yield deep insights into the biological basis of the disease.

         The gene, called neuregulin-1, was first implicated in schizophrenia in 2002 by DeCode Genetics, a Reykjavik company that looks for the genetic roots of common diseases in the Icelandic population.

The researchers found that people who inherited two versions of the variant segment, one from each parent, were producing 50 percent more of neuregulin's Type 4 protein than those who inherited one or no copies.

The role of neuregulin's Type 4 proteins is unknown, but they may be involved in making neurons migrate, a property of great importance when the brain is being constructed.

Original Article

Scientists Discover Gene Linked to Higher Rates of Prostate Cancer

A team of scientists says it has detected a variant gene associated with prostate cancer, a finding that may make possible a diagnostic test to help decide which patients are the best candidates for aggressive treatment.

The discovery, by Decode Genetics, a gene-finding company in Iceland, may also help explain why African-Americans, in whom the variant is more common, have a greater incidence of the disease. Prostate cancer is a common disease with many causes, both genetic and environmental. Detection of the underlying genes is difficult because each seems to have only a small effect on the risk of getting the disease. Several candidate genes have been identified in one family or population but have generally not been confirmed by researchers trying to replicate the finding in other populations.

The company plans to develop a diagnostic test, based on the new variant, to help physicians decide how aggressively to treat the disease, especially in men over 70, on the assumption that men who carry the variant are more likely to develop serious cancer.

original Article:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/08/health/menshealth/08prostate.html

Genetic Testing for Tomorrow's Sports Superstars?

     Every parent wants their child to be successful; they have more faith in their children then they do themselves, and want better for their children than what they had. They want them to be the star-athlete, the honor student, and the take-your-breath-away singer when they get on stage, all in one. When it comes to athletes, the saying "it's in their genes," or "they were born to be an athlete." This is in fact plausible (take the Mannings, for example), but is it able to be genetically tested and pre-determined? There are companies that claim they can predict the athletic ability of children at a young age through genetic testing so they can be raised and trained to be that super-star athlete.    

   Although this sounds great and also sounds doable, it is not reality (yet). The genes that the companies supposedly test are ACTN3 R577X and ACE I/D, which have been linked to power performance and endurance. Although this is true, it is not proven that these tests are predictive and can there tell you if your child will be a cross country runner or body builder. 
     Honestly, I find this article very disheartening for two reasons. Number one, that companies are feeding on hopeful parents in an area they know they will put forth money to ensure their child's success. On the other hand, I also find it a bit much that parents are paying to see if their child will be a star athlete and pre-determining their future interests for them. Just because a child is "born to be" a star athlete, does not mean they will want to, and there is nothing wrong with that. Although the discoveries scientists are making this day in age are remarkable, I think we need to stick to discoveries that will benefit the health and well being of our society instead of trying to breed future NFL stars. 

Original Article
Related Article

Open Source For Cancerous Genome

Researchers from WuXi-NextCode, based in Shanghai, China, will sequence the genomes of 1000 cancer patients to identify new cancer-causing mutations and make the resulting database freely available to researchers.  The information could be used to develop new precision cancer treatment and make them available to people worldwide.  Doctors, cancer specialists and surgeons in San Antonio will help collaborate by gather tumor samples from patients with breast, lung, prostate, skin, colorectal, uterine, pancreatic, ovarian, stomach, brain cancer and blood sample with germline DNA, that does not carry mutation found in cancerous tissue.  NextCode is a spinoff from deCODE genetic based in Iceland where its technology was developed to handle analyzing and storing whole genome data from 350,000 people and validating more than 40 million variants.

This is interesting and could be useful for any of us who have plans to go into genetics or Oncology.  We could help find cures for cancer and NextCode would help with allowing everyone who uses it to share their findings and collaborate with each other.  I know that WuXi PharmaTech, the company that purchased deCODE for $65 Million in January, have a local lab in Philadelphia. I don’t think the local lab is part of this program but I do know they are constantly looking for scientist for their labs.

Original story  

WuXi PharmaTech company page

Tags: NextCode, deCODE, Cancer genome, open source sharing, WuXi PharmaTech

Iceland May Be the Key to Human Genome

Current research in Iceland could lead to a revolutionary look into the human genome. Four studies are currently underway that are examining the genome of Icelands human population, all four of which are funded under deCODE Genetics. Altogether, around 104,000 participants have been analyzed for their genes. Each study has examined different aspects of the human genome, such as “knockout” gene mutations and y chromosome mutation rates, but all four studies are coming together to build a bigger picture, both looking back into human evolution as well as looking forward into diagnostic and preventative care value. The studies, so far, have found links between genes that have been turned off in humans and their relation in the body, discovered that the most recent common ancestor for Y chromosomes lived 239,000 years ago (breaking from previous research estimates by a substantial 100,000 years ) , created new means to diagnosing diseases like Alzheimer’s, and even have contributed to uncovering cancerous mutations in women. Lead author of the papers and CEO/founder of deCODE has told BBC that other countries are gearing up to start this level of genome research, and that he hopes to combine global research to get a broader view of the human genome.