Vitamin D's possible effect on our genes

Researchers from the UK and Canada have identified 229 human genes that are influenced by changes in vitamin D levels. Several of these genes are implicated in cancers and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis....[Read More]

US judge rules against Obama's stem cell policy

A ruling of a district federal judge has halted federally-funded embryonic stem cell research in the United States...[Read More]

UK may allow payments for gamete donors

Egg and sperm donors in the UK could receive increased compensation under new proposals aimed at reducing the number of couples travelling abroad for treatment...[Read More]

Skin disease has inbuilt genetic 'cure'

Scientists have identified genetic changes responsible for the rare skin condition, ichthyosis with confetti (IWC). They also discovered that skin cells from patients with IWC can eliminate the genetic mutation that causes the disease...[Read More]

Molecular approach to male infertility

Research carried out at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine suggests that the packaging of DNA affects the production of sperm and could explain some cases of male infertility....[Read More]

CIRM gives $243m more funding to stem cell research

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in San Francisco has approved a further $243 million to encourage researchers working on stem cell therapies to push forward into the clinical trial phase...[Read More]

Cause of corneal disease lies in the genes

Researchers have discovered that people who carry a mutated form of the transcription factor 4 gene (TCF4) have as much as a 30-fold increased risk of developing Fuchs's corneal dystrophy...[Read More]

British DNA scientist was suspected of spying for Russia

Maurice Wilkins won the Nobel Prize for Medicine with James Watson and Francis Crick in 1962, for the pioneering work in deciphering the structure of the DNA helix. Files recently released to the National Archives now reveal that he was previously being investigated for being a potential communist sympathiser and betraying secrets from his work on the first nuclear bomb...[Read More]

Stem cell hope for spinal injury

Japanese researchers have overcome a major obstacle to treating severe spinal cord injuries using stem cells taken from the brain...[Read More]

Red blood cells made from IVF embryos

Scottish researchers have taken a major step towards the 'holy grail' of haematology - the ability to produce a limitless supply of artificial blood cells. The team successfully produced significant amounts of red blood cells from stem cells harvested from spare IVF embryos...[Read More]

Prox1 gene linked to memory

A gene called Prox1 has a crucial role in an area of the brain involved in creating new memories, US scientists have discovered. The researchers focused on a region of the brain called the dentate gyrus, a small structure which is important for learning, memory and spatial navigation...[Read More]

Parkinson's disease study finds genetic links

Genetic defects in the immune system may be associated with Parkinson's disease, according to a recent study published in Nature Genetics. The genome wide association study (GWAS) is the first to link mutations in a gene in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region, which is known to be involved in immunity, to Parkinson's...[Read More]

IVF funding cut in Warrington

Funding of IVF treatment has been suspended by Warrington Primary Care Trust (PCT) following a review to assess whether the service matched agreed health priorities and offered the best value for money. Warrington is the only PCT in the North West, of which there are 24, to cut the funding of IVF, reports say...[Read More]

Involuntary childlessness has a significant impact, study shows

Involuntary childlessness may have a bigger negative impact on peoples' lives than previously thought. A researcher studying couples who unsuccessfully underwent IVF treatment say these people had a lower quality of life than couples with children...[Read More]

Genetic link to Tuberculosis prognosis

Researchers have come one step closer to being able to predict who will develop full-blown symptoms following infection with the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium...[Read More]

FDA mounts legal challenge to stop treatment at US stem cell clinic

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has demanded a federal injunction from the US District Court of the District of Columbia to stop Regenerative Sciences (a Colorado based stem cell clinic) from using patients' own stem cells as medicinal treatment...[Read More]

CORRECTION: Report backs role of PGS in assisted reproduction

In BioNews 571, we published the story 'Report backs role of PGD in assisted reproduction'. Many thanks to the readers who pointed out that the story was referring to PGS and not PGD, as stated in the original BioNews article....[Read More]

UK's HFEA updates single embryo transfer fee proposal

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has updated its position on the way clinics should be charged for performing IVF with a single embryo transfer (SET)...[Read More]

Studies find gene variants linked to blood cholesterol levels

Two new studies published in Nature have found...[Read More]

Stem cell surgery a success, say UK doctors

An 11-year-old boy has returned home after becoming the first child to undergo a pioneering surgery which used his own stem cells to rebuild his windpipe. The operation, which took place in March this year at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, has been hailed as 'a success'...[Read More]