Event review: ESRC Genomics Network Conference 2013

Earlier this month, over 180 delegates and speakers gathered in London for the final annual conference of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Genomics Network (EGN). After a decade of support from the ESRC, the EGN will officially draw to a close at the end of May... [Read More]

Rare brain disorder identified, explained thanks to genomic research

Research to identify an Australian boy's mystery illness, which ultimately involved scientists around the world, led to the identification of a new paediatric brain disorder, as well as the faulty gene behind the condition... [Read More]

Event Review: Heart Genetics - Predicting the Future?

I'd not been to a Cafe Scientifique event before and was a little unsure of what to expect. The Royal Brompton coffee shop setting did at first feel strange; I'm more used to discussions in lecture theatres where there is a clear distinction between audience and speaker... [Read More]

Cancer treatment should be based on gene 'fingerprints', says study

Genetic analysis of tumours provides the key to treating them effectively, according to two studies carried out by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).... [Read More]

Scotland: £20 million personalised medicine research centre gets go-ahead

The University of Glasgow will receive £20 million to develop a research centre dedicated to personalised medicine... [Read More]

Crick Cambridge college commemoration

A memorial to Francis Crick has been unveiled at his former college at the University of Cambridge to mark the 60th anniversary of the publication of the structure of DNA... [Read More]

Autism mechanism goes beyond genes

A study on identical twins with distinct autistic traits suggests that epigenetic factors may be important in understanding how the neurological disorder develops... [Read More]

'Gene signature' predicts chemotherapy survival

Scientists have identified an eight-gene 'signature' that can predict patients' response to chemotherapy... [Read More]

Synthetic biology could provide solution to bird flu

Synthetic biology is being used in the hunt for a vaccine for H7N9, the new strain of bird flu emerging in China, with hopes it could shave a vital two weeks off the development process... [Read More]

Severe childhood obesity: four gene variants identified

Scientists have identified four new gene variants associated with severe childhood obesity... [Read More]

Radio Review: DNA 60 Years On

DNA 60 Years On does an excellent job of highlighting the transformation of DNA from an obscure molecule to a symbol of our identity and individuality and the role it has come to play in our lives... [Read More]

Identical twin genome study reveals leukaemia's embryonic origins

Genome analysis of identical twins with childhood leukaemia has helped pinpoint genetic mutations which may kick-start the disease in the mother's womb... [Read More]

700 and counting

Welcome to the 700th edition of BioNews. The hyperbole we were planning to use to celebrate this landmark no longer seems appropriate given the sad news of the death of Professor Sir Robert Edwards - or just 'Bob', as he was known - on Wednesday.... [Read More]

Companies hold patents on entire human genome

A new study has reported that the entire human genome may be under patents held by commercial companies.... [Read More]

Patients should get health risk gene information whether they want it or not, says report

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics has published a report recommending that patients who have their genomes sequenced should automatically be told of incidental genetic findings.... [Read More]

Event Review: Personal Genetics - An Intersection Between Science, Society, and Policy

In the decade since the human genome was first sequenced, the cost of reading a human genome has dropped from around US $100,000,000 to around US $6,000. In the past year the target has shifted from the '$1000 genome' to the '$0 genome'... [Read More]

TV Review: Meet the Izzards

If asked to describe Eddie Izzard, your reply may include the words actor, comedian, transvestite and marathon runner. Well, now you can add 'part Neanderthal' to the list... [Read More]

Common mental disorders share a genetic link

Five of the most common psychiatric disorders share genetic risk factors, an international study published in the Lancet has found... [Read More]

Gene variant increases risk of heart valve disease

A mutation in the gene for lipoprotein(a), a type of cholesterol, is linked to aortic valve disease, according to a large international study... [Read More]

Event Review: Futures in Reproduction

In 2010, Professor Sir Robert Edwards was awarded a long overdue Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, for his the part he played in pioneering both the theory and practice of IVF. This conference focused on the kind of cutting-edge research that takes Professor Edwards' legacy forward... [Read More]