“IBM's DNA-Reading Chips Herald Personalized Medicine - NewsFactor Network” plus 4 more |
- IBM's DNA-Reading Chips Herald Personalized Medicine - NewsFactor Network
- HHMI Researcher Thomas Steitz Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- HP to kit out new Systems Biology CSET with storage tech - Silicon Republic
- Systems Biology Ireland Uses HP Technology to Advance Therapeutic ... - Consumer Electronics Net
- Science Day on Madison campus to honor biology mentor's legacy - Recorder Community Newspapers
| IBM's DNA-Reading Chips Herald Personalized Medicine - NewsFactor Network Posted: 06 Oct 2009 11:54 PM PDT |  IBM  Research may help bring DNA sequencing to the masses. The company has discovered a way to read information within the genetic code of DNA strands.
Big Blue scientists are building a nanoscale DNA sequencer by drilling nano-sized holes in computer-like chips and passing DNA strands through them. The company said its effort to demonstrate a silicon-based "DNA transistor" could help pave the way to read human DNA easily and quickly, generating advancements in health diagnosis and treatment. Of course, there are challenges. In the case of DNA transistors, scientists are charged with slowing and controlling the motion of the DNA through the hole so the reader can accurately decode what is in the DNA. The $1,000 Genome If successful, IBM expects the project could improve throughput and reduce the cost to achieve personalized genome analysis to $100 to $1,000. By comparison, the first sequencing ever done by the Human Genome Project cost nearly $3 billion. A human genome sequencing affordable for individuals is the ultimate goal and is commonly referred to as the "$1,000 genome." Having access to an individual's personal genetic code could advance personalized medicine by using genomic and molecular data to facilitate the discovery and clinical testing of new products, and help determine a person's predisposition to a particular disease or condition. "The technologies that make reading DNA fast, cheap and widely available have the potential to revolutionize biomedical research and herald an era of personalized medicine," said IBM research scientist Gustavo Stolovitzky. "Ultimately, it could improve the quality of medical care by identifying patients who will gain the greatest benefit from a particular medicine and those who are most at risk of adverse reaction." Gene Sequencing on a Chip
This targeted-solutions approach is nothing new for IBM. The company has been creating optimized server "As gene sequencing becomes more widely available and more widely used for a variety of medical and pharmaceutical applications, having an individual chip that's optimized and can be used as the base microprocessor technology for a variety of medical devices is intriguing and could be a boon for IBM and for its partners," King said.
"This could bring gene sequencing down from a cost and ease-of-use standpoint to the point where it could become a common practice over time rather than something that costs thousands of dollars," he said. "I think IBM is helping the world move in that direction with gene sequencing." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HHMI Researcher Thomas Steitz Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Howard Hughes Medical Institute Posted: 07 Oct 2009 04:04 AM PDT
|  October 07, 2009 HHMI Researcher Thomas Steitz Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced today that Thomas A. Steitz, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Yale University, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan of the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and Ada E. Yonath of the Weizmann Institute of Science, are the recipients of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome. According to the Royal Swedish Academy, this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to the three scientists for research that shows what the ribosome looks like and how it functions at the atomic level. All three have used a method called x-ray crystallography to map the position for each and every one of the hundreds of thousands of atoms that make up the ribosome. In addition to the three awardees, Harry Noller of the University of California Santa Cruz and Peter Moore at Yale made enormous contributions to solving the structure of the ribosome. An understanding of the ribosome's innermost workings is important for a scientific understanding of life. This knowledge can be put to a practical and immediate use; many of today's antibiotics cure various diseases by blocking the function of bacterial ribosomes. Without functional ribosomes, bacteria cannot survive. This is why ribosomes are such an important target for new antibiotics. The ribosome is a large molecular complex of RNA and protein. When ribosomes are isolated from cell extracts, two different fractions are obtained, representing two subunits. The smaller 30S subunit binds the messenger RNA that constitutes the protein's genetic blueprint, as well as the transfer RNA that carries each specific amino acid to be added to the growing chainlike protein molecule. The larger 50S subunit catalyzes the formation of the bond between each amino acid and the growing protein chain. Steitz uses the methods of x-ray crystallography and molecular biology to establish the structures and mechanisms of the proteins and nucleic acids involved in gene expression, replication, and recombination. In x-ray crystallography, protein crystals are bombarded with intense x-ray beams. As the x-rays pass through and bounce off of atoms in the crystal, they leave a diffraction pattern, which can then be analyzed to determine the three-dimensional shape of the protein. In 2000, Steitz and his colleagues used the 2.5 billion electron volt x-ray beam at Brookhaven National Laboratory's National Synchrotron Light Source to perform x-ray crystallography on crystals of 50S subunits that were produced with osmium and iridium atoms attached to act as landmarks. Additional data were gathered using the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. As with most scientific achievements, the work built on a foundation established by the thousands of scientists who have pored over every aspect of ribosome function during the past 50 years. Through the years, research groups large and small have amassed an impressive amount of information about the ribosome, but no group has succeeded in creating an accurate three-dimensional map. "Our previous maps of the 50S subunit at nine- and five-Ångström resolution gave us some hints at the structure, but not until we achieved the 2.5-Ångström resolution could we resolve the atomic structure of all 100,000 atoms that are well ordered in the crystal," said Steitz. "This structure is about four times larger than any other such structure that has ever been determined, and the 3,000 nucleotides of RNA increased the amount of known RNA structure by about 4 to 5 fold." According to Steitz, the process of achieving such high resolution meant painstakingly improving the process of growing larger, more complete ribosome crystals, and solving structures of those crystals at progressively higher resolution. Each lower-resolution map provided information that could help the scientists understand the ultimate high-resolution map, he said. "I think we were amazed at each stage at the overwhelming complexity of the RNA folding in the ribosome," said Steitz. "But I think the most surprising observation was that the proteins were embedded among the RNA helices, penetrating into the interior of the ribosome like tentacles." Such penetration of proteins explains why previous researchers had not been able to show that the ribosome depended solely on RNA as its catalytic molecule," said Steitz. "Since Thomas Cech had shown that RNA could have catalytic activity, we had suspected that the 50S subunit was basically a ribozyme," said Steitz. "However, there was no proof. Nobody had been able to show that the RNA by itself showed catalytic properties in the absence of the protein. Now we can see that part of the reason is probably the nature of these proteins that are holding the ribosome together. "Our structure shows that these proteins are deeply embedded in the RNA and are essential for its folding. And it shows unambiguously that the ribosome is a ribozyme because we can see where the substrate binds and there's no protein atom near enough to that site to produce any catalytic activity." The structure also provides intriguing insights into how the ribosome might originally have evolved, perhaps as a machine to make short proteins, or peptides, said Steitz. "Earlier experiments by Cech and others had shown that it was possible to create RNA molecules that have some of the catalytic properties of the ribosome in peptide synthesis," he said. "Now we can see in this structure that some aspects of the native ribosome reflect some aspects of those RNA molecules produced through in vitro evolution. So, the expectation that a small RNA molecule could have evolved to catalyze peptide bond synthesis is not a far stretch. "However, that peptide-making RNA molecule would not have been directed by messages from some early genome," he added. "How evolution managed to progress from making a random peptide to messenger-directed synthesis, we haven't a clue." According to Steitz, the high-resolution structure offered a pathway to far deeper understanding of the protein-assembling machinery. "We're certainly not done with the scientific challenges presented by the ribosome," said Steitz. "Although I must say I do feel as if we're standing on Mount Everest at the moment and I'm now looking to find K2." In more recent experiments, Steitz and his research group have been chiseling away at the problem of antibiotic resistance. Their research has produced a detailed explanation of how the main target of antibiotics in bacterial cells evolves to become resistant to some of these medications. The findings are already leading to new experimental antibiotics that are being engineered to circumvent resistance, which is a major worldwide health problem. Steitz is also Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Professor of Chemistry at Yale University. He received a B.A. degree in chemistry from Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology and biochemistry from Harvard, with William Lipscomb. After a postdoctoral year at Harvard, he moved to the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, England, to work as a Jane Coffin Childs fellow with David Blow. He next joined the Yale faculty, where he has remained, except for sabbatical work with Klaus Weber in Göttingen, Germany; Aaron Klug at Cambridge; John Abelson at the California Institute of Technology; and Thomas Cech and Olke Uhlenbeck at the University of Colorado. He has received the Pfizer Prize from the American Chemical Society, the Lewis S. Rosenstiel Award for distinguished work in basic medical sciences, the 2001 Newcomb Cleveland Prize from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Lawrence University Lucia R. Briggs Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2006 Keio Medical Science Prize, and the 2007 Gairdner International Award. Dr. Steitz is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was recently elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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| HP to kit out new Systems Biology CSET with storage tech - Silicon Republic Posted: 07 Oct 2009 07:03 AM PDT Last month, it emerged that the Irish Government is investing €14.8 million over the next five years in a new Systems Biology Ireland Research Centre led by UCD that will make Ireland a leader in the consolidation of computing, maths and biology and could prove vital to attracting foreign direct investment in the years ahead. The new computing centre could also make Ireland a vital contributor in the fight against cancer and the race to find a cure for the deadly disease. The SBI research program, enabled by HP scale-out storage technology, seeks to unravel the complexities of cells through the use of models that predict biological behaviour. Modern life sciences research is data intensive, generating considerable amounts of information that needs to be stored, managed and retrieved in an instant. SBI is using the multipetabyte storage capacity of the HP StorageWorks 9100 Extreme Data Storage (ExDS9100) system to improve the efficiency of research processes. "The research being undertaken by SBI will aid the development of new treatments for medical conditions, including various cancers, and allow for better therapies to be delivered faster and more effectively to patients," said David Medina, executive lead, Worldwide Life Sciences and Pharma Segment, HP. "The HP ExDS9100 helps make the SBI program possible by driving efficiency in research and dramatically reducing the complexity and cost of storage." The HP ExDS9100 allows customers to easily manage large amounts of data, save data-centre space and lower costs. For customers needing high levels of scalability, such as SBI, the ExDS9100 can hold up to 16 BladeSystem c-Class server blades with hundreds of terabytes of storage capacity. To save administrative time, the ExDS9100 features a single management interface that allows complete visibility to the performance utilisation and capacity of servers and storage within the system. "The next phase of discoveries in biomedical research will be at the nexus of technology, computation, chemistry, modelling and biology," said Prof Walter Kolch, director, Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin. "Extending beyond our storage needs, our collaboration with HP includes engaging knowledgeable people who understand our business and this complex industry. By working with HP and other organisations around the world, we can help speed up the experimentation process and reduce the number of years it takes to develop a new drug therapy." The SBI research program is a collaboration among industry and academic organisations, including Agilent Technologies, Ark Therapeutics, HP, Protagen AG, Science Foundation Ireland, Servier, Siemens Ireland and University College Dublin. By John Kennedy Photo: Director General of Science Foundation Ireland, Prof Frank Gannon, with Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Conor Lenihan TD, and Prof Walter Kolch, Director, Systems Biology Ireland, at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. Photo by Conor McCabe of Jason Clarke Photography. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Systems Biology Ireland Uses HP Technology to Advance Therapeutic ... - Consumer Electronics Net Posted: 07 Oct 2009 06:42 AM PDT October 07, 2009 -- PALO ALTO, Calif., BUSINESS WIRE --HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced it is collaborating with Systems Biology Ireland (SBI) on life sciences research aimed at providing a powerful new way to use the strength of computers and mathematics to understand biology.  The SBI research program, enabled by HP scale-out storage technology, seeks to unravel the complexities of cells through the use of models that predict biological behavior. Modern life sciences research is data intensive, generating considerable amounts of information that needs to be stored, managed and retrieved in an instant. SBI is using the multipetabyte storage capacity of the HP StorageWorks 9100 Extreme Data Storage (ExDS9100) system to improve the efficiency of research processes. 'The research being undertaken by SBI will aid the development of new treatments for medical conditions, including various cancers, and allow for better therapies to be delivered faster and more effectively to patients,' said David Medina, executive lead, Worldwide Life Sciences and Pharma Segment, HP. 'The HP ExDS9100 helps make the SBI program possible by driving efficiency in research and dramatically reducing the complexity and cost of storage.' The HP ExDS9100 allows customers to easily manage large amounts of data,save datacenter space and lower costs. For customers needinghigh levels of scalability, such as SBI, theExDS9100 can hold up to16 BladeSystem c-Class server blades with hundreds ofterabytes of storage capacity. To save administrative time, the ExDS9100 featuresa single management interface that allows complete visibility to the performance utilization and capacity of servers and storage within the system. 'The next phase of discoveries in biomedical research will be at the nexus of technology, computation, chemistry, modeling and biology,' said Professor Walter Kolch, director, Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin. 'Extending beyond our storage needs, our collaboration with HP includes engaging knowledgeable people who understand our business and this complex industry. By working with HP and other organizations around the world, we can help speed up the experimentation process and reduce the number of years it takes to develop a new drug therapy.' The SBI research program is a collaboration among industry and academic organizations, including Agilent Technologies, Ark Therapeutics, HP, Protagen AG, Science Foundation Ireland, Servier, Siemens Ireland and University College Dublin. About HP HP, the world's largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/. Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, includingbut not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2009 andHP'sother filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
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| Science Day on Madison campus to honor biology mentor's legacy - Recorder Community Newspapers Posted: 07 Oct 2009 04:26 AM PDT She held a bachelor's degree from James Millikin University, Decatur, Ill.; a master's degree from the University of Illinois, and a doctoral degree from New York University. Past And Future "Just as Dr. Phillips is an important part of the history of science at Drew, she is also of equal importance to its future," said Ross. "Through her estate, the university will receive an extremely generous gift, which will improve science education for Drew students in the decades ahead." Future science students who would benefit from Phillips' bequest will be on the Drew campus on Oct. 12 for the school's Science Day Open House, a program designed for college-bound high school students interested in a scientific course of study at Drew. Holding the open house and the celebration of Phillips' career on the same day, according to Ross, is a fitting tribute.
• The first of three events in Phillips' honor, a showcase of Drew students' summer research, will begin at 2:15 p.m. in Mead Hall. All student presenters were participants in last season's Drew Summer Science Institute, a "hands-on" research program for undergraduates. Their projects focused on such topics as learning and memory, air pollution and antibiotic drugs.
• At 4:30 p.m. in Room 4 in the Hall of Sciences, the program will continue with a talk by biology professors Roger Knowles, Stephen Dunaway and David Miyamoto. The three will speak on their respective research endeavors, including Alzheimer's disease, cell division in cancer patients, and embryonic development.
• The celebration of Phillips' life and career will conclude with a 6 p.m. buffet dinner in Mead Hall.
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