Wednesday, March 3, 2010

“Heart patient's own skin cells may soon repair damaged cardiac tissue - Newstrack India” plus 3 more

“Heart patient's own skin cells may soon repair damaged cardiac tissue - Newstrack India” plus 3 more

Heart patient's own skin cells may soon repair damaged cardiac tissue - Newstrack India

Posted: 02 Mar 2010 10:30 PM PST

Washington, Mar 3 (ANI): Thanks to a pioneering stem cell research, it may soon be possible to turn ordinary human skin cells into early-stage heart cells, claims a scientist.

 

The new technique for reprogramming human skin cells by Robert Schwartz, University of Houston biomedical scientist, puts him at the forefront of a revolution in medicine that could one day lead to treatments for Alzheimer's, diabetes, muscular dystrophy and many other diseases.

 

 

Schwartz brings his ground-breaking research to UH as the Cullen Distinguished Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and head of UH's new Center for Gene Regulation and Molecular Therapeutics.

 

Schwartz devised a method for turning ordinary human skin cells into heart cells. The cells developed are similar to embryonic stem cells and ultimately can be made into early-stage heart cells derived from a patient's own skin. These then could be implanted and grown into fully developed beating heart cells, reversing the damage caused by previous heart attacks. These new cells would replace the damaged cardiac tissue that weakens the heart's ability to pump, develops into scar tissue and causes arrhythmias.

 

Early clinical trials using these reprogrammed cells on actual heart patients could begin within one or two years.

 

Schwartz's method requires fewer steps and yields more stem cells. Armed with an effective way to make induced stem cells from a patient's own skin, scientists can then begin the work of growing all kinds of human cells. (ANI)

 

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Life Technologies Unveils Single Molecule Sequencing Technology - Forbes

Posted: 01 Mar 2010 04:52 AM PST


BusinessWire - Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) today announced early stage results from its single molecule sequencing (SMS) technology. The technology promises to combine virtually unlimited continuous long read lengths with unmatched accuracy to deliver targeted genomic sequence data in a matter of hours, paving the way for sequencing to become a commonplace tool in research laboratories and clinical settings worldwide.

Dr. Joseph Beechem, Chief Technology Officer and head of single molecule sequencing research for Life Technologies, presented results related to the system on Saturday at the Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) meeting in Marco Island, Florida.

Single molecule sequencing will enable analysis of genomic information without the need for cloning or amplification, allowing for data generation in only a few hours versus days or weeks with current systems, a critical trait for eventual use in a clinical setting. While next-generation sequencing technologies, such as the Applied Biosystems SOLiD(TM) System, will continue to be the technology of choice for whole genome sequencing and expression profiling, the attributes of Life Technologies' single molecule sequencing technology promises to render it particularly useful for analyses of clinically relevant genes in cancer and immunology, and for deciphering RNA structure, viruses, and patterns of methylation.

The new technology uses Qdot(R) nanocrystals as its core sequencing engine. Qdots are nanometer-sized semiconductor crystals that have made them ideal for groundbreaking cellular imaging research and for the detection of individual protein molecules. Compared to conventional fluorescence detection with organic dye molecules, the Qdot approach generates signals more than 100 times greater, enabling simple single molecule detection. The SMS system uses specially designed sequencing versions of these nanocrystals, attached to proprietary DNA polymerase molecules.

The system monitors the real time incorporation of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) into individual growing DNA strands. As nucleotides are incorporated, they are energized by photons transferred from the Qdot nanocrystal, generating a characteristic colored flash of fluorescence light. The prototype SMS system records the time and color series of these light flashes to determine the DNA sequence of each individual DNA strand. Uniquely, this approach looks for correlated fluorescence flashes with Qdot signal decreases -- a key feature that is anticipated to improve the error profile of inherently noisy single molecule data.

Another unique aspect of the system is reagent exchange, where individual Qdot polymerases and synthesized templates can be removed and replaced with new ones. This enables immobilized individual DNA templates to be sequenced several times in a recursive fashion, allowing for highly accurate reads with minimal sample preparation. In addition, reagent exchange enables linking together of multiple long reads to enable virtually unlimited read lengths.

"The promising combination of long reads and inherent accuracy enabled by recursive sequencing have the potential to make Life Technologies' single molecule sequencing platform an integral part of our diverse sequencing projects," said Dr. Craig Venter, Founder and President of the J. Craig Venter Institute. "At JCVI, we are eager to apply the technology in a number of projects, including haplotype phasing of the human genome, environmental sequencing and rapid sequence identification in our infectious disease work."

Life Technologies plans to work with a select number of collaborators beginning in the fourth quarter of 2010. Commercialization plans for the new SMS system will be announced later this year.

"We see our single molecule technology as the perfect complement to our SOLiD and capillary electrophoresis platforms. As these systems have been and continue to be instrumental in genomic discovery, this new technology will be ideal for settings in which rapid, highly accurate sequencing results are necessary," said Kip Miller, President of the Genetic Systems Division for Life Technologies. "Our investment in the development of this SMS system demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the entire DNA sequencing technology continuum."

About Life Technologies (www.lifetechnologies.com)

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) is a global biotechnology tools company dedicated to improving the human condition. Our systems, consumables and services enable researchers to accelerate scientific exploration, driving to discoveries and developments that make life even better. Life Technologies customers do their work across the biological spectrum, working to advance personalized medicine, regenerative science, molecular diagnostics, agricultural and environmental research, and 21st century forensics. Life Technologies had sales of $3.3 billion in 2009, employs approximately 9,000 people, has a presence in 160 countries, and possesses a rapidly growing intellectual property estate of approximately 3,900 patents and exclusive licenses. Life Technologies was created by the combination of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., and manufactures both in-vitro diagnostic products and research use only-labeled products. For more information on how we are making a difference, please visit us online at www.lifetechnologies.com. Follow Life Technologies on Twitter @LIFECorporation and on Facebook.

Life Technologies' Safe Harbor Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements about our anticipated results that involve risks and uncertainties. Some of the information contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements as to industry trends and Life Technologies' plans, objectives, expectations and strategy for its business, contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words "believe," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," "expect" and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions ("will," "may," "could," "should," etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are detailed in filings made by Life Technologies with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Life Technologies undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

SOURCE: Life Technologies Corporation

Life Technologies Corporation Patty Zamora, 760-476-7818 patty.zamora@lifetech.com

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Al Gore to get honorary degree from UT - Nashville Tennessean

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 03:55 PM PST

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Former Vice President Al Gore will receive an honorary degree from the University of Tennessee May 14.

He'll get an honorary doctor of laws and humane letters in ecology and evolutionary biology at the spring commencement exercises of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Gore, a graduate of Harvard, will be the featured speaker at the ceremony.

In 2007, Gore was the co-winner, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change.

His honorary degree was approved Friday by the UT Board of Trustees at its meeting in Martin, Tenn.

Gore now lives in Nashville and formerly lived in Carthage, Tenn.

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University of Alabama in Huntsville firing Amy Bishop - Boston Herald

Posted: 26 Feb 2010 03:32 PM PST

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