Jumping gene helps explain immune system's abilities
A team led by Johns Hopkins scientists hasfound the first clear evidence that the process behind the human immunesystem's remarkable ability to recognize and respond to a milliondifferent proteins might have originated from a family of genes whoseonly apparent function is to jump around in genetic material. essentially cut...'Jumping genes' contribute to the uniqueness of individual brains
Brains are marvels of diversity: no two look the same -- not even those of otherwise identical twins. Scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may have found one explanation for the puzzling variety in brain organization and function: mobile elements, pieces of DNA that can jump from one place in the genome to another, randomly changing the genetic information in single brain cells...Where 'jumping genes' fear to tread
Scientists from the University of Queensland report in the journal Transposons, often called...Jumping gene could provide non-viral alternative for gene therapy
A jumping gene first identified in a cabbage-eating moth may one day provide a safer, target-specific alternative to viruses for gene therapy, researchers say. They compared the ability of the four best-characterized jumping genes, or transposons, to insert themselves into a cell's DNA and produce a desired change, such as making the cell resistant to damage from radiation therapy...Johnson Controls jumping further into hybrid-vehicle battery world
The new lab comes amid the rising interest in hybrid vehicles that are powered by batteries and gasoline. With Japanes...Jumping genes eliminate sections of DNA
A recent study reveals that jumping genes appear to be able to delete sections of DNA, an effect that could cause disease and have profound implications for the evolution of the human genome. It was known previously that components of DNA called Line 1 elements jumped around, inserted themselves in the middle of genes and had disruptive effects,// but this is the first time it has been shown they...Jumping The Queue Has Left Hospital Suspending Transplantation
In the US one of the top organ transplant hospitals in California has suspended its liver program following allegations a Saudi national improperly received an organ ahead of dozens of other needy American patients.// The Los Angeles Times reported that officials at St. Vincent Medical Center also discovered that, following the transplant, some hospital staff allegedly falsified recor...