Big differences in duplicated DNA distinguish chimp and human genomes
A study comparing the genomes of both humans and chimpanzees has found that much of the genetic difference between the two species came about in events called segmental duplications, in which segments of genetic code are copied many times in the genome. The study appears as a companion article to the draft sequence of the chimpanzee genome published in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Nature....Nose odors and mouth odors: The brain distinguishes
Researchers have presented the first clear evidence that olfaction is uniquely a "dual" sense, in that the brain perceives the same odorant molecule differently if it arrives through the nose rather than the mouth. In the August 18, 2005, issue of , researchers report that the smell of chocolate activated different brain regions according to whether the odor was introduced into the o...Distinguishing friend from foe in the battle against cancer
The latest generation of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs specifically targets mutant enzymes or "oncoproteins" that have run amok and now promote uncontrolled cell growth. As promising as these drugs are, cancer cells with their backs against the wall have the tendency to fight back. A major goal of cancer research is to frustrate these acts of cellular desperation. In a forthcoming issue of...Common blood test can help distinguish between mononucleosis and tonsillitis
Measuring a patient's ratio of white blood cell types may help physicians accurately distinguish between the similar conditions infectious mononucleosis and bacterial tonsillitis, potentially guiding treatment decisions, according to an article in the January issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Acute tonsillitis (inflammation of t...Baumann Lab defines proteins that distinguish chromosome ends from DNA double-strand breaks
Peter Baumann, Ph.D., Assistant Investigator, and Nancy Bae, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Baumann Lab, have published a paper offering insight into the way cells protect chromosome ends from misguided repair. Published in tomorrow's issue of Molecular Cell, their paper entitled "A RAP1/TRF2 Complex Inhibits Non-Homologous End Joining at Human Telomeric DNA Ends" employed...MRI for distinguishing between dementia and Alzheimer’s diseas
A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called arterial spin can distinguish// between frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Frontotemporal dementia is often mistaken for Alzheimer’s disease in patients although it is different from the latter in its behavior manifestations. The disease is characterized by either gradual changes in behavior patterns characterized by...Fluorescent markers to distinguish Trypanosoma brucei strains causing Sleeping Sickness
Multiple-genotype infections are increasingly recognized as important factors in disease evolution, parasite transmission dynamics, and the evolution of drug resistance. However, the distinction of co-infecting site genotypes and the tracking of their dynamics have been // ficult with traditional methods based on various genotyping techniques, leaving most questions unaddressed. Trypan...Distinguished Scientist Award Conferred on Manchester Dentist
The International Association of Dental Research (IADR) has decided to confer the H. Trendley Dean Distinguished Scientist Award for 2006 to Professor Anthony Blinkhorn of the School of Dentistry at The University of Manchester. // Professor Blinkhorn has made a huge contribution in the field of public health and was even awarded an OBE around six months ago....Distinguishable Traits of Fatal Skin Cancer Recognized
The traits of fast growing, melanomas, a type of fatal skin cancer have been pinpointed by experts. When a skin tumour// , identified to be cancerous is proportionate, and is raised with regular borders, and other associated symptoms, it’s more likely to develop into a potentially fatal skin cancer. This was reported by Australian researchers in East Melbourne. Melanomas that grow rapi...