November 9th, 2009
By: April Lynch
Two headlines regarding genetics hit the wires recently, and together, spoke volumes.
In one, gene sequencing firm Complete Genomics announced that it had sequenced a whole human genome for $1,700 — a significant turn in the race to deliver an affordable, high-quality readout of a person’s entire DNA sequence.
In the other, members of a family known to carry a hereditary form of colon cancer discuss getting a genetic test — and some say they’d rather not know. “If it came back positive,” said one, “I think I would feel like it would be some kind of countdown.’’
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October 30th, 2009
By: Vickie Venne MS CGC
As a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted this month, not all cancers are created equal. Some are less aggressive and easier to treat than others.
Now, as new tools to reveal these differences emerge, the JAMA article encourages researchers and clinicians to rethink screening for breast and prostate cancer.
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October 25th, 2009
By: April Lynch
Not sure how to pronounce “mitochondria“? Want to listen to human genome expert (and current NIH director) Francis Collins serve as your own personal talking genetics dictionary, defining concepts such as “personalized medicine“? Federal gene geeks at the National Human Genome Research Institute have unveiled their latest online talking glossary of gene-speak.
It’s interesting to see which terms made the cut — and which didn’t.
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September 30th, 2009
By: April Lynch
Today’s announcement of the discovery of a new set of genetic markers related to prostate cancer has health officials paying attention — across the Atlantic, at least.
Genetic research firm deCODE, based in Iceland, announced that its researchers had discovered four new genetic factors linked to prostate cancer. Furthermore, the company said, testing a broad group of men for these and other variants linked to the disease revealed which men were at especially high risk.
deCODE, which sells a prostate cancer genetic risk test, has a clear interest in seeing this type of testing become more common, especially as the firm struggles finanically. But the results are also gaining the attention of doctors and public health experts. That’s because prostate cancer screening is tricky.
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