Category Archives: DNA

Scientist #39;s DNA discovery letter to go on sale
A Nobel Prize winner #39;s letter describing how he discovered DNA will go on auction in Christie #39;s in New York City.

By: JewishNewsOne

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Scientist's DNA discovery letter to go on sale - Video

"DNA" Fan Video
Fan video of "DNA" by Little Mix. Created using Video Star: http://VideoStarApp.com/FREE.

By: Peter Malin

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"DNA" Fan Video - Video

By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau on Apr 8, 2013, at 2:23 AMUpdated on 4/08 at 7:44 AM

A Senate committee last week unanimously advanced House Bill 1068, dubbed the "Post-conviction DNA Act," by Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, and Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater.

"Oklahoma is the only remaining state that doesn't have such an option," Halligan said. "Although our criminal justice system does its very best and I am very supportive, any system occasionally makes mistakes."

The measure would apply to a person claiming innocence who was convicted of a violent felony or who received a sentence of 25 years or more.

Under the measure, the person could petition the sentencing court for DNA testing. The attorney representing the state would have 60 days to respond to the motion. The sentencing court would then hold a hearing to determine whether DNA forensic testing would be ordered.

The court would order DNA testing if:

If the results of the forensic DNA testing are favorable to the petitioner, the court would hold a hearing to determine the appropriate relief. The options for relief range from vacating the sentence to a new trial to release from custody, among other things.

"I am very much in favor of any legislation that has the potential to free even one person that might have been wrongfully convicted," said Tulsa County Public Defender Jack Zanerhaft.

Drew Edmondson served four terms as attorney general and three terms as Muskogee County district attorney. The Oklahoma City attorney chaired a panel put together by the Oklahoma Bar Association called the Justice Commission, which spent two years studying wrongful convictions and making recommendations.

It has endorsed the legislation, he said.

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Senate to consider DNA bill

Christie's

Francis Crick sketched this diagram of the DNA double-helix molecule in a 1953 letter to his son, Michael. "The model looks much nicer than this," the elder Crick wrote.

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

The descendants of Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA's double helix, are likely to receive a seven-figure sum from this week's sales of the late researcher's Nobel Prize and a handwritten letter describing the structure of the DNA molecule but the geneticists who are carrying on Crick's legacy will win a dividend as well.

"We'll probably be giving more money to the Francis Crick Institute than the prize was worth when he got it," mused Michael Crick, the Nobel-winner's eldest child and the recipient of that historic letter back in 1953.

The sales have been timed to take advantage of the 60th anniversary of the double-helix discovery, which was detailed by Crick and American biologist James Watson in a paper published by the journal Nature on April 25, 1953. Their findings opened the way to deciphering the molecular codes that control all of life's processes. The paper's publication date is now celebrated every year as "DNA Day."

Double helix, double sale Crick's legacy is the focus of two million-dollar sales scheduled in New York this week: On Wednesday, Michael Crick's lettergoes on the auction block at Christie's. His father sent it to the 12-year-old at his boarding school in March 1953 just after the researchers worked out the structure of DNA's long, double-helix molecule, but before the Nature paper's publication. "My dear Michael," the letter began, "Jim Watson and I have probably made a most important discovery."

The seven-page letter goes on to lay out the chemical structure of "des-oxy-ribose-nucleic-acid ... called D.N.A. for short." The elder Crick even sketched out the base pairs connecting the molecule's twisted spines.

"As far as we know, it's the first written description of how life comes from life," Michael Crick, now 72, told NBC News.

The letter has been valued at $1 million to $2 million. Michael Crick and his wife, Barbara, will receive half of the proceeds. The other half will go to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, where Francis Crick worked up to the time of his deathin 2004 at the age of 88.

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When DNA pioneer's Nobel Prize and mementos are sold, science profits

DNA evidence has been a factor in three out of five recent crimes where a suspect was identified.

Police now have more than 100,000 DNA profiles on their database as forensic technology links more offenders to crime scenes than ever.

Latest figures show DNA evidence linking people to crime scenes has been a contributing factor in 58 per cent of cases where there has been an arrest or report so far this financial year. This is an increase of 6 per cent, compared with 2011-12 and up 27 per cent on 2009-10.

Since it began in 1999, the Forensic Science SA DNA database has grown to 103,682 profiles.

Police use a mouth swab to collect DNA samples from any person suspected of committing a serious offence - in accordance with the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Act - which can then be matched against DNA retrieved from crime scenes.

DNA Management Section Senior Sergeant Philip Hanley said technological advancements, including portable fingerprint scanners providing immediate identification of a person who has been previously fingerprinted, would help police identify more offenders.

The scanners will be trialled by police in mid-2013.

"The ability of DNA to identify and/or eliminate suspects, link multiple crime scenes and assist with the identification of injured or deceased persons has made it an invaluable resource for law enforcement agencies across the world," he said.

In February, police used DNA to charge a man over the cold case murder of Yasmin Sinodinos at Anstey Hill in December 1991.

Timo Pasanen, 43, was arrested after his DNA was allegedly matched to some collected from Ms Sinodinos' body 22 years ago.

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DNA solves more crimes

Christie's

Francis Crick sketched this diagram of the DNA double-helix molecule in a 1953 letter to his son, Michael. "The model looks much nicer than this," the elder Crick wrote.

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

The descendants of Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA's double helix, are likely to receive a seven-figure sum from this week's sales of the late researcher's Nobel Prize and a handwritten letter describing the structure of the DNA molecule but the geneticists who are carrying on Crick's legacy will win a dividend as well.

"We'll probably be giving more money to the Francis Crick Institute than the prize was worth when he got it," mused Michael Crick, the Nobel-winner's eldest child and the recipient of that historic letter back in 1953.

The sales have been timed to take advantage of the 60th anniversary of the double-helix discovery, which was detailed by Crick and American biologist James Watson in a paper published by the journal Nature on April 25, 1953. Their findings opened the way to deciphering the molecular codes that control all of life's processes. The paper's publication date is now celebrated every year as "DNA Day."

Double helix, double sale Crick's legacy is the focus of two million-dollar sales scheduled in New York this week: On Wednesday, Michael Crick's lettergoes on the auction block at Christie's. His father sent it to the 12-year-old at his boarding school in March 1953 just after the researchers worked out the structure of DNA's long, double-helix molecule, but before the Nature paper's publication. "My dear Michael," the letter began, "Jim Watson and I have probably made a most important discovery."

The seven-page letter goes on to lay out the chemical structure of "des-oxy-ribose-nucleic-acid ... called D.N.A. for short." The elder Crick even sketched out the base pairs connecting the molecule's twisted spines.

"As far as we know, it's the first written description of how life comes from life," Michael Crick, now 72, told NBC News.

The letter has been valued at $1 million to $2 million. Michael Crick and his wife, Barbara, will receive half of the proceeds. The other half will go to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, where Francis Crick worked up to the time of his deathin 2004 at the age of 88.

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Cashing in on DNA pioneers

Christie's

Francis Crick sketched this diagram of the DNA double-helix molecule in a 1953 letter to his son, Michael. "The model looks much nicer than this," the elder Crick wrote.

By Alan Boyle, Science Editor, NBC News

The descendants of Francis Crick, co-discoverer of DNA's double helix, are likely to receive a seven-figure sum from this week's sales of the late researcher's Nobel Prize and a handwritten letter describing the structure of the DNA molecule but the geneticists who are carrying on Crick's legacy will win a dividend as well.

"We'll probably be giving more money to the Francis Crick Institute than the prize was worth when he got it," mused Michael Crick, the Nobel-winner's eldest child and the recipient of that historic letter back in 1953.

The sales have been timed to take advantage of the 60th anniversary of the double-helix discovery, which was detailed by Crick and American biologist James Watson in a paper published by the journal Nature on April 25, 1953. Their findings opened the way to deciphering the molecular codes that control all of life's processes. The paper's publication date is now celebrated every year as "DNA Day."

Double helix, double sale Crick's legacy is the focus of two million-dollar sales scheduled in New York this week: On Wednesday, Michael Crick's lettergoes on the auction block at Christie's. His father sent it to the 12-year-old at his boarding school in March 1953 just after the researchers worked out the structure of DNA's long, double-helix molecule, but before the Nature paper's publication. "My dear Michael," the letter began, "Jim Watson and I have probably made a most important discovery."

The seven-page letter goes on to lay out the chemical structure of "des-oxy-ribose-nucleic-acid ... called D.N.A. for short." The elder Crick even sketched out the base pairs connecting the molecule's twisted spines.

"As far as we know, it's the first written description of how life comes from life," Michael Crick, now 72, told NBC News.

The letter has been valued at $1 million to $2 million. Michael Crick and his wife, Barbara, will receive half of the proceeds. The other half will go to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California, where Francis Crick worked up to the time of his deathin 2004 at the age of 88.

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DNA pioneer's legacy may be worth millions

DNA testing chip delivers results in one hour, paves way for personalized drug treatments #DigInfo
DNA testing chip delivers results in one hour, paves way for personalized drug treatments (http://www.diginfo.tv/v/13-0022-r-en.php) 19/3/2013 Panasonic, Ime...

By: Diginfonews

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DNA testing chip delivers results in one hour, paves way for personalized drug treatments #DigInfo - Video

Apr. 5, 2013 Aluminum salts, or alum, have been injected into billions of people as an adjuvant to make vaccines more effective. No one knows, however, how they boost the immune response. In the March 19, 2013, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at National Jewish Health continue unraveling the mystery of adjuvants with a report that host DNA coats the alum adjuvant and induces two crucial cells to interact twice as long during the initial stimulation of the adaptive immune system.

"Alum makes T cells take a longer look at the antigen, which produces a better immune response," said Philippa Marrack, PhD, senior author and professor of immunology at National Jewish Health. "Understanding how adjuvants work could help us make more effective vaccines. That is very important. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and been among the greatest advances in medical history."

Live vaccines, containing weakened forms of an infectious organism, generally work fine by themselves. But vaccines containing dead organisms (inactivated vaccines) or pieces of the infectious organisms or their toxins (acellular or recombinant vaccines) generally need adjuvants to boost their effectiveness.Aluminum salts, known as alum, are the only adjuvant approved for use in the United States for routine preventive vaccines.

Adjuvants were first discovered as the result of empirical experiments with tetanus early in the 20th century. They have been widely used in many vaccines since the 1940s, including the Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (DtaP), Hepatitis, Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), typhoid and some flu vaccines. No one fully understands why adjuvants boost the effectiveness of nonliving vaccines.

Recently a Belgian team showed that DNA is involved in the adjuvant effect. When they administered a vaccine with adjuvant and DNase, an enzyme that digests DNA, the vaccine was less effective. The National Jewish Health team built on those findings to reveal the role that DNA plays.

The National Jewish Health team had previously shown that the process starts with a series of events similar to those that initiate responses to bacterial infections. Neutrophils, and other early responders in the immune system, flood into a site of potential infection, attack the foreign agent, in this case the alum vaccine, then quickly die in massive numbers.

Upon death the neutrophils release large amounts of DNA, which uncoils from its chromatin spools and acts somewhat like a net to entangle the foreign agent. Other cells then engulf the DNA-alum-vaccine complex. These antigen-presenting cells display small fragments of the vaccine on their surfaces for T-cells to recognize. T-cells drive the adaptive immune response, the one that recognizes and attacks the specific infectious agent, as opposed to the more general innate immune response.

T-cells are also the basis for effective vaccines. Some T-cells, and the B-cells stimulated by the T-cells, transform into memory cells once the infection has been cleared. Those memory cells help mount a quicker and stronger immune response if they see that organism again.

The National Jewish Health team showed that the DNA coating the adjuvant doubles the time that the T-cell engages the vaccine fragment on the surface of the antigen-presenting cell. When they added DNase to digest DNA, the T-cell engaged the vaccine fragment half as long, and the vaccine was less effective. Several of the findings were made possible by an innovative use of multi-photon microscopy to film the interaction of T-cells and antigen-presenting cells.

"The DNA makes the antigen-presenting cell stickier," said Amy McKee, PhD, Instructor at the University of Colorado, and lead author of the paper. "We believe that extended engagement provides a stronger signal to the T-cell, which makes the immune response more robust."

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Vaccine adjuvant uses host DNA to boost pathogen recognition

Jeffrey Rosenfeld is an assistant professor of medicine at the New Jersey Medical School and a member of the High Performance and Research Computing Group. Christopher E. Mason is an assistant professor of computational genomics at Weill Cornell Medical College and affiliate fellow of the information society project of Yale Law School.

Asked in 1955 whether his polio vaccine was patented, Jonas Salk replied, There is no patent. Could you patent the sun? With that, Salk debunked the misguided notion of patenting objects found in nature. His polio vaccine was not a new invention but an inactive form of the natural polio virus.

Today, Salk would be shocked to find that your DNA belongs not to you but rather to many companies and institutions that have patents on the DNA from your cells.Forty-one percent of the genes in your genome are not legally yours, according to a long list of gene patents that have been granted since the 1980s. These patents cover thousands of human genes and restrict a doctors ability to look at your DNA and plan your medical treatment.These patent claims contradict an intuitive sense that your DNA is no less yours than your lungs or kidneys.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court has a chance to rectify this genetic injustice. The justices will hear oral argument April 15 over a lower federal courts decision that human genes can be patented. The case involves Myriad Genetics, which received patents in the 1990s for the exclusive right to examine any isolated DNA that contains the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.Most people have normal versions of these genes, but those who carry mutations of BRCA usually have an 85 to 90percent risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Doctors cannot independently look at the genetic code in a persons BRCA genes, because as soon as blood is drawn and DNA is isolated to examine those genes, it is immediately the legal property of Myriad Genetics.

Like many scientists, we believe that these patents never should have been granted and that the genes ofthe human genome, like other natural body parts, belong to their owners, not to companies seeking to exploit monopolies.If the court allows these types of patents to stand, it will put the endeavors of openly researching, preventing and treating lethal diseases on a lower level of importance than a set of ill-conceived property rights.

Because of Myriads patents, any American who wants to have his or her DNA tested for the potentially life-threatening BRCA mutations has to use the services of Myriad Genetics. There is no possibility of an independent test. Myriad charges about $3,000 for the testing, but hundreds of clinical laboratories nationwide could do it for less than $200.

Worse, the restrictions of Myriads patents are not limited to breast cancer genes. The company claims any piece of DNA having at least 15 nucleotides of the BRCA1 gene. In work we recently published in the journal Genome Medicine, we found that these short sequences in BRCA1 also appear in 689 other genes that have a wide variety of functions, including brain development and proper cardiac functioning.

Myriads claim is outrageous but must be understood in context. All of the genes in the human genome share 15 nucleotide sequences with numerous other genes. So the broad reach of a patent on a single gene is not unique to Myriads claims on BRCA1. If patents allow claims for 15 nucleotide sequences, then a patent that was issued for bovine improvement to Cargill, an agricultural company that provides advice on cattle breeding, covers 84 percent of human genes, even though Cargill is interested only in cows. This lack of specificity underscores why patents on short, indiscriminate DNA sequences never should have been issued.

Patenting such a fundamental piece of the human genome has been opposed by thousands of scientists and clinicians, hundreds of medical organizations, and many Nobel laureates. Some have likened it to patenting elements of the periodic table. Such patents grant an exclusive claim that covers an entire landscape of rights in non-related fields.In the case of BRCA1, data from large-scale cancer projects such as the Cancer Genome Atlas have shown that BRCA1 is mutated in not only breast and ovarian cancer but also at least 21 other types of cancer that afflict both men and women.Myriads patent means it owns the monopoly on testing DNA from any patient for any of those cancers, even though the company does not do work on the majority of those diseases. So Myriads control extends far beyond just breast cancer testing, inhibiting the creation of optimal tests for many other cancers.

Some argue that patents to genes are essential to encourage pharmaceutical companies to invest the resources required to produce new therapies and to identify unknown genes. But the sequencing of genetic variants is a very small part of drug design.Of course, once a pharmaceutical company hasdeveloped a novel therapeutic agent to target a specific disease, that treatment can be patented and should be rewarded for its innovation. Others argue that the testing company must be compensated to encourage it to develop new tests.But companies such as Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp are extremely profitable while performingroutine tests that are not covered by exclusive patents.

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The Supreme Court should invalidate the patent on human DNA