Nobel Prize for DNA repair scientists
The 2015 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to scientists who discovered the cellular mechanisms for repairing damaged DNA...
Dr Jamie Heather
Dr Jamie Heather is a Volunteer Writer at BioNews, having originally joined the publication under the auspices of its writing scheme. He is currently a Research Fellow in the Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, still studying T cells and their applications in cancer and beyond. He tweets as @jamimmunology .
BioNews Articles by Dr Jamie Heather
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Obesity findings set precedent for GWAS research
Recent findings linking the FTO gene to adipose cell energy use not only revealed a molecular mechanism that contributes to obesity, but they are also an exemplar of how genome-wide association study findings can make the journey to clinical relevance...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Genetic switch directs fat cells to burn energy
Researchers have discovered the mechanism that links variations in the so-called 'obesity gene' FTO to weight gain...
Image by Sílvia Ferreira, Cristina Lopo and Eileen Gentleman via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts a single human stem cell embedded within a porous hydrogel matrix (false colour).
NHS plans artificial blood trials by 2017
The NHS has announced that it plans to begin testing laboratory-produced blood in healthy volunteers by 2017...
Cas9 inhibits hepatitis C in human cells
US researchers have used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target hepatitis C infection in human cells...
Single gene cripples flu defence
A report has found that rare mutations in a single gene made one girl genetically susceptible to severe influenza infection...
Revamped gene therapy for 'bubble boy' immune condition does well in trial
Gene therapy to treat children with 'bubble boy syndrome' seems to be both safe and effective, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found...
Thymus grown in mice following cell transplant
Researchers from the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Edinburgh, UK, have for the first time produced complete working organs from genetically 'reprogrammed' cells. Engineered cells were inserted into adult mice, where they grew into what appeared to be functional thymuses....
HIV 'cut out' of human genome
Research has shown that it may be possible to 'cut' the viral DNA out of cells infected by HIV using genetic editing techniques, removing its ability to replicate...
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Risk Assessment: Breast Cancer, Prediction and Screening
Doctors, survivors and supporters again converged in a basement lecture theatre in Bloomsbury for the second event in PET's 'Breast Cancer' series. On the cards this night: prediction and screening...