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Researchers have identified a biomarker, an eight gene "signature" (a group of genes in a cell whose combined expression is uniquely characteristic of a medical condition), that predicts how long cancer patients might survive without relapse after undergoing chemotherapy. They found that this eight gene signature show a strong correlation to an elevated response to five chemotherapy agents, and showed a lower risk of recurrence and longer relapse-free survival.

Curious if this eight gene signature is a result of the genetics of our cell (and resultant interactions) or if it entirely up to the cancerous agent? In simpler terms, are we genetically prone to this eight gene signature or is it luck that our cancer results in this eight gene signature?

Frontiers | Who possesses drug resistance genes in the aquatic environment?: sulfamethoxazole (SMX) resistance genes among the bacterial community in water environment of Metro-Manila, Philippines | Frontiers in Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy publishes articles on the most outstanding discoveries across the research spectrum of Frontiers | Who possesses drug resistance genes in the aquatic environment?: sulfamethoxazole (SMX) resistance genes among the bacterial community in water environment of Metro-Manila, Philippines | Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy.

Genetics Researchers at UC Davis and the University of British Columbia have shed new light on methylation, a critical process that helps control how genes are expressed. Working with placentas, the team discovered that 37 percent of the placental genome has regions of lower methylation, called partially methylated domains (PMDs), in which gene expression is turned off. Studying of the placenta is particularly interesting because the placenta has invasive characteristics associated with cancer. Increasing our knowledge about PMDs can help determine which genes are silenced and where specific DNA originated.

A specific approach to target the genes that are involved in wound healing seems like a progressive approach for several skin disorders.

This is an interesting article about eukaryotes engaging in gene transfer with bacteria and archaea to survive in extreme environments.

This is so amazing. Definitely interesting that they used dogs which are more complex than rats or mice so if they could use these on people it would definitely change the way the world saw animal testing/research....pun intended haha! pretty cool quick read

This is so scary. It is only a matter of time before bird flu is able to spread to humans....

Obituary for one of the discoverers of gene regulation.

This paper does an excellent job researching the correlation of the methylation of the STAT-1 gene and genetic mutations in coccidiodiomycosis and histoplasmosis. The paper shows evidence of the methylation of the STAT-1 by the PIAS1 protein. This gene mutation immunologically challenges the IFN-γ and alters the body's defense mechanisms. Excellent paper on a very scary disease. Hopeful for a vaccine!!! 

This article was used as a resource for our presentation. This is the article where we obtained the information regarding the patient case studies.

An interesting article on cross-resistance.

This is an interesting story on how the microbiota of our gut may play an indirect role in cardiovascular disease.

This in an interesting application in slowing the spread of diseases such as dengue and yellow fever, but one also has to wonder what this will do to the mosquito population as it reduces the mosquito's ability to lay viable eggs. How controlled will this application be and how often will it be utilized?

The prevalence and type of plasmids, resistance genes and integrons carried by two collections of multiresistant E. coli producing or not extended-spectrum β-lactamases have been compared. Rep-PCR was used to determine the clonal relationship of the organisms. Plasmids were classified according to their incompatibility.

A variety of microbial communities and their genes (the microbiome) exist throughout the human body, with fundamental roles in human health and disease. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Human Microbiome Project Consortium has established a population-scale framework to develop metagenomic protocols, resulting in a broad range of quality-controlled resources and data including standardized methods for creating, processing and interpreting distinct types of high-throughput metagenomic data available to the scientific community. An ambitious article found in another article I enjoyed reading. Was incredibly interested to find out that the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women was significantly different from non-pregnant and to find that these microbiota are preparing the soon to be born baby with it's own microbiota!! (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/science/studies-of-human-microbiome-yield-new-insights.html?ref=microbiology)

Supplemental paper for presentation.

kind of creepy to think about....