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Articles by Lea Goetz
Cancer cells grow by sucking mitochondria out of immune cells
Cancer cells grow by sucking mitochondria out of immune cells 29 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1123 Cancer cells can form tentacle-like structures to steal energy-producing mitochondria from immune cells, according to new research. Cancers must evade the immune system to progress. Gaining a better understanding of how cancer cells do this is critical in the search for the development of next-generation immunotherapies.
UN call to stop criminalisation of surrogates in Cambodia
UN call to stop criminalisation of surrogates in Cambodia 18 November 2019 Appeared in BioNews 1024 The UN has called on Cambodia to repeal the criminalisation of surrogates. Cambodia outlawed commercial surrogacy in 2016, following similar bans in India, Nepal and Thailand (see BioNews 915). Last year 30 pregnant surrogates were imprisoned for 'cross-border human trafficking' because they were carrying children for, predominantly Chinese, intended parents.
Genome-editing tool offers hope for intractable genetic diseases
Genome-editing tool offers hope for intractable genetic diseases 2 October 2019 Appeared in BioNews 1013 Scientists have developed a genome editing method that could one day be used to treat conditions such as progeria and Huntington's disease. In a study published in Cell Research, the authors described a tool named SATI, a variation of the CRISPR approach to genome editing. Compared with its predecessors, SATI allows alteration of a wider array of mutations in more cell-types.
Widen breast cancer gene screening, says US taskforce
Widen breast cancer gene screening, says US taskforce 27 August 2019 Appeared in BioNews 1012 An influential health group in the USA has concluded that more women could benefit from wider genetic screening for hereditary breast or ovarian cancer. The updated recommendations by the US Preventative Task Force (USPSTF), were published in JAMA. Private insurers in the USA usually follow advice given by USPSTF on which preventative care measures they will cover.
Deer antler discovery points way to new cancer treatments
Deer antler discovery points way to new cancer treatments 24 June 2019 Appeared in BioNews 1003 The rapid annual regrowth of deer antlers is down to a combination of cancer-linked genes and tight regulation of them by tumour-suppressing genes, finds a new study. The results may offer a new avenue for cancer treatment research in humans.
Genetics influences whether you are a night owl or early riser
Genetics influences whether you are a night owl or early riser 4 February 2019 Appeared in BioNews 985 Are you a night owl or a morning lark? The answer is influenced by at least 351 regions of the genome, a recent study has found. Whether someone is a morning person or an evening person – a trait known as a 'chronotype' – was previously thought to be influenced by only 24 genes (see BioNews 838).
Dozens of firms discovered to sell untested stem cell treatments in Canada
A total of 30 Canadian businesses have been found to provide untested and potentially unsafe stem cell treatments in a recent study. Dr Leigh Turner, a bioethicist at the University of Minnesota who has investigated similar unlicensed stem cell companies in the USA, identified the firms through online searches. The 30 businesses sold the stem cell treatments to a total of 43 clinics across Canada.
BPA-free plastics harm eggs and sperm in mice
Plastics that do not contain bisphenol A (BPA) – a compound known to harm reproductive health – may not necessarily be any safer than those that do, experiments in mice have shown. The findings, published in Current Biology, come from the same team that first uncovered the effects of BPA some 20 years ago. The research suggests that exposure to chemicals used as alternatives to BPA have similar DNA-altering effects.
Air pollution linked to poor fertility treatment outcomes
A recent large-scale study has indicated that high levels of air pollution could reduce the chance of pregnancy following fertility treatment. Women exposed to increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ambient particulate matter had a lower rate of conception following fertility treatment and a higher chance of early pregnancy loss compared with women exposed to lower concentrations of these pollutants.
Book review: Making Sense of Genes
We live in the post-genomic era, whose start was marked by the completion of the sequencing of the human genome. But when the Human Genome Project came to an end in 2001, the scientific community faced an unexpected challenge: decoding the sequence of human DNA did not translate into understanding how it works. Recently, novel sequencing technologies have been developed that allow large-scale studies of genes.
Huntington's protein is 'super assassin' for cancer cells
Researchers have discovered that the protein responsible for the development of Huntington's disease is highly toxic to cancer cells. While the molecule has been understood in the context of Huntington's disease for years, it has only recently been found to have treatment implications for other diseases. 'This molecule is a super assassin against all tumour cells,' said senior author Dr Marcus Peter at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Scientists film brain stem cells dividing into neurons for first time
Researchers have successfully filmed the division of stem cells in an adult mouse brain, for the first time. The study has shown how the hippocampus, a brain structure involved in learning and memory, generates new cells throughout life. This may help lead to a deeper understanding of the role of cell renewal in the brain.
Record-breaking study links over 950 genes to insomnia
A large study of the genomes of over 1.3 million people has found 956 genes implicated in insomnia. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) examined the genomes of people from the UK's Biobank, and those from the personal genomics company 23andMe Inc, based in Mountain View, California. With 1,331,010 participants, the study authors believe this is the largest GWAS to date.
First trials of Huntington's drug show it could slow disease
A breakthrough trial has successfully reduced levels of the harmful protein that causes the neurodegenerative disease Huntington's. In a study by scientists at University College London, 46 patients with the neurodegenerative disease were given injections of a drug called IONIS-HTTRx into their spinal fluid. By the end of the trial – the first time the drug has been tested in humans – patients had lowered levels of the harmful protein that causes brain cell damage.
Event Review: Darwin Lecture: from gene identification to clinical benefit - the example of cystic fibrosis
The Darwin lecture held at the UK's Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) in London, and jointly organised with the Linnean Society, gives an annual look at topics in science and medicine. This year's event 'From gene identification to clinical benefit - the example of cystic fibrosis' was delivered by Professor Eric Alton at Imperial College London and the Royal Brompton Hospital, a 'leading authority in this country on cystic fibrosis', according to RSM president Sir Simon Wessely.
Confronting unproven stem cell treatments in Australia: The new regulation
Stem cell research holds tremendous promise for the treatment of a wide variety of illnesses and conditions, from spinal cord injury to autism. However, much more work is necessary to translate stem cell research into safe and effective therapies. Many clinics are bypassing this crucial stage, advertising stem-cell based procedures on the internet despite little evidence for their safety or efficacy (see BioNews 908).
Real-time film shows CRISPR in action
For the first time ever, researchers have been able to film, in real-time, the activity of the CRISPR technique on a strand of DNA. The short video, made by a team of researchers led by Professor Osamu Nureki at the University of Tokyo, and published in Nature Communications, records the CRISPR-Cas9 enzyme physically cutting the strand of DNA with which it interacts.
AI test could be first screening tool for ovarian cancer
Machine learning has been used to develop a promising screening test for ovarian cancer, a team of US-based researchers has said. The researchers, based at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, used tiny RNA fragments called microRNAs as the basis for the AI test, publishing their results in eLife. MicroRNAs are involved in gene activation and circulate in the blood. They act as the copyeditors of the genome.
Male infertility care 'insensitive' says survey
Men with infertility experience stigmatisation and a lack of support, found a first survey on the subject. In spite of male infertility being the cause in 40 percent of cases of couples who can’t conceive, fertility care is often 'female-focused' according to the charity Fertility Network UK, which carried out the study with researchers at Leeds Beckett University.
Sleep duration linked to sperm structure
Sleep duration is associated with sperm integrity, according to a recent study in China. Researchers analysed sperm and sleep duration in 796 male volunteers from local colleges between 2013 to 2015. 'This is new information after our previous finding that sleep duration has an inverse U-shaped association with semen volume and total sperm count,' said Dr Jia Cao of Third Military Medical University (TMMU) in Chongqing, China, and co-author of the study.
Commission demands reform on experimental cell therapies
The reputation of stem cell research is being undermined by unscrupulous clinics offering unproven therapies, says a report published last week. The Lancet Commission on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine brought together a number of leading scientists to review progress and consider challenges facing the discipline. 'Regenerative medicine offers transformative potential for the future of patient care.
Researchers crack how BRCA1 gene raises cancer risk
A major breakthrough in understanding how mutations in the BRCA1 gene raise cancer risk has been made by researchers in the USA. The BRCA1 gene was known to have a role in repairing DNA damage, which can be caused by exposure to radiation, chemicals and other environmental stressors. Now researchers have shown how it interacts with another gene to trigger DNA repair.
FDA crackdown on unproven stem cell therapies
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its intention to investigate the use of unproven stem cell therapies being offered in the country's clinics. Tighter enforcement from the FDA comes as an inspection at StemImmune Inc based in San Diego, California, revealed the use of potentially dangerous treatments administered to vulnerable cancer patients.
Event Review. Anne McLaren: Science, Ethics and The Archive.
'We're here to have a conversation about the archive,' is how Professor Sarah Franklin from the University of Cambridge introduced the event, 'Anne McLaren: Science, Ethics and the Archive'. Featuring talks and a panel discussion, this evening at the British Library celebrated the life and work of Anne McLaren, one of the UK's leading developmental biologists, who sadly died ten years ago.
CRISPR used to record a film in bacteria
Scientists have used the CRISPR/Cas system to encode a movie in the genomes of living bacteria. However, the researchers' ultimate goal is not to record movies or to 'put Wikipedia into bacteria', said first author Dr Seth Shipman from Harvard University to The Atlantic. 'We want to turn cells into historians,' Dr Shipman explained.
Experts call for global action on unproven stem cell therapies
International experts are calling for global action on unproven and potentially dangerous stem cell therapies, and their misleading marketing to the public. 'Many patients feel that potential cures are being held back by red tape and lengthy approval processes. Although this can be frustrating, these procedures are there to protect patients from undergoing needless treatments that could put their lives at risk,' said Dr Sarah Chan from the University of Edinburgh.
Noisy bedrooms may affect male fertility
New research suggests living near a road which is noisy at night-time may contribute to male infertility. 'We know noise exposure has an effect on male fertility in animals, but our study is the first to show the risk of exposure to environmental noise on male infertility in humans,' said study author Dr Jin-Young Min, from Seoul National University in the Republic of Korea.
Lifetime cancer risk predicted for BRCA mutation carriers
A study of almost 10,000 women carrying BRCA mutation has revealed the best estimate yet of their risk in developing breast and ovarian cancer. The scientists say the findings could help clinicians decide on cancer screening timelines and prevention strategies for BRCA mutation carriers. 'This is the largest and most scientifically rigorous study to date without question,' said Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips of the Peter Mac Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Management Clinic.
Promise of blood test to predict course of Huntington's disease
Scientists have identified the first promising biomarker for Huntington's disease (HD) that could be harnessed in a simple blood test to predict disease onset and progression. The blood test would measure levels of neurofilament, a protein released by damaged brain cells. The researchers found neurofilament levels increase as HD progresses, but can also be detected in the blood years before symptoms manifest.
Baby teeth suggest autism link with lead uptake in womb
The risk of developing autism may be affected by mineral exposure in the womb, suggests a study in twins. Children who developed autism had higher levels of the heavy metal lead in their baby teeth just before and after birth. This appears to predict the severity of the disease in later childhood. It has been difficult to link autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to environmental factors during pregnancy, said study author Dr Cindy Lawler from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
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