Major new discovery of genes that predispose for severe disease

New chapter opens in history of medicine, as researchers announced the discovery of new genes associated with serious diseases. The new discovery is published in the journal 'Nature' and is expected to pave the way for further research and treatment of genetic test.

Researchers examining the DNA of blood 17,000 people, found that genes contribute to the onset of depression, diabetes, disease of Crohn, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension and coronary disease.

The research team emphasizes that the discovery of genes that contribute to the emergence of serious diseases research will lead scientists to better understand the mechanism of disease, identify people at risk to develop, and will shortly be able to develop more effective and personalized medicines.

As stated, many of the most common diseases are very complex and depend on genetic and environmental factors in combination with lifestyle.

Scientists said that although in the past had little lights turn to the long dark tunnel of the genome, now turn lights in many parts of the tunnel, in this case half a million lights.

In case 1 diabetes gene discovered several areas that increase the risk of disease. The researchers of the project took part in the recent announcements of the discovery of obesity gene, three new genes linked to diabetes 2 and region of chromosome 9 associated with heart disease.

One of the most important discoveries is that a gene that was previously unknown is common and the emergence of diabetes and 1 in disease Chron, an inflammatory bowel disease, indicating that the two diseases share common biological pathways.

Many of the genes discovered by a team of 200 scientists were in parts of the genome not previously been regarded as potentially linked to illnesses.

In the future could allow people to look for combinations of genes to predict the risk they face in their entire lives to outbreaks of disease, which will lead them to change their lifestyles or be considered timely.

Professor of Statistics, Peter Donnelly, who took part in the investigation, said that the investigation is a new beginning and that researchers have learned more the past 12 months than they had learned the previous 15 years.

Science: Discovery of gene could help treat blindness

LONDON . Scientists have to find a «mutant» gene, which is directly linked to the most common causes of blindness in the developed world, creating hope even for the whole treatment of the disease.

British scientists said that they found six variants of this gene, which they call "Serping 1" and, related to the degeneration caused to spot (eye) - is called "AMD", due to advanced age. As stress characteristics: «The discoveries are helping us to better understand the genetic surrounding the degeneration induced in cells with age, which should lead to new methods of treatment of normal and« limited »disease» underlined Sarah and Andrew Enis higher, from the University of Southampton in the newspaper «Lanset».

The "AMD", which causes damage to sensitive cells of the plume in a region located in the center of the retina, usually develops when a person grows. A proportion of 90% of patients found to suffer from "AMD", is called «dry-version» of the disease, but for which no treatment is not currently available.

The others are the «wet» form, found in minutes Red pots to grow between the retina and the back of the eye. This form of the disease can be treated with modern medicines.

Gene Discovery

A pioneering discovery Italian researchers overturning the scientific view that the sex of the child is determined only by the man.

The Italian scientists discovered a gene-gender and women, which even if the mutation converts male to female fetuses. This will try to do as they say the researchers, in mouse embryos.

Meanwhile, Greek scientists stress that can change sex in animal embryos, however pointed out that it is morally unacceptable that this applied to human embryos.

Gene discovery may help prevent asthma

British scientists discovered a gene that can prevent allergy that triggers the illness and pain especially at this time a large proportion of the world's population.

The gene, named PHF-11, appears to regulate the blood cells that produce antibodies that are directly related to asthma. The discovery of the gene provides a new target for drugs designed to «erase» the immunoglobulin E antibody to prevent asthma.

The gene was discovered in the laboratories of Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford by Dr teachers. And Dr Miriam Mofat. William Koukson.

Dr. Koukson said: «The discovery of this gene adds a new dimension to the understanding of asthma and other allergic diseases, but has not yet been fully completed. There are at least ten genes that have a significant impact on a person's susceptibility to asthma and more genes with smaller effects ».

The survey, which lasted more than six years, attended by more doctors and scientists. The survey results were published in the online edition of the scientific form Nature Genetics.

Discovery of genes that increase the risk for skin cancer and hepatitis B

The discovery of a series of genes that are associated with increased risk of skin cancer, hepatitis B and susceptibility to radiation, have three different teams.

Scientists of the Institute for Cancer Research UK under Richard Murray, discovered that up to 70% of fatal cancers of the skin (melanoma) can be fired from a genetic mutation that leads cells to a cancer after exposure to excessive sun. The discovery may lead to more effective future treatments targeted by drugs, was published in the journal "Cancer Cell" (cancer cells).

British researchers have identified the gene BRAF, from which often starts the chain of genetic changes leading to melanoma. Scientists know for certain gene already, but until now were not sure whether a cause or effect of cancer and is now established that the First case. Although melanoma represents a small percentage of skin cancers, responsible for most deaths.

Another scientific team from the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. in the Vivian Tseoungk, identified a group of genes, around 1200, that affect how the human body reacts to radiation from the environment, often leading to cancer. According to the researcher is most likely to identify people who are more likely to have serious side effects from radiation exposure and to protect such by reducing the dose of radiation they receive.

Finally, a third scientific team from Japan has identified a number of gene mutations that appear to make people more sensitive towards chronic infection with hepatitis B. The discovery of researchers at the University of Tokyo, under the Giotsiro Kamatani, published in the journal "Nature Genetics .

Approximately 400 million people are suffering from chronic hepatitis B worldwide and 60% of cancers of the liver associated with the contamination. Japanese researchers compared the genes of patients with hepatitis B, people who do not have the infection and were able to identify 11 genetic mutations in a region containing the genes HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1.

Although not the only cause of the hepatitis B infection, genetic factors seem to play an important role. The Japanese researchers hope the findings will assist in new drug therapies.

Astana: Armstrong custody and Leipheimer

The Astana team has selected a very international custody around Americans Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer for the Giro, which starts Saturday in Venice.

Six countries (Slovenia, United States, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine and Kazakhstan) are represented in the group surrounding Armstrong, seven times winner of the Tour but neophyte of the Giro, and his compatriot, who won this season of the Tour of California and Tour de Castile and Leon.

Chris Horner, the third American this, the duo participated last week in the Tour de Gila, a small national race in New Mexico before Leipheimer won by Armstrong.

The Spaniard Jose Luis Rubiera and Ukrainian Yaroslav Popovych, two members of the team of Armstrong when the Texan was the undisputed leader of his training (Discovery Channel) before the first stop of his career in 2005, are also in Giro team.

Last year, Leipheimer took the 18th place in the Giro.

Team Astana at the Giro:

Lance Armstrong (USA), Jani Brajkovic (SLO), Chris Horner (USA), Levi Leipheimer (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Daniel Navarro (ESP), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) José Luis Rubiera (ESP), Andrey Zeits (KAZ)

Ontario is increasing its support for the innovative economy

The Partnerships Fund for the entertainment industry and the creation of Ontario is extended for four years.

Ontario continues to support economic growth in innovative renewing the Partnership Fund for the entertainment and through the creation of an investment of $ 12 million for next four years. The announcement was made today by the Honorable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture, in her speech to the Economic Club of Canada.

The Partnerships Fund for the entertainment industry and the Creation was established in 2006 with a budget of $ 7.5 million over three years. Its mission is to stimulate the growth of industries entertainment and creative in promoting capacity building, marketing, innovation and vocational training. Society development of the media industry in Ontario (OMDC) co-manages the fund in partnership with the Ministry of Culture.

Here are two examples of creative business hubs supported by this fund partnerships:
The Canadian International Festival Hot Docs film has expanded its global reach in 2008 through its Doc Shop. This service Doc Shop is a digital commerce server, through the Hot Docs festival (30 April - 10 May), allows delegates to have access on request to a library that contains over 1 500 documentaries from Canada and international. During the festival, Doc Shop strengthens the opportunity for buyers to view and acquire new Documentary Ontario. Doc Shop this service also works all year as a site of international trade for online buyers and
Documentary Distributors.

Niagara Interactive Media Generator - ngen or for short - is a incubator for new media in the Niagara region. Brock Partners University, Niagara College, Interactive Ontario, Silicon Knights, the Niagara Enterprise Agency, services and economic development tourist Ste. Catherine and Development CorporationEconomic Niagara have been working on two projects: the project "noiseinniagara" which is a website promoting the Niagara music scene and a set interactive education on the War of 1812. A tool for attracting investment is also underway. Last year, Microsoft ngen and were partners in a project to allow businesses to new media access to software worth several tens thousand dollars.

The next series of partnerships the fund will be launched at the end of May with the organization of information sessions that will in June, and the adoption of a deadline set for applications to 23 September.

QUOTATIONS
"The industry of the establishment of Ontario contributes not only to the modern economy of the province, but also a potential growth exponentially and the ability to create jobs for the future. By supporting innovation, research and development, we are helping Ontario to be
competitive and succeed in the global market for entertainment and media, a market that brings. "

- Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture
"The Ontario government understands the huge advantage in terms of competitiveness, the industries that we offer in the context of the global knowledge economy where intellectual property is characterized by significant challenges. The fund is a resource partnerships valuable that unites industry partners, universities and Government in the common goal to create and promote cultural products that Ontario offers on international markets. "

- Kevin Shea, Chair of the Board of Directors of the OMDC
"We are pleased that this program will continue to encourage the type of innovative projects and cross that can allow companies in Ontario to be competitive on the international scene. Since it was established three years ago, the Partnerships Fund entertainment industry and the creation supported 43 projects involving 285 partners and amounting to 15.9 million dollars. "

- Karen Thorne-Stone, CEO of OMDC

"We are delighted to have taken this crucial step that allows us to providing services and strengthen our role as a key market the international documentary industry. Telefilm Canada, and the OMDC all our partners deserve to be congratulated for their vision vision and dedication to this project unique. " - Chris McDonald, CEO, Hot Docs

QUICK FACTS

- Since its early years, the fund partnerships has contributed to success of several major projects including the project Magazines Digital Discovery Canada, a project that supports the creation and hosting online delivery of digital magazines Canadian and draft Spotlight on China, a project that permit the arrival of 28 Chinese music directors of leading Otario, a mission that has enabled them to discover and explore business opportunities with companies in the Ontario
Canadian Music Week.

- With some 276 000 jobs in 2008, the Entertainment and the creation of Ontario is the third in America North, behind California and New York. It is at the forefront of provinces for the film and television production, book and magazine publishing, and sound recording.

- Ontario represents 40% of Canada's cultural GDP.

- According to estimates, the sector's contribution to the creation of Ontario is at least $ 7 billion in contributions direct cultural sector. If we include a wider range cultural contributions, the figure reaches 12.2 billion dollars.

- During the last decade, the entertainment and the creation of Ontario has created more than 80 000 jobs in the province - an increase of 40 per 100 compared to 17 p. 100 for the general economy of Ontario.

- According to estimates, the global entertainment and media accounted for over 1.5 trillion dollars last year.