Disability Happens » DNA http://www.disabilityhappens.com And the journey to heal begins... Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:33:40 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Key theme to keep stem cells in primitive state found http://www.disabilityhappens.com/key-theme-to-keep-stem-cells-in-primitive-state-found.html http://www.disabilityhappens.com/key-theme-to-keep-stem-cells-in-primitive-state-found.html#comments Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:29:31 +0000 Richard Brassaw http://www.disabilityhappens.com/key-theme-to-keep-stem-cells-in-primitive-state-found.html The Canadian scientists were like salmon swimming up the proverbial gene pool looking for the key to unlock a stem cell’s state. They believe that they have discovered it in a gene with a name that looks a lot like a calendar date—Oct4.

What is still emerging from this research is how stem cells format DNA and yet keep it flexible enough to regulate cell characteristics by restricting how molecules move within the nucleus.

The researchers contribute much of their success to the way they approached the problem. Traditional thinking was to compare stem cells by types. Instead they looked for the gossamer thread that united the variety of stem cell types to the master stem cell regulator gene Oct4.

It is hoped that this discovery will help develop therapies that will target, then repair, damaged adult stem cells in diseases like cancer.

]]> http://www.disabilityhappens.com/key-theme-to-keep-stem-cells-in-primitive-state-found.html/feed 0 Want to give insurance companies your DNA? http://www.disabilityhappens.com/are-you-willing-to-give-insurance-companies-your-dna.html http://www.disabilityhappens.com/are-you-willing-to-give-insurance-companies-your-dna.html#comments Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:40:35 +0000 Richard Brassaw http://www.disabilityhappens.com/?p=59 The issue of insurance companies having access to your DNA is a debate that has been tossed around in Washington for several years now. In one corner are those who argue rights to privacy and in the other corner are the insurance lobbyists who argue it is little more than the medical exam you are now required to provide.

Insurance lobbyists are determined to change the law. Currently they hope to have the law changed in the United Kingdom next year. You can be sure that insurance companies oppose any laws that will prevent their access to DNA information.

The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) passed the house 420 to 3 this past April. The bill prevents insurance companies from using DNA to discriminate and prevent from setting contributions or rates based on DNA.

In the Eye On DNA article, Do Insurance Companies Have a Right to Your DNA?, Professor Richard Ashcroft and Professor Søren Holm debate the issue.

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