Talk

Yet more good news for those of us who love chocolate. Add to the list of wonderful things that moderate doses of dark chocolate can do…make your blood less “sticky,” much the way aspirin does. (Of course, chocolate is not recommended to replace aspirin or any other clot-preventing measures, but hey, I call this tasty research news.)

• Previous good news about chocolate: lower cholesterol, improve cholesterol profile, elevate mood, helps mothers grow happy babies
• NPR’s coverage
  
• My personal chocolate purveyors & their blog

What does this have to do with genetics? Well, it doesn’t, really. So here’s a “while we’re on the subject of sticky blood, did you know…” bit of genetic information: There are gene variants that can cause your blood to be more “sticky” than average (thrombophilia), which increases your risk for developing a blood clot.

Technorati Tags: chocolate, blood clotting, prevention, aspirin

Yes indeed, colorful and humorous gene names are getting new, respectable monikers. I can’t believe we blogged about it before the New York Times covered it. Sure, it was only by a few days, but I’m glad to know we’ve got our finger on the pulse of quirky genetics news, too. I’m also glad to know people are interested in this sort of thing - of course, Sonic the Hedgehog probably had more to do with it than the lunatic fringe….

postscript: Hsien Lei’s got a list of names and some dialogue going about them over at Genetis & Health.

Technorati Tags: gene names, genetics, news

This summer DNA Direct had a wonderful intern, Elissa Test, who came to us on the way to med school, as part of her personal research into the range of medical professions. Over the course of the next few months, Elissa will be posting on specific genetic conditions and the relationship between common diseases and their genetic components.

When looking at about genetic conditions, we are inevitably focused on rare and “what are the odds?” situations. So I have to ask, what are the odds that our summer intern (Elissa Test) would have the same unusual name as our clinical director (Elissa Levin)?

The Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California recently announced the opening of its new Down Syndrome Clinic. The clinic offers a multidisciplinary approach – addressing medical, genetic, psychological, developmental issues – to offer individualized care and evaluation of children with this genetic condition.

The clinic also offers promise on the research front, as experts will have the opportunity to learn from the clinic patients, who will also have access to new clinical trials and treatments.

Says Dr. William Mobley, who directs Packard Children’s Brain and Behavior Center, says: “There is a huge need for new treatments for these children. Right now there is nothing other than supportive care for these folks. We’re cautiously optimistic that what we’re learning now may one day lead to clinical trials.”

• Learn More: October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Check out the National Down Syndrome Society.

• Support Special Olympics, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society.

Technorati Tags: down syndrome, developmental disabilities, clinical trials, research, treatment, medical care

Hsien Hsien Lei has a great interview series at Genetics & Health, which features people from all aspects of the genetics industry — researchers, CEOs, advocates, academics. Recently, she interviewed me. Thanks, Hsien, for a great interview!

Technorati Tags: interviews, genetics, genes, dna, genetic testing

This week is off to a great start! First, a holiday and now a new edition of Mendel’s Garden. A favorite blog of mine, Evolgen, is hosting. Check out Mendel’s Garden for links to interesting posts ranging from biomedical business to evolutionary genetics to molecular and cell biology. (I must say, there is a surprising confluence of links to and about DNA Direct. Does this mean we’re finally hip?)

Technorati Tags: mendel’s garden, genetics, evolution, molecular, cell biology

Today brings good news for my colleague Jason, the man with the high-octane coffeepot. Earlier this year, research into the pharmacogenetics of caffeine metabolism had him a bit wound-up. But today Jason can pour himself another cup as he ponders the latest news: Researchers have found strong evidence that coffee reduces the risk of several serious ailments, including diabetes, heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver. Yes, coffee even has antioxidents!

Rob van Dam, a scientist at Harvard and author of a review of studies into coffee and risk for diabetes, acknowledges that caffeine could possibly raise the risk for heart disease (by increasing blood pressure and slightly increasing homocysteine levels). But as he tells the New York Times,

I wouldn’t advise people to increase their consumption of coffee in order to lower their risk of disease … but the evidence is that for most people without specific conditions, coffee is not detrimental to health. If people enjoy drinking it, it’s comforting to know that they don’t have to be afraid of negative health effects.

Cheers, java lovers!

(For the non-coffee crowd: have you heard the tasty news about hot chocolate?)

Technorati Tags: pharmacogenetics, caffeine, metabolism, coffee, heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, risk, health benefits, hot chocolate

I’m a bit late in announcing this but the latest issue of Mendel’s Garden, the new genetics blog round-up, is up at Genetics and Health. A few of the selections about rare genetic conditions caught my attention.

Dr. Paul discusses an intriguing collaboration between dog breeders and human researchers. Batten Disease, is a rare genetic disorder that appears in both humans and Tibetan Terriers. The breed club has a DNA database for the dogs, and you can guess the rest — but you really should read Dr. Paul’s commentary about what a collaboration like this can mean for a rare disease.

Filipina Soul writes about a rare, recessive genetic disorder, maple syrup urine disease, and recent research that suggests high carrier rates (up to 1 in 100) among Filipinos. According to Filipina Soul, the researchers have also identified a unique founder mutation that causes the disease. Research such as this is exciting — it can make pre-conception carrier testing possible, not to mention how awareness of ethnic risk increases the likelihood of early postnatal diagnosis.

Over at Ideas for Women, Trisha has thoughtful commentary on a study I’ve been meaning to write about. Recently, the Journal of Clinical Oncology published a preliminary study suggesting that women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who are exposed to X-rays have a greater risk for breast cancer. (Trisha also reported on the discovery of a BARD1 variant that in combination with a BRCA1 mutation significantly increases cancer risk. This variant has been found only in European families to date.) This has nothing to do with rare genetic conditions, per se, but I share her perspectives about this research, how the media covers news like this, and how we as individuals make choices based on this.

Technorati Tags: mendel’s garden, genetic disorders, batten disease, tibetan terriers, maple syrup urine disease, msud, carrier testing, brca1, brca2, bard1, breast cancer, x-rays

The more I learn about DNA — and as you can imagine, it’s a big part of my job — the more it intrigues and inspires me. I marvel at how this complicated, precise structure provides the rhythm and timing for the intricate biological dances that run through all living creatures. To me, DNA has a musical personality. Like a qawwali, its beauty is collective and improvisational, building on basic themes to create something that is both unique and universal.

So, you can imagine that I was excited to learn that Liz Lerman’s multimedia dance production, “Ferocious Beauty: Genome” makes its West Coast premiere this weekend. Our local paper quotes Lerman, quoting Stanford marine biologist Steve Palumbi: “Scientists in general have this amazing addiction to the joy of discovery… Finding something out is really cool. Addiction to discovery — that’s the mark of a scientist, and the same I think is true of the artist.”

Read coverage of “Ferocious Beauty: Genome”
See DNA art and more DNA art at Genetizen’s blog
DNA-inspired paintings, by Julie Newdall
Commentary on DNA-inspired art, from Nature

Technorati Tags: DNA, art, qawwali, dance, paintings

April 25 is National DNA Day. A day to celebrate the completion of the Human Genome Project — and the discovery of DNA just 53 years ago.

National DNA Day is a good excuse to learn the latest about the human genome. The DNA Dolan Learning Center has great online materials for all you science teachers and parents looking for new inspirations. The National Human Genome Research Institute also has info for adults and fun stuff for kids — a webcast, live chatroom, and videos. (You’ll need Real Player installed to view run the videos.)