Human Genetic Variation Alters Anthrax Toxin Sensitivity
Martchenko, Candille et al., PNAS
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine show that genetic variation affecting capillary morphogenesis gene 2, or CMG2, dramatically alters toxin sensitivity in humans. In its analysis, the team reports on "a CMG2 single-nucleotide polymorphism occurring frequently in African and European populations [that they found] independently altered toxin uptake." The group goes on to suggest "testing of genomically characterized human cell populations may offer a broadly useful strategy for elucidating effects of genetic variation on infectious disease susceptibility."
New Stem Cell Lines Approved
December 03, 2009
New embryonic stem cell lines have been approved for use in federally-funded research in the US. Of these 13 new lines, 11 were made by Harvard Stem Cell Institute's George Daley and the other two by Rockefeller University's Ali Brivanlou. Both researchers used private funds for that work. "I am happy to say that we now have human embryonic stem cell lines eligible for use by our research community under our new stem cell policy," says Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, according to Agence France Presse. According to the Washington Post, 20 more lines may be approved for use as early as Friday and another 76 are also under consideration. "This is the first down payment on what is going to be a much longer list that will empower the scientific community to explore the potential of embryonic stem cell research," Collins adds in the Post.