GEN

Sequencing 16S rRNA gene fragments using the PacBio SMRT DNA sequencing system [PeerJ PrePrints] Over the past 10 years, microbial ecologists have largely abandoned sequencing 16S rRNA genes by the Sanger sequencing method and have instead adopted highly parallelized sequencing platforms.

These new platforms, such as 454 and Illumina's MiSeq, have allowed researchers to obtain millions of high quality, but short sequences. These platforms have allowed researchers to significantly improve the design of their experiments. The tradeoff has been the decline in the number of full-length reference sequences that are deposited into databases.

To overcome this problem, we tested the ability of the PacBio Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) DNA sequencing platform to generate sequence reads from the 16S rRNA gene. Fabrice Leclerc Twitter. “CT @rnomics/bioinfo #RNA-Seq reve...

[Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics. 2014] - PubMed - NCBI:... ” “The Country's First Health Network for Clinical Whole Genomic &... #PressRelease #CLIA #IlluminaHiSeqXTen #RNAseq” Home. Quality control for RNA-Seq. When function isn’t always ‘function’ for non-coding RNAs - Biome. One of the more striking biological discoveries of the past decade has been the extent of transcription from regions of the genome that do not code for proteins.

The resulting non-coding (nc)RNA has been the subject of lively debate. Much of this debate has focused on what proportion of this ncRNA is likely to be functional. Two opposing PloS Biology papers from 2011 offer a good starting point, arguing either that ncRNAs probably represent functional transcripts, or that while substantial ncRNA transcription exists, it is often not biologically meaningful, representing either technical artefact or undirected transcriptional ‘noise’. The debate reared its head again last year with the publication of ENCODE, whose inclusion of any biochemical activity in its definition of ‘functional’ was subject to complaint. The number of ways transcription can mediate gene regulation is surprisingly high.

Insight & Intelligence™: Costly Cats: Dispelling Allergies-to-Animals Mythology. Too Good To Be True In 2004 Allerca started offering its Lifestyle Pets, kitties and puppies, that the company claims did not cause allergies because the animal were bred either not to express allergy-causing antigens, or to express them at extremely low levels. The animals could be purchased for prices ranging from $6,950 for an Allerca GD cat, an Allerca Ashera GD cat at $26,950, or a Jabari GD dog at $15,950.

But the company supplied no information about the process behind the pets except what is available on its website, nor does much in the way of scientific provenance exist. RIP RNA-Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation. RNA Assumes More Prominent Role. RNA is beginning to take its place among the movers and shakers of biology.

For decades, it was considered a background player in biology, a static carrier of genetic instructions from big daddy DNA. Now, however, RNA and its analysis are coming into the spotlight in an ever-expanding arena. New players bearing acronyms such as piRNA, siRNA, shRNA, and ncRNA are now regulars in scientific lexicons (and, perhaps more importantly, Wikipedia). Emerging trends and new advances in the field are reviewed in this article, including revolutionary tools for transcriptomic analyses, deciphering how pathogens subvert immune systems, and new modeling methods to better delineate RNA structure/function. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a new chapter in the emerging story of RNA biology. GENbio: With Oligonucleotide Drugs... RNA Advances Reshape Prevailing Wisdom. Expanding on a concept originally coined by Walter Gilbert in 1986, Thomas Cech recently described two RNA worlds—a hypothetical, primordial world in which the same molecule combined informational and catalytic properties, and a contemporary world, forged by a spectrum of RNA-centered activities.

While during the early days, following the discovery of DNA, RNA was thought to be the less interesting molecule, this view has dramatically changed in recent years. Advances in RNA biology are reshaping concepts that have been prevailing for a long time. For example, in the field of developmental biology, decisions were traditionally envisioned mostly in terms of the progressive expression of different combinations of transcription factors that are induced by specific combinations and concentrations of growth differentiation factors. Investigators in Dr. “RNA can perform many of the same functions that proteins do. A recent finding from Dr. Dr. Embattled RNAi Technology Tries New Tack. In 2011, several big pharma companies dealt serious blows to RNA interference (RNAi) technology by abandoning or reducing their programs.

But while RNAi may be down, it is far from out. The discovery of RNAi electrified the field of biology and earned scientists the 2006 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Though the initial fever pitch excitement for RNAi therapeutics has dimmed in some circles, academic and biotech scientists continue to doggedly pursue the challenges that vex the field. Despite setbacks, many clinical trials are under way with more planned. Keystone Symposia’s “Nucleic Acid Therapeutics” and CHI’s “High Content Analysis” meetings featured new technical approaches and disease-relevant applications for RNAi. Marina Biotech and Mirna Therapeutics Forge Oncology Pact. Marina Biotech and Mirna Therapeutics inked a license agreement regarding the development and commercialization of microRNA-based therapeutics.

Marina Biotech could receive up to $63 million in total up-front fees as well as clinical and commercialization milestone payments over and above royalties on sales. Marina Biotech separately entered into a $5 million private placement. Under their collaboration, Mirna's miRNAs and Marina Biotech's Smarticles liposomal delivery technology will be coupled. Mirna will have full responsibility for the development and commercialization of any products arising under the agreement and Marina Biotech will support preclinical and process development efforts.