Slashdot Mirror
Breakthrough In Detecting DNA Mutations Could Help Treat Cancer, TB
vinces99 writes "Researchers have developed a new method that can look at a specific segment of DNA and pinpoint a single mutation, which could help diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis. These small changes can be the root of a disease or the reason some infectious diseases resist certain antibiotics. The findings were published online July 28 in the journal Nature Chemistry. 'We've really improved on previous approaches because our solution doesn't require any complicated reactions or added enzymes, it just uses DNA,' said lead author Georg Seelig, a University of Washington assistant professor of electrical engineering and of computer science and engineering. 'This means that the method is robust to changes in temperature and other environmental variables, making it well-suited for diagnostic applications in low-resource settings.' The researchers designed probes that can pick out mutations in a single base pair in a target stretch of DNA. The probes allow researchers to look in much more detail for variations in long sequences up to 200 base pairs while current methods can detect mutations in stretches of up to only 20."
When reached for comment, Magneto promised that this would spell inevitable war between mutants and humans.
Yaargh help I've got foaming at the mouth rabies!
So how long will this be under the patent lock and key before anyone can benefit from it?
Also, is the University of Washington the only university doing any research anymore? Or do they just have really good PR? Every time I see one of these stories lately, the University of Washington is involved
I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
Is it patented? And as someone who is working in the field. Most diseases, even inherited ones, are not due to single mutations...
If information wants to be free, why does my internet connection cost so much?
But I certainly need help for athletes foot.
The link points to a university press release, I would therefore not put too much on the claim. The text in the press release is so inflated with flowery prose the subject matter looses credibility. Since the original paper is behind a pay wall most of us will never know if it was a 'breakthrough' or not. Plus I see it will be patented but the research was paid for by public funds!
This may becomes BRCA1 & BRCA2 case in the future if they can "patent" these genes... I hope they fail miserably on getting a patent if what they called "technology" is actually "genes"! Below is from TFA...
The researchers have filed a patent on the technology and are working with the UW Center for Commercialization. They hope to integrate it into a paper-based diagnostic test for diseases that could be used in parts of the world with few medical resources.
How do you treat a terabyte?
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
The article blurb is a total POS. We can detect single nucleotide polymorphisms easily, using any sequencing technology or genotyping systems. I don't even see anything novel in the article, because scientists used similar technologies for AGES.
Thank you for moving from your street corner to this online presence. When passing by your usual spot, I only get to hear a tiny amount of incoherent rambling, unless I miss the walk signal. As such, it takes me many trips to hear every one of your crazy, unfounded conspiracy theories. I also appreciate that online I am not at risk of getting hit by excess froth or spittle as I pass you, even though your keyboard must be much at risk. With you now having online access, you will also be able to add multiple new conspiracy theories to your repertoire- I look forward to your upcoming improved incoherent rants.
oh hell that wasn't clear at all. SORRY.
I mean, they they "those people" can virus up your box with their unlimited resources, and that you should make a hard backup, or clone (if you will) of your drives as soon as possible before they get into them. ;o)
If your wondering about passwords, I would be getting them onto an encrypted container. Preferably mobile, say like keepass laying inside a puddle of mud of your choosing. that's just for the hackers. The NSA I don't have advice for. I see how over time they can make it REALLY HARD for me to change something they can't get right back into quickly. And I got to be honest, I trusted them for years and years, I always thought they would be on the up and up and trying to make things better...I still have hope that there are enough left who obey the oath they SWORE to the US CONSTITUTION and sadly the POTUS (who needs a security guard to check his credentials), to see through what's happening now. It's pretty thick, and I was snowed cause I VOTED for obama because the corporate media destroyed Ron Paul.
That's the way I see it. There's a lot more with the DSM-5 (false science) and Obamacare, the NCiS db, the Fact that the SKY isn't BLUE it's WHITE (SAG/SRM wx op's) , and the crap in our food (radiation, oil) , oceans (radiation, Oil) , the WAFFLE BOARDING of ENTIRE CITIES via weather modification ground based steering.
Banksters vs DOJ = EH, POTUS, GAX JC, fuk nevermind..
Where do you want to start that yeah, we have a problem? Executive orders, UN Treaties. Oh give me your firearms too. And Passwords.
I tell ya what, you show me where the threat is mr obama, and I'll tell you if it's okay or not, to use whatever insidious friggin secret crap (which you will either explain, or find someone FAST to explain.. " tech on them. "
I am getting old. I sure hope there are others out there like me. Otherwise I think this country and PLANET may be toast.
All that spittle coming from your frosty mouth is because you are a retard. lol
Sounds like they have reinvented "Molecular Beacons" ....
I somehow knew this before reading the article. Yay PhD!
BUy a lot of SILVER and SHINE it like a MIRROR and shine it back in their faces. STRAIGHT UP.
breakthrough # 2,343,345,448. take that, cancer!
Typically, hybridization probes rely on match/mismatch similarities between one target strand, and the probe strand; when the difference is a single base pair, your signal/noise ratio can be pretty poor. But while performance is typically poorer than PCR-based assays, they can be faster and easier to run, requiring less sophisticated equipment.
This new technique uses a mechanism that simultaneously evaluates both strands of the target at once (by passing through a cross-shaped intermediate complex). Basically, it's like differential signaling -- a single-point mutation on a dsDNA segment actually produces two detectable and complementary changes, one on each strand.
This is simplifying a bit (leaving out parts like the intermediate step used to generate toe-holds for the multi-way interaction) but that's the best computer analogy I can think of for a Slashdot explanation. It's nothing world-breaking, but it looks something with practical impact, giving a nice boost to a very widely deployed molecular diagnostic technique.
That ensures that in an equilibrium solution it'll be present at much smaller concentration than a fully-hybridized DNA
That's actually one part of the new technique that is a problem -- it's a solution-based reaction. They may or may not be able to tether it to a solid substrate and still have it work (which would be a requirement for implementation in a practical DNA micro-array). I don't have access to the full paper at this moment, so I don't know if the issue was addressed or not.
Try preventing cancer in the first place. Eat a little chocolate daily. Be sure it is not a 10% cocoa Hershey bar. It needs to be at least 86%. I use 100% in my sugared coffee every morning.
The testing probes are designed to bind with a sequence of DNA that is suspected of having a mutation.... The probe is engineered to emit a fluorescent glow if there’s a perfect match between it and the target.
So it's a highly specific FISH? Or maybe something similar to SOLiD's NGS sequencing process?
Ask me about repetitive DNA