Gene Genie #44

Logo by Ricardo at My Biotech Life

General Genetics

Greg Laden blogs about the Identification of the Two "Missing" Romanov Children Using DNA Analysis.  I was so disappointed when DNA testing revealed that Anna Andersen was not Anastasia Romanov. 

In the gene therapy arena, Amiya Sarkar at Physiology physics woven fine has an overview of gene therapy.  While Sandra Porter at Discovery Biology in a Digital World reminds us that Genetically modified humans are already here.  Don't worry the children with Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) deficiency that received gene therapy, Sandra reassures us, are doing just fine.

Ruth at the Biotech Weblog blogs about a genetic blood test that will provide more accurate evaluation for cystic fibrosis patients.  And I have a Genetic Cautionary Tale about a girl who genetically has cystic fibrosis, but shows no physical symptoms.

Alberto, who writes for "medicine geeks" at Medical Pills posts on Genetic Tests for Heart Disease. 

Sue Hughes blogs Clopidogrel gene mutation linked to higher rate of stent thrombosis.  (At the risk of sounding uneducated, I have no idea what Clopidogrel or stent thrombosis are, but if you do, have at it.) 

Mo at NeuroPhilosophy writes about the genetics of synaesthesia.  (Again, I have to admit, I had no idea what synaesthesia was.  I looked it up.  It is when one sensory experience involuntarily triggers another, like if numbers appear inherently colored.) 

And, DNA Diagnostics Center blogs about A Genetic Predisposition to Financial Risk-Taking.  Huh.  I wonder about the prevalence of that variant on Wall Street.

On the grosser side of genetics, DNA Direct announces that Stool DNA Testing is Back. Thank goodness this do it yourself stool testing kit is for detection of colorectal cancer and not just for fun. (Note to self: do not send resume to DNA Direct.)

And I am not sure I can blog about this one at a Catholic blog, but while searching for information on genetics and prostate cancer, Sally Church at the Pharma Strategy blog, found an article on Masturbation and Prostate Cancer Risk. Well, I guess an increased risk of prostate cancer is a way better deterrent than the threat of hairy palms!

Genetics and Personalized Medicine

Gene Sherpa Steve Murphy posts on the clinical relevance of personalized medicine in Like I said....  And Laika's MedLibLog asks Personalized Genetics: Too Soon, Too Little? 

Grace Ibay at Genetics and Health believes that What Personalized Medicine really needs [is] Francis Collins.

Ahhh competition.  Daniel MacArthur at Genetic Future talks about Coriell's new program offering a full genome scan, plus a genetic health report and genetic counseling in his post Free personal genomics... sort of.  And Andrew Yates of Think Gene wonders Will Coriell PMC kill Navigenics?  And Daniel answers questions on another company offering a complete genome for only $5000.

Speaking of Navigenics, Bertalan Meskó at Science Roll discusses his experience with the company in Navigenics: What my genome tells me to do.  As does John at Chilmark Research in his post Navigenics: The Experience.

And just in case you want more Navigenics, at their blog the Navigator, Elissa Levin has some very important Questions to ask when selecting a genetic testing company.  Post complete with a picture of DNA sequencing data that appears to have been analyzed with the wrong mobility file or just has a serious problem with the G dye-terminator.  Sorry...old habits die hard.

Privacy in genetics is always a huge issue.  Blaine Bettinger at The Genetic Genealogist posts on Large-Scale Genetic Genealogy Privacy Concerns.  And at The Quantified Self, Gary Wolf warns Your genome will be public. 

In genetics it is always a struggle to remember that there are people attached to that strand of nucleotides.  Blaine Bettinger at The Genetic Genealogist remembers with Visualizing Your Genetic Genealogy.

Dr Sowmiya Moorthie, at the PHG Foundation posts on Cancer-related genetic testing in Ontario.

Randall Parker, Future Pundit, has an interesting post on using genetic testing to determine an athelete's natural testosterone level to better catch doping.

And finally AnneH at 23andMe's blog The Spitton discusses how marriage is becoming less autozygotic (sounds kinky) in the Genetics of Globalization.