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Childhood Abuse Changed Genes in Suicide Victims

It doesn’t come as a surprise that childhood abuse has long term effects that show itself way into adulthood. Adults with a history of childhood abuse are known to have higher risks of psychological problems and difficulty responding to stress. But a recent study found that abuse in early childhood can permanently change how certain genes in the brain work, so much, that the risk of suicide is increased.

A Canadian study led by Michael Meaney examined the gene for glucocorticoid receptor – which controls a brain’s response to stress – in 12 suicide victims with a history of abuse, and another 12 who did not suffer abuse as children.

The researchers found that those who have been abused as children produced chemical changes in the brain which reduced the gene’s activity, and in turn resulted in the victim’s abnormally heightened response to stress.

The traumatic childhood experiences changed the gene expression and not the gene itself, so future studies could focus on whether drugs can reverse such effects, adds Meaney.

Read more about study in – Child abuse ‘impacts stress gene’.

The study was e-published at Nature Neuroscience (Epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor in human brain associates with childhood abuse. Published online: 22 February 2009)

Will NIH stimulus spending help genetics and the economy?

I don’t know about the people working at the NIH, but I was giddy about the NIH funding from Obama’s stimulus plan. Anyone who has worked at the institute knows how each dollar from the taxpayers is stretched to accomplish lofty goals for better health and innovative research.

So it’s no surprise that the $10.4 billion funding is met with anticipation and excitement, and questions about how exactly will the funds be disbursed. Acting Director Raynard Kington answered that question in a statement this week -

1. NIH will fund applications that are already on hand and expected to make progress in the next few years. Applications that have been judged for merit but did not receive awards last year due to lack of funds will finally get thei due this year.
2. NIH will focus on preserving and creating jobs that contribute to the economy… “and deliver short-term investments that will have long-term impact."
3. BUT – NIH will not restore cuts to existing programs or grants.
4. AND – the money has to be spent in two years, so investigators asking for funds have to justify how they will spend them in that short period of time.

Read the complete article here - NIH Stimulus Spending Focused Mostly on Existing Grants; No Funds to Restore Previous Cuts.

Do you think the NIH spending plan will help boost research in genetics, and stimulate the economy?

Gau jal: proof that what’s healthy depends on your culture

So. Gau jal. Cow water. Made mainly of cow urine, mixed with a few medicinal and ayurvedic herbs. It’s thought to be purifying. Some politicians are promoting cow urine as a cure for liver disease, obesity, and cancer.

Some people are talking about a cow urine revolution: “It will be a revolution of sorts. The acceptance of cow urine as a potent medicine is increasing day by day and once it comes as a cold drink, its demand will definitely increase,” Prakash claimed.

Here’s the Times Online UK.
And here we have cowurine.com!
Here’s Indiaexpress.com

There’s plenty more out there. It’s like a whole new world to explore.

Autism involves multiple gene interactions, mouse study

Autism researchers have long believed that there is more than one gene involved in autism, and that these genes are interacting with one another to create the spectrum associated with the disorder.

For the first time, scientists at MIT found that mice carrying mutations in two candidate genes for autism have more severe symptoms than those with only one mutation. The two genes studied were PTEN and serotonin transporter. In female mice, mutations in PTEN impaired sociability while those who also had mutations in the serotonin gene had worse symptoms.

"We found that two genetic risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) act cooperatively in mice to influence brain size and social behavior, both of which are altered in ASDs," said Damon T. Page, a Picower Institute postdoctoral fellow and lead investigator of the study, which appeared in the February 10 issue of PNAS.

If this result translates to humans, the interaction of these genes could serve as biomarkers for certain subsets of individuals with ASD. It will also mean that drugs for the treatment of autism would need to target multiple genes.

Read details of the report at - Multiple Genes Implicated In Autism; Discovery Could Lead To Drugs Targeting Gene Interactions

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Drug from genetically engineered goats approved by FDA

For the first time, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the release of a drug made from genetically engineered animals, boosting confidence in the science of gene manipulation.

The drug ATryn (GTC Biotherapeutics) was approved on February 6 for the prevention of blood clotting events in patients with hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency. ATryn is produced using milk from goats that have been altered to produce extra antithrombin, a natural blood thinner.

Hereditary antithrombin deficiency is a genetic condition where the person suffers from serious and recurrent blood clotting, and making them at very high risk for blood clots, organ damage or death. Over 200,000 people in the United States, Canada and Europe are affected by the disease.

The FDA’s approval will certainly help patients suffering from AT deficiency as there are very few treatment options for the disease. This is also a vote of confidence for the science of genetic engineering as the public sees the usefulness of developing transgenic drugs. Farmer Gene adds that this means the U.S. government rigorous regulatory process for genetically engineered animals is effective.

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