Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research

Researchers expose new vulnerabilities in the security of personal genetic information

Using only a computer, an Internet connection, and publicly accessible online resources, a team of Whitehead Institute researchers has been able to identify nearly 50 individuals who had submitted personal genetic material ...

Genetics created Jan 17, 2013 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Aggressive cancer exploits MYC oncogene to amplify global gene activity

Whitehead Institute researchers have determined the mechanism used by c-Myc to increase the expression of all active genes in cancer cells. Elevated levels of c-Myc are linked to increased rates of metastasis, disease recurrence, ...

Cancer created Sep 27, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

High levels of master heat shock protein linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer patients

Whitehead Institute scientists report that patients whose estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers have high levels of the ancient cellular survival factor heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) experience poor ...

Cancer created Oct 31, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Yeast model connects Alzheimer's disease risk and amyloid beta toxicity

In a development that sheds new light on the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a team of Whitehead Institute scientists has identified connections between genetic risk factors for the disease and the ...

Medical research created Oct 27, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Genetic master controls expose cancers' Achilles' heel

In a surprising finding that helps explain fundamental behaviors of normal and diseased cells, Whitehead Institute scientists have discovered a set of powerful gene regulators dubbed "super-enhancers" that control cell state ...

Cancer created Apr 11, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Protective prion keeps yeast cells from going it alone

Most commonly associated with such maladies as "mad cow disease" and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, prions are increasingly recognized for their ability to induce potentially beneficial traits in a variety of organisms, yeast ...

Medical research created Mar 28, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Long noncoding RNAs control development of fat cells

Whitehead Institute researchers have identified a previously unrecognized layer of genetic regulation that is necessary for the generation of undesirable white fat cells. When this regulation is disrupted, white fat cells ...

Overweight and Obesity created Feb 13, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Modified antibodies trigger immune response, point to novel vaccine design strategies

In an approach with the potential to aid therapeutic vaccine development, Whitehead Institute scientists have shown that enzymatically modified antibodies can be used to generate highly targeted, potent responses from cells ...

Medical research created Jan 07, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Cell surface transporters exploited for cancer drug delivery

Whitehead Institute scientists report that certain molecules present in high concentrations on the surfaces of many cancer cells could be exploited to funnel lethal toxic molecules into the malignant cells. In such an approach, ...

Genetics created Dec 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Whitehead scientists identify major flaw in standard approach to global gene expression analysis

Whitehead Institute researchers report that common assumptions employed in the generation and interpretation of data from global gene expression analyses can lead to seriously flawed conclusions about gene activity and cell ...

Genetics created Oct 25, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Study reveals rate at which key genetic deletions contribute to male infertility

A large-scale analysis of Y chromosomes from more than 20,000 men finds that two spontaneously recurring deletions along a complex region of the Y chromosome are responsible for approximately 8% of cases of failed sperm production.

Genetics created Oct 25, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Protein found to regulate red blood cell size and number

The adult human circulatory system contains between 20 and 30 trillion red blood cells (RBCs), the precise size and number of which can vary from person to person. Some people may have fewer, but larger RBCs, while others ...

Genetics created Aug 28, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Heat-shock factor reveals its unique role in supporting highly malignant cancers

Whitehead Institute researchers have found that increased expression of a specific set of genes is strongly associated with metastasis and death in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancers. Not only could this finding ...

Cancer created Aug 02, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Long intervening non-coding RNAs play pivotal roles in brain development

Whitehead Institute scientists have identified conserved, long intervening non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) that play key roles during embryonic brain development in zebrafish. They also show that the human versions of the lincRNAs ...

Medical research created Dec 22, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

How major signaling pathways are wired to our genome gives new insight into disease processes

Whitehead Institute scientists have determined that master transcription factors determine the genes regulated by key signaling pathways. In this way, signaling pathways are targeted to genes that are most relevant to each ...

Medical research created Oct 27, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast