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genetics

23andMe launches breast cancer networking project

Genetic analysis start-up 23andMe, known for its star-studded "spit parties" and a controversial investment from Google, announced Thursday the debut of a new initiative to bring together women who have been affected by breast cancer or who may be genetically at risk.

October is the 23rd annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Using its Web-based social network, 23andMe hopes to "reach out to, and build a community around, women who have encountered breast cancer, thereby increasing the scientific understanding of the inherited aspects of a disease that affects 200,000 newly diagnosed individuals per year." Women … Read more

The 404 135: Where that "Umbrella" song sucks

We're back from vacation and better than ever! Now you can check out a YouTube videostream of our daily show as well as download the podcast. Oh, yeah...big things happening at The 404. On today's show, we bring you the heat from the Interwaves: weekend movie roundups (Surprise! Hancock still sucks), a heartwarming story about a decapitated Chihuahua, advancements in genetically modified human beings, smog safety concerns at the Olympics in Beijing, and one mysterious alien aircraft in yonder atmosphere. Episode 135 Download today's podcast

23andMe demo at D6: People pay for this?

Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki of the genetic testing service 23andMe gave a perplexing demo this morning at the D6 conference. The service, launched last November, costs users $1,000 ($599 with current discounts) and provides a growing amount of information based on your genetic profile: predisposition to certain diseases, a profile of your overall racial makeup, and your relationship to another genetic profile in the database if you have access to it (it will tell you if you're related to your father, for example).

As more of the human genome is decoded, the 23andMe service will continue to … Read more

DNA dating site predicts chemical romance

The first dating service to use lab-based genetic profiling launched online last week. Scientific Match promises to pair up people who will be physically attracted to each other because their DNA is different.

Well-matched couples will like each others' natural scents, have more fun in bed, and bear healthier children than those who are genetically similar, the company claims.

The service, available only in the Boston area, charges $1,995 for a year-long subscription.

"I strongly believe this will dominate the future of dating services," said founder Eric Holzle, a mechanical engineer.

Members swab their cheeks and send … Read more

Scientists create glow-in-the-dark cats

This may be the fluffiest, freakiest thing since Alba, the green fluorescent bunny from artist Eduardo Kac.

South Korean scientists tinkering with fluorescence protein genes say they have bred white Turkish Angora cats to glow red under ultraviolet light.

The pair of cats cloned from a mother's altered skin cell are nearly a year old. The researchers told the AFP that their work could help unravel mysteries of some 250 genetic diseases suffered by both humans and cats. The findings also could be used to clone endangered tigers, leopards, and other animals, the report said.

However, it's unlikely … Read more

New fuel company mixes software with microbes

OPX Biotechnologies is a bit different than the other companies out there trying to make fuel from microbes.

It's not touting that it's found a magic microbe for turning wood chips into ethanol or synthetic petroleum. In fact, it doesn't even have a microbe in mind yet. Instead, the company has devised a system that speeds up the process for figuring out how the genome in a particular microbe functions and how it can be better exploited.

The tool, developed at the University of Colorado at Boulder, lets researchers test the function of different genes simultaneously. Right … Read more

Craig Venter: Google your date's DNA

Genetics pioneer Craig Venter took the stage at the Web 2.0 Summit with organizer Tim O'Reilly. What's a biologist doing at a Web 2.0 conference? Talking about how information and biology are converging (and have been for a while).

Interesting tidbits: Venter's own DNA was sequenced as part of his research. It cost, he estimates, about $70 million. Today it costs only $300,000 to sequence a person's DNA, and the $100,000 benchmark is in sight. It's an information processing problem, he said. In other words, Moore's Law and genetics are … Read more

No perfect pitch? Blame your genes

Update: I added where the study was published.

Perfect pitch, the ability to identify the absolute pitch of musical notes, looks to be the product of a small number of genes, according to a new University of California study.

Many traits, such as high blood pressure or height, have genetic links but span a broad spectrum with relatively few people having extreme measurements. But with perfect pitch, also called absolute pitch, a person either has it or doesn't, according to UC researchers in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"This striking, bimodal distribution resolves the question of whether absolute … Read more

More fun with DNA for the holidays

Earlier this morning, fellow Craver Erica Ogg talked about how DNA-related gifts are all the rage this holiday season. Well, here's another option for genetics aficionados. A company called DNA 11 has several options for turning your biological fingerprint (or your physical fingerprint) into visually-pleasing artwork. Here's their gift-giving M.O.: you pay for the artwork before the fact, and then give a DNA collection kit to your favorite Watson & Crick fan for his or her winter holiday of choice. The recipient completes the instructions for a DNA sample, sends it back to the company, and in … Read more