A job for “gene”

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, or so the saying goes. The same can be said of human genes. A gene in humans that apparently doesn’t serve any real purpose may help pave the way for a cure of diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cystic fibrosis. Ravindra Singh and other researchers at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered a way of using the “junk” gene – known as SMN2 – to behave in a way that mimics the healthy state of defective genes, thereby restoring gene functionality and possibly eliminating disease. For more information, contact Tracy Raef at 515-294-4602 or traef@iastate.edu.

Playing matchmaker

Call it a chromosome match game. By comparing human and dog genomes, researchers like Matthew Breen at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered that a gene commonly believed to be involved in human brain tumors may not be as key to tumor formation as previously thought, and they’ve narrowed the search for the real culprit. The researchers say being able to compare tumors in both people and dogs has allowed them to reduce the number of chromosomes they have to search to find genes that play a role in cancer formation. For more information, contact Dave Green at 919-513-6662 or david_green@ncsu.edu.

Getting there

A researcher from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine is working to harness one of the strongest swimmers known in nature. Alexander Travis is investigating the power in a sperm’s tail to possibly one day use the energy to help drive tiny drug-delivering bio-machines to where they are needed most, such as at a tumor site. “We’re borrowing the sperm’s strategy for locomotion,” says Travis, whose research is funded through a prestigious Director’s Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health. For more information, contact Stephanie Specchio at 607-253-3369 or sas6@cornell.edu.

Evolution of a virus

Research being conducted into an endangered species of monkey in Africa has led to the discovery of three new retroviruses that researchers consider to be “extremely different” from what’s been found in other primates. The research by veterinarian Tony Goldberg from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine is designed to learn more about the diversity of AIDS-like viruses in nature. His findings will help answer questions about the role human encroachment and habitat loss play in the potential for virus transmission between animals and humans. For more information, contact Tania Banak at 608-263-6914 or banakt@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu.

National Pet Wellness Month, Oct. 1, 2009 – Oct. 31, 2009: By age 2, most pets have already reached adulthood. Many enter middle age at 4. By age 7, many dogs, particularly larger breeds, are considered “senior.” That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health have joined forces since 2004 to urge pet owners to stay on top of their pet’s health. National Pet Wellness Month helps raise awareness about the pet aging process, disease prevention and the importance of twice-a-year wellness exams for all cats and dogs. For more information, go to www.npwm.com.