Last month I told you about an innovative partnership that brings community healthcare into the 21st century. The Genomic Medicine Institute was launched at Silicon Valley’s El Camino Hospital together with DNA Direct to enable physicians and their patients access to leading-edge genomic services.
Genomic Medicine Institute was created so that patients can be better directed in their decisions about their medical conditions, especially when it comes to using genetic tests and counseling. For example, when someone finds out she has breast cancer, one of the questions that is asked is will she pass it to her daughter? Should she tell …read more

It may be unconventional to post a promo trailer on a genetics site, but I’ve been waiting for this film since I first heard of it.
“My Sister’s Keeper” is the story of two young sisters whose lives would be intertwined beyond their control. Kate is the older sister – beautiful, graceful and living with a rare genetic disease called acute promyelocytic leukemia. Anna is three years younger – genetically engineered and conceived to be a genetic match for Kate. Whatever Kate’s body needs – cord blood, blood, bone marrow, kidney – Anna is the donor. How many times can you …read more

 
Logo by Ricardo at My Biotech Life
Gene Genie Genetics Carnival #33  is hosted by Mo from Neurophilosophy.  
Mo has a great series of genetics related articles from all the best genetics blogs in the world.  In this edition, there is a strong emphasis on cancer. There’s also a focus on leukodystrophy, and a special section on personalized genetics.
Well worth a read!
Elaine Warburton  www.geneticsandhealth.com

Logo credit: Ricardo @ mybiotechlife
A big thanks to Walter Jessen at Highlight Health for hosting this month’s Gene Genie genetics Carnival where Genetics and Health is included.  Walter has a great round-up of this months genetics’ news.
http://www.highlighthealth.com/blog-events/gene-genie-32-googling-the-genie/
Elaine Warburton  www.geneticsandhealth.com

(Image courtesy of Ricardo Vidal at My Biotech Life) 
Many thanks to Razib at Gene Expression for hosting Gene Genie#30, the carnival of genetics blogs. Click on the following link to get a great summary on all that is happening in the genetics blog word.  There are some great articles, including some from G&H.
http://scienceblogs.com/gnxp/2008/04/gene_genie_30.php
Here are links to all the previous Gene Genie Carnivals.

Issue #1: Scienceroll
Issue #2: Sciencesque
Issue #3: Genetics and Health
Issue #4: Sandwalk
Issue #5: Neurophilosophy
Issue #6: Scienceroll
Issue #7: Gene Sherpa
Issue #8: Eye on DNA
Issue #9: DNA Direct Talk
Issue #10: Genomicron
Issue #11: Med Journal Watch
Issue #12: My Biotech Life
Issue #13: The Genetic Genealogist
Issue #14: …read more

 
Fellow science blogger Pharyngula has blogged this but I just have to show Genetics and Health readers this wonderful video showing dolphins’ version of home entertainment!
Elaine Warburton

Grace at Kids Health Notes and Kristina at Autism Vox have both written about the gene CNTNAP2 being unequivocally implicated in Type 1 Autism.
In her article CNTNAP2, an autism susceptibility gene which I highly recommend,  Kristina writes a personal account of her ongoing experience with her son Charlie’s autism and discusses the recent research findings.
Do read Grace’s article titled CNTNAP2 ‘unequivocally implicated’ in Type 1 autism which summarizes the three main pieces of research appearing in the American Journal of Genetics.
For the scientists:
Contactin Associated Protein-Like 2 is also known as CDFE; NRXN4; CASPR2; DKFZp781D1846. This gene encodes a member of the …read more

 
 (From The DNA Store)
b5’s Science and Health channel correspondents are coming together to bring you our Top 5 lists for Christmas and holidays … each of us with different slant!
Here at Genetics and Health we are recomneding the following …
Straight in at Number 1 and this has to be YOUR New Year’s resolution
….. if you’ve got a family history of health problems or are worried about any aspect of your health and wellbeing  – get yourself regularly checked out  – your good health is your number one priority. Only you can look after yourself!
Now for some festive gifts:
1. Total genome analysis ($350,000) - For the man or …read more

Almost forgot to let you know that I guest posted in Gloria’s excellent Cancer Commentary.  I wrote about why African-American men are more predisposed to developing prostate cancer.
http://www.cancercommentary.com/2007/11/15/why-african-american-men-maybe-more-at-risk-of-developing-prostate-cancer/
Elaine

My fellow b5 Science and Health journalist Grace at Kids Health Notes wrote a most interesting article in response to Dr James Watson’s less than helpful comments on intelligence and culture which I have previously alluded to in my article Dr James Watson co-founder of DNA – retires
I would also like to add my opinion on genetics and its impact on individual cultures.  Although we have a fundamental right to freedom of speech, there are boundaries which should not be crossed for fear of causing immense offense. 
I believe cultures evolved and adapted to suit the environment they were inhabiting.  As these cultures migrated and …read more