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Article: Helicos's RNA mapping called a step forward ; Cambridge firm's method could help control diseases
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- September 24, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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NEW YORK - Scientists at Cambridge-based firm Helicos
BioScience Corp. have mapped RNA, or ribonucleic acid - a key
player in each person's genetic blueprint - in a step that might
boost researchers' search for the roots of disease.
The technique for showing the sequence of RNA is more accurate
than a previous method, which required the RNA sample to be
converted to its cousin DNA before it could be measured, according
to a report in the journal Nature yesterday.
The technology will be commercially available as soon as next
year and could benefit companies building new RNA-based drugs.
Being able to identify RNA directly will uncover corresponding
areas of DNA, previously called "junk," ...