Preface

It is a great honor for me to thank all the authors, reviewers, past and present Editorial Board Members of Recent Patents in DNA and Gene Sequences and the Bentham staff involved in the task to make this journal an outstanding one. Recent Patents in DNA and Gene Sequences is really a highly attractive and interesting journal, because it covers patents coming from DNA research which is one of the most active areas in biotechnology. Gene synthesis (review in this issue) is one example that now facilitates research and well as the development of new therapeutic tools for gene therapy (article in this review). An emerging, but also very active and attractive, is the developing of miRNA as therapeutic agents (article in this issue). I expect in the next few years a dramatic increase in the number of new patents concerning DNA and genes, including the epigenetic aspects, considering that recently new modifications of DNA have been discovered, i.e., hydroxymethylcytosine, formylcytosine and carboxylcytosine. These new modifications have been reported to play key roles in gene expression regulation. I am deeply convinced that all these new developments will contribute to generate for Recent Patents in DNA and Gene Sequences, a huge impact in the near future for the scientific community throughout the world. Finally, I would like to thank Bentham Science Publishers for its confidence in my position and its help to assist me as Editor-in-Chief of the journal. I also acknowledge the kind assistance of Ms. Humera Sharif, who has helped me since two years in managing the journal.