Biogen Idec and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology have identified a new gene associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The associated gene, called TBK1 (TANK-Binding Kinase 1), plays a role inflammation (a reaction to injury or infection) and autophagy (a cellular process involved in the removal of damaged cellular components).   The next-generation genetic sequencing of the exomes (protein-coding portions) of 2,874 ALS patients and 6,405 contro...