Genetic News and Research

RSS

H5N1 avian flu strain jumps to seals in Quebec, raising zoonotic fears

Study describes the unusual mortality of gray and harbor seals in Quebec due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) strain, raising concerns about potential zoonotic spillover.

17 May 2024

Novel gene-delivery vehicle shows promise for treating brain disorders

In an important step toward more effective gene therapies for brain diseases, researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have engineered a gene-delivery vehicle that uses a human protein to efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver a disease-relevant gene to the brain in mice expressing the human protein.

16 May 2024

Genes and age reveal new insights into cognitive variability, study finds

Study examines the effects of specific genes and age on cognition, revealing potential for creating genotype- and cognition-stratified cohorts for future research.

16 May 2024

Research expands understanding of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis

New research led by Flinders University and international experts is expanding understanding of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (known as VITT).

16 May 2024

Microplastics found in human blood: potential cardiovascular threat

A study in Environment International finds microplastic polymers in human blood, raising concerns over cardiovascular risks due to their size and shape.

15 May 2024

Study reveals highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in New York City wild birds

A small number of New York City wild birds carry highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Virology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

15 May 2024

New study finds Sfrp1 as a potential therapeutic target in cancer treatment

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. One of the primary reasons why cancer is such a deadly disease is the ability of cancer cells to become drug-resistant.

15 May 2024

Unraveling the link between HLA genes and drug eruptions

Although medications can often help patients find a cure or respite from their condition, millions of people worldwide suffer from unpredictable drug toxicities every year.

15 May 2024

Blood proteins predict cancer risk seven years in advance, studies find

Two Cancer Research UK-funded studies from Oxford Population Health have discovered proteins in the blood that could warn people of cancer more than seven years before it is diagnosed.

15 May 2024

Study reveals association between ribosomal DNA copy number and disease risk

Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is present in hundreds of copies in the genome, but has not previously been part of genetic analyses.

15 May 2024

Scientists discover new insight into the genetic pathway of neuroblastoma

Scientists have discovered a new insight into the genetic pathway of childhood cancer, offering new hope for tailored treatments.

15 May 2024

Understanding public perception of polygenic embryo screening for IVF

Three out of four U.S. adults support the use of emerging technologies that estimate a future child's likelihood of developing health conditions influenced by multiple genes -; such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression -; before an embryo is implanted during in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to a new public opinion survey led by researchers at Harvard Medical School.

15 May 2024

Research quantifies impact of childhood obesity on long-term health and life expectancy

New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has, for the first time, quantified the impact of different aspects of childhood obesity on long-term health and life expectancy.

15 May 2024

Cardiovascular burden of TTR gene variant among Black carriers across mid to late-life

The key contribution of this study was to provide more accurate estimates of cardiovascular risk across mid to late life, compared to previously existing analyses.

15 May 2024

New study reveals brain clearance of toxins is reduced during sleep and anesthesia

The adipose-neural axis plays an important role in arrhythmogenesis.

15 May 2024

Genetic link identified between inflammatory bowel disease and Parkinson's disease

The researchers found, as expected from prior studies that LRRK2 is associated with IBD-PD and discovered new associations as well.

15 May 2024

New study identifies 17 genes driving clonal hematopoiesis in aging blood cells

Scientists have discovered 17 additional genes that drive the abnormal overgrowth of mutated blood cells as we age. The findings, published today (14 May) in Nature Genetics, provide a more complete view of the genetic factors behind clonal hematopoiesis – a process associated with ageing and linked to increased risks of blood cancers.

15 May 2024

More than 20,000 volunteers join effort to accelerate dementia drug development

More than 20,000 volunteers have been recruited to a resource aimed at speeding up the development of much-needed dementia drugs. The cohort will enable scientists in universities and industry to involve healthy individuals in clinical trials to test whether new drugs can slow the decline in various brain functions including memory and delay the onset of dementia.

15 May 2024

Metabolomics study finds biomarkers predicting autism in newborns

A study in Communications Biology utilized metabolomics in newborns to identify markers that might predict autism spectrum disorder (ASD), finding distinct metabolic profiles in children with ASD compared to typically developing children.

14 May 2024

Interactions between adipose and sympathetic neurons contribute to cardiac arrhythmia

A study in Cell Reports Medicine used an in vitro co-culture of adipocytes, cardiomyocytes, and sympathetic neurons to reveal that the adipose-neural axis plays a crucial role in arrhythmogenesis, driven by interactions between epicardial adipose tissue and the sympathetic nervous system.

14 May 2024