Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

UIC scientists redesign asparaginase to minimize leukemia treatment side effects

University of Illinois Chicago scientists have redesigned a treatment for the most common pediatric leukemia to eliminate its severe side effects, like blood clots and liver damage.

31 Jan 2025

New study challenges link between mother's health during pregnancy and autism risk

While many studies have reported a link between a mother's health condition during pregnancy and her child's risk of autism, a new study shows that nearly all of these "associations" can otherwise be explained by factors such as genetics, exposure to pollution, and access to healthcare.

31 Jan 2025

Poor diet choices associated with faster biological aging

Humans do not always age biologically at the same rate as their chronological age. Faster biological aging compared to chronological age has been linked to higher risks of disease and mortality.

30 Jan 2025

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s linked to aging brain’s failing waste disposal

New research uncovers how declining protein clearance mechanisms with age lead to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases—offering hope for targeted therapies to slow or prevent these conditions.

30 Jan 2025

Shorter telomeres linked to higher risk of age-related brain diseases

People with shorter protective caps at the end of their chromosomes (called telomeres) may be more likely to develop age-related brain diseases such as stroke, dementia and late-life depression (usually diagnosed at age 60 or older), according to a preliminary study to be presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2025.

30 Jan 2025

Targeting MYCN and MDM2 offers new hope for cancer therapy

Over the past two decades, the idea of targeting transcription factors to combat malignancies has turned into a clinical reality.

29 Jan 2025

Study reveals how glial cells respond to damage in neuron dendrites

Neurons may get all the glory, but they would be nothing without glial cells. While brain cells do the heavy lifting in the nervous system, it's the glia that provide nutrients, clean up waste, and protect neurons from harm.

29 Jan 2025

New compound Z526 combats cancer-associated cachexia in preclinical models

In a recent study, researchers demonstrated that Z526, a novel dithiocarbamate-like compound, mitigates cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) both in vitro and in vivo.

29 Jan 2025

DNA profiling could identify key players in illegal drug trade

DNA profiling technologies are rapidly advancing, creating the potential to identify individuals involved in making, packing and transporting illegal capsules by analyzing the exterior of the illicit drugs and the ziplock plastic bag in which they are carried.

29 Jan 2025

Study aims to explore structural alterations in the brains of people with bipolar disorder

A new study, led by USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI), will explore structural alterations in the brains of people with bipolar disorder (BD), a chronic mental illness with one of the highest rates of attempted suicide - and for which no biological tools currently exist to guide diagnosis or treatment.

29 Jan 2025

AI technology uncovers genetic factors and treatment options for Parkinson's

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Genome Center have successfully applied advanced artificial intelligence (AI) genetics models to Parkinson's disease. Researchers identified genetic factors in progression and FDA-approved drugs that can potentially be repurposed for PD treatment.

28 Jan 2025

Study shows long-term cannabis use disrupts critical brain processes

Heavy lifetime cannabis use is associated with reduced brain activation in key cognitive regions, particularly during working memory tasks, while recent use may cause temporary cognitive impairments.

28 Jan 2025

Pocket on cyclin B ensures correct sequence of cell division

A "pocket" on the protein cyclin B is responsible for ensuring that the steps of cell division take place in the correct order. Two studies by researchers at the University of Konstanz investigated why this is the case.

28 Jan 2025

Developmental epigenetic changes could shape cancer risk later in life

A person's lifetime risk for cancer may begin before they are even born, reports a paradigm-shifting study by Van Andel Institute scientists.

27 Jan 2025

Establishing common nomenclature for mitochondria transfer and transplantation

Most animal, plant and fungal cells contain organelles called mitochondria. These descendants of a primordial bacterial endosymbiont still preserve distinct genes and are known for their ability to create ATP as chemical energy.

27 Jan 2025

Long-read sequencing revolutionizes diagnosis of rare diseases

One in every 10 people worldwide is impacted by a rare genetic disease but about 50% of them remain undiagnosed despite rapid increases in genetic technology and testing.

24 Jan 2025

A global look at the gut: Scientists highlight microbiome diversity

Researchers analyzed 168,464 samples to uncover how geographic and technical factors shape global gut microbiome variation, highlighting underrepresented regions and technical biases.

23 Jan 2025

Researchers map genetic differences across children with Wilms tumor

Genetically tailored treatment plans for children with a type of kidney cancer could help provide the most effective care while minimizing side effects as much as possible.

23 Jan 2025