Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Machine learning technique detects epigenetic drivers of cancers

Scientists have made major advances in understanding and developing treatments for many cancers by identifying genetic mutations that drive the disease.

10 May 2021

Previously overlooked hormone plays critical role in the development of endometriosis

Endometriosis, a disease found in up to 10 per cent of women, has been enigmatic since it was first described. A new theory developed by researchers at Simon Fraser University suggests a previously overlooked hormone -- testosterone -- has a critical role in its development.

10 May 2021

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

In cancer, a lot of biology goes awry: Genes mutate, molecular processes change dramatically, and cells proliferate uncontrollably to form entirely new tissues that we call tumors.

10 May 2021

Esophageal cancers turn on ancient viral DNA hidden in our genome

Scientists have discovered that many esophageal cancers turn on ancient viral DNA that was embedded in our genome hundreds of millions of years ago.

10 May 2021

Researchers show SARS-CoV-2 genes can be integrated into the human genome

Researchers in the United States have shown that genes from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) – the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – can be integrated into the genome of infected human cells.

10 May 2021

Study provides new insight on how HER2-low tumors may evolve in breast cancer patients

The finding that breast tumors can evolve to express low HER2 potentially widens the number of patients who can benefit from new investigational agents, typically novel antibody-drug conjugate therapies, that are currently in clinical trials for HER2-low tumors.

8 May 2021

Absence of key gene causes severe hearing loss

A gene called GAS2 plays a key role in normal hearing, and its absence causes severe hearing loss, according to a study led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

7 May 2021

Researchers identify genetic cause of a rare neurological disorder

In a paper published today in Nature Communications, an international group of collaborators led by researchers at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have identified a genetic cause of a rare neurological disorder marked by developmental delay and loss of coordination, or ataxia.

7 May 2021

Novel biomarker discovered to identify male COVID-19 patients at greatest risk for ICU admission

Researchers have discovered a novel biomarker to identify male COVID-19 patients most at risk for ICU admission.

7 May 2021

Human organoids useful for modeling COVID-19 variants of concern, finds study

A new study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server found that using human organoids could help with better characterizing the phenotype of several viral variants, including B.1.1.7. Their findings show the ribonucleic acid (RNA) shedding of the SARS-CoV-2 variant correlated with viral fitness and infectiousness.

7 May 2021

High-throughput system can regulate gene expression for treating sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have developed an integrated, high-throughput system to better understand and possibly manipulate gene expression for treatment of disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia. The research appears today in the journal Nature Genetics.

7 May 2021

Scientists investigate signal necrotic cells that cue phagocytic cells to engulf the dying cell

Just as people keep their houses clean and clutter under control, a crew of cells in the body is in charge of clearing the waste the body generates, including dying cells. The housekeeping cells remove unwanted material by a process called phagocytosis, which literally means 'eating cells.' The housekeepers engulf and ingest the dying cells and break them down to effectively eliminate them.

7 May 2021

Researchers describe the key facet of sexual determination in mammalian models

Early in human development, during the first trimester of gestation, a fetus may have XX or XY chromosomes that indicate its sex. Yet at this stage a mass of cells known as the bipotential gonad that ultimately develops into either ovaries or testes has yet to commit to its final destiny.

7 May 2021

Embryo gene editing in IVF can have potential major impacts on humanity

A global conference on human fertility has been warned of huge societal and ethical challenges regulating advances in gene editing in assisted reproduction.

6 May 2021

Researchers study sex-specific gene mutation linked to autism

After reviewing a database of gene mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a team of Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) researchers decided to study a specific gene mutation that likely caused ASD in a girl.

6 May 2021

Study reveals a new form of muscular dystrophy associated with pathogenic changes in JAG2 gene

In about a quarter of patients with hereditary diseases, the cause of the disease remains unclear even after extensive genetic testing. One reason is that we still do not know enough about the function of many genes. Of the 30,000 known genes, just a little more than 4,000 have been found to be associated with hereditary diseases.

6 May 2021

Brain thinning in youth associated with psychosis

Subtle differences in the shape of the brain that are present in adolescence are associated with the development of psychosis, according to an international team led by neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

5 May 2021

New $10.7 million project aims to study the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease

Despite decades of research and investment, the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease are still largely unknown, stymieing drug development and early diagnosis efforts.

5 May 2021

Sleeping six to seven hours a night associated with more favorable heart health

People who clock six to seven hours of sleep a night had the lowest chance of dying from a heart attack or stroke when compared with those who got less or more sleep, according to a study being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 70th Annual Scientific Session.

5 May 2021

Understanding body clock gene networks could help turn early birds into night owls or vice versa

How body clocks work could lead to science that can turn an early bird into a night owl or vice versa as well as other advances, like helping crops grow all year long.

4 May 2021

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Machine learning technique detects epigenetic drivers of cancers

Previously overlooked hormone plays critical role in the development of endometriosis

Researchers study how cancer cells re-organize 3D structure of DNA to ramp up oncogene activity

Esophageal cancers turn on ancient viral DNA hidden in our genome

Researchers show SARS-CoV-2 genes can be integrated into the human genome

Study provides new insight on how HER2-low tumors may evolve in breast cancer patients

Absence of key gene causes severe hearing loss

Researchers identify genetic cause of a rare neurological disorder

Novel biomarker discovered to identify male COVID-19 patients at greatest risk for ICU admission

Human organoids useful for modeling COVID-19 variants of concern, finds study

High-throughput system can regulate gene expression for treating sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia

Scientists investigate signal necrotic cells that cue phagocytic cells to engulf the dying cell

Researchers describe the key facet of sexual determination in mammalian models

Embryo gene editing in IVF can have potential major impacts on humanity

Researchers study sex-specific gene mutation linked to autism

Study reveals a new form of muscular dystrophy associated with pathogenic changes in JAG2 gene

Brain thinning in youth associated with psychosis

New $10.7 million project aims to study the genetic underpinnings of Alzheimer's disease

Sleeping six to seven hours a night associated with more favorable heart health

Understanding body clock gene networks could help turn early birds into night owls or vice versa

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