Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Spatial patterns of cortical microstructural change can be early indicators of Alzheimer's disease risk

Findings from a novel study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier, suggest that using a specialized diffusion weighted MRI scan to monitor the spatial pattern of individual cortical microstructural change in the brain may be a promising approach to characterize individuals who may be vulnerable to developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) prior to significant cognitive decline and irreversible neuronal damage.

30 Jul 2024

Epigenetic reprogramming and hypothalamic changes in metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifaceted disorder that impacts approximately 20–25% of the global population.

30 Jul 2024

Study finds higher levels of lncRNAs in the testes than previously estimated

Researchers at the University of Toronto have mapped the spatial distribution of around 700 long non-coding RNAs, otherwise known as lncRNAs, in the testes.

30 Jul 2024

Genetic variants associated with Parkinson's more common than estimated

New research has found that genetic variants associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) are more common than researchers previously believed. Investigators in the Parkinson's Foundation-backed PD GENEration study – which reached its goal of 15,000 participants ahead of schedule this spring – found that 13% of participants have a genetic form of PD, which is a significant observation compared to long-standing estimates. Results from the first 3.5 years of the study, which examined a broad North American cohort, were published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Brain.

30 Jul 2024

Study reveals IL-22BP protein's role in gut health and infection resistance

A study reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) shows how the presence of a specific protein called IL-22BP affects the composition of the gut microbiota and the body's response to bacterial infection.

29 Jul 2024

Deciphering miRNA-mediated regulation of liver regeneration: New insights

The liver, a vital organ involved in numerous essential physiological processes such as bile production, plasma protein synthesis, nutrient absorption, detoxification, vitamin storage, macronutrient metabolism, and immune support, has a remarkable regenerative capacity.

29 Jul 2024

Maternal immune response to flu linked to fetal brain changes

A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.

29 Jul 2024

Advancing hepatic cell carcinoma treatment through mitochondrial DNA targeting

Hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC), the fifth most prevalent malignancy worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality, poses significant therapeutic challenges.

29 Jul 2024

Understanding iron overload in β-thalassemia: Mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatments

β-Thalassemia is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced or absent synthesis of the beta chains of hemoglobin, leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and severe anemia.

29 Jul 2024

PUFA metabolites in umbilical cord blood may predict autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects learning capability and social behavior of people.

29 Jul 2024

Study unveils dual roles of TNF-α receptors in tissue regeneration and cell death

A study published in The EMBO Journal opens new perspectives to better understand how the molecular mechanisms involved in regenerative medicine work.

29 Jul 2024

Canadian experts urge caution on free genetic testing and data sharing

Free genetic testing, offered partially or fully subsidized by industry, may have trade-offs, and health systems in Canada must carefully weigh potential clinical, ethical, and legal considerations to protect patient data, authors argue in a CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) commentary https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.231588.

29 Jul 2024

New guidelines expand BRCA testing and screening for men

More and more studies show that men face risks of cancer from BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that are most often associated with breast and ovarian cancers in women.

27 Jul 2024

Cellular competition determines X chromosome usage in female bodies

A new study published in Nature Genetics by the Lymphoid Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences has reveals that the contribution of cells expressing maternal or paternal X chromosomes can be selectively skewed in different parts of the body. The study leverages human data from the 1000 Genomes Project combined with mouse models of human X chromosome-linked DNA sequence variation to advance our fundamental understanding of development in biologically female individuals who have two X chromosomes.

26 Jul 2024

New review highlights advances in diabetes research and treatment

A new paper surveying advances in diabetes pathogenesis and treatment explores the complex factors contributing to the onset and progression of the disease, suggesting that an understanding of these dynamics is key to developing targeted interventions to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and managing its complications.

25 Jul 2024

Understanding the epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cells in NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 38% of the global population from 2016 to 2019.

25 Jul 2024

New insights into how genetic variants influence disease risk

A new study by scientists at deCODE Genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, shows that sequence variants drive the correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. The same variants are linked to various diseases and other human traits.

25 Jul 2024

Study identifies genes increasing risk of severe COVID-19

Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in cooperation with other research teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, investigated a particularly large group of affected individuals.

25 Jul 2024

Comprehensive analysis of Alzheimer’s brain tissue identifies novel biomarkers

From studying the human genome, to analyzing the way proteins are encoded, or monitoring RNA expression, researchers are rapidly gaining a far richer understanding of the complex genetic and cellular mechanisms that underpin dementia. But there's a catch: While new technologies are revealing myriad avenues for Alzheimer's research, it's impossible to know in advance which research pathways will lead to effective treatments.

25 Jul 2024

'Gene misbehavior' found to be surprisingly common among the healthy population

Scientists have uncovered that 'gene misbehavior' – where genes are active when they were expected to be switched off – is a surprisingly common phenomenon in the healthy human population.

24 Jul 2024