Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Genetics plays a role in the effects of long-term methamphetamine use

New research led by La Trobe University in Australia has uncovered genetic clues which could explain why some people have more severe side effects from long-term methamphetamine use than others.

19 Dec 2019

Catastrophic macropinocytosis may aid in cancer treatment

In laboratory experiments, a metabolic inhibitor was able to kill a variety of human cancer cells of the skin, breast, lung, cervix and soft tissues through a non-apoptotic route -- catastrophic macropinocytosis.

18 Dec 2019

Different mutations in a single gene can have myriad effects on a person's health

Mount Sinai researchers have found that different mutations in a single gene can have myriad effects on a person's health, suggesting that gene therapies may need to do more than just replenish the missing or dysfunctional protein the gene is supposed to encode, according to a study published in Nature Genetics in November.

18 Dec 2019

Study provides genomic insights into life history tradeoffs in butterflies

Have you ever wandered through your garden or a meadow on a summer day and wondered why and how butterflies exhibit such beautiful and diverse colors? Scientists have, especially when thinking about butterflies in the genus Colias. In most Colias butterflies, all males and most females are an orange or yellow color, but some females are white.

18 Dec 2019

Researchers identify novel genetic signature with prognostic value for certain breast cancers

Researchers have identified a genetic signature with prognostic value for certain kinds of breast cancer. The discovery also contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pathological angiogenesis, the aberrant proliferation of blood vessels that occurs during cancer and other diseases.

17 Dec 2019

High-fat meal can silence gut's communication with the body, study shows

A high-fat meal can silence communication between the intestine and the rest of the body, according to a new Duke University study in zebrafish.

17 Dec 2019

Women who live near green space may be at lower risk of excess weight, obesity

Women who live less than 300 meters from green space may be at lower risk of excess weight or obesity.

17 Dec 2019

Extrachromosomal circular DNA can contribute to cancer development in children

Cancer development is associated with the gradual accumulation of DNA defects over time. Thus, cancer is considered an age-related disease.

17 Dec 2019

Study shows nilotinib drug is safe and well tolerated in patients with Parkinson's disease

A clinical trial investigating the repurposed cancer drug nilotinib in people with Parkinson's disease finds that it is reasonably safe and well tolerated.

17 Dec 2019

Penn researchers track defective sperm epigenome linked to male infertility

One out of eight couples has trouble conceiving, with nearly a quarter of those cases caused by unexplained male infertility. For the past decade, research has linked that infertility to defective sperm that fail to "evict" proteins called histones from DNA during development.

16 Dec 2019

Tackling antibiotic resistance head-on with CRISPR

With modern advances in genetic engineering occurring almost every day, the latest discovery concerns antibiotic resistance. Using the powerful gene editor CRISPR, scientists reported the development of a gene-drive system that is 100 times as efficient as other current systems at inactivating a specific bacterial gene responsible for making the bacterium antibiotic-resistant and which is present as multiple copies within the same bacterial cell.

16 Dec 2019

New gene technology shows 100-fold efficiency in targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Taking advantage of powerful advances in CRISPR gene editing, scientists at the University of California San Diego have set their sights on one of society's most formidable threats to human health.

16 Dec 2019

The evidence for BRCA1/2 or any genetic testing in breast cancer patients

A new statement by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), published in the journal Genetics in Medicine, discusses the place of germline genetic testing in breast cancer patients.

15 Dec 2019

Salk researchers uncover new function of mitochondria

Mitochondria, tiny structures present in most cells, are known for their energy-generating machinery. Now, Salk researchers have discovered a new function of mitochondria: they set off molecular alarms when cells are exposed to stress or chemicals that can damage DNA, such as chemotherapy.

15 Dec 2019

UAB seminar on the extraordinary science of the immune system

"The human immune system makes my head explode," Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Matt Richtel recently told a University of Alabama at Birmingham freshman seminar on immunology. "This is by far the hardest subject I have ever had to explore."

15 Dec 2019

Researchers identify novel genes associated with severity of peanut allergy

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified novel genes associated with the severity of peanut allergy, as well as ways in which these genes interact with other genes during allergic reactions.

14 Dec 2019

IU researchers discover how to predict recurrence of triple negative breast cancer

Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have discovered how to predict whether triple negative breast cancer will recur, and which women are likely to remain disease-free.

13 Dec 2019

Points to consider: Should germline genetic testing be offered to all patients with breast cancer?

Should germline genetic testing be offered to all patients with breast cancer? The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics addresses this important question in a new statement published in Genetics in Medicine, "Points to Consider: Is There Evidence to Support BRCA1/2 and Other Inherited Breast Cancer Genetic Testing for All Breast Cancer Patients? A Statement of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics."

13 Dec 2019

Human genetics evidence predictive of drug development success, study shows

A new drug candidate is more likely to be approved for use if it targets a gene known to be linked to the disease; a finding that can help pharmaceutical companies to focus their drug development efforts.

From PLOS ONE 13 Dec 2019

Gene drives are faster, more efficient to control mosquitoes that spread malaria

When controlling mosquitoes that spread malaria, gene drives, which force genetic changes to proliferate in a population, are faster and more efficient than simply releasing mosquitoes that are immune to the parasite, according to a new study published December 19th in PLOS Genetics by Anthony James at University of California, Irvine and colleagues.

13 Dec 2019

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Genetics plays a role in the effects of long-term methamphetamine use

Catastrophic macropinocytosis may aid in cancer treatment

Different mutations in a single gene can have myriad effects on a person's health

Study provides genomic insights into life history tradeoffs in butterflies

Researchers identify novel genetic signature with prognostic value for certain breast cancers

High-fat meal can silence gut's communication with the body, study shows

Women who live near green space may be at lower risk of excess weight, obesity

Extrachromosomal circular DNA can contribute to cancer development in children

Study shows nilotinib drug is safe and well tolerated in patients with Parkinson's disease

Penn researchers track defective sperm epigenome linked to male infertility

Tackling antibiotic resistance head-on with CRISPR

New gene technology shows 100-fold efficiency in targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The evidence for BRCA1/2 or any genetic testing in breast cancer patients

Salk researchers uncover new function of mitochondria

UAB seminar on the extraordinary science of the immune system

Researchers identify novel genes associated with severity of peanut allergy

IU researchers discover how to predict recurrence of triple negative breast cancer

Points to consider: Should germline genetic testing be offered to all patients with breast cancer?

Human genetics evidence predictive of drug development success, study shows

Gene drives are faster, more efficient to control mosquitoes that spread malaria

Sequencing & Genomics: Elevating Science and Healthcare eBook

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production