Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Study discovers hidden mechanism behind rapid COVID variants

The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID has the unsettling ability of often generating variants of itself. Other viruses also mutate, but as SARS-CoV-2 quickly spread throughout the entire human population during the pandemic, killing millions, the virus' dynamic evolution posed a serious problem: it repeatedly challenged our bodies' immune response fighting the virus and hindered the process of getting updated vaccines ready.

23 Apr 2024

Womb pressure shapes facial features, UCL study reveals

Physical cues in the womb, and not just genetics, influence the normal development of neural crest cells, the embryonic stem cells that form facial features, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

23 Apr 2024

Scientists map all yeast proteins across cell cycle for the first time

An international team led by researchers at the University of Toronto has mapped the movement of proteins encoded by the yeast genome throughout its cell cycle. This is the first time that all the proteins of an organism have been tracked across the cell cycle, which required a combination of deep learning and high-throughput microscopy.

23 Apr 2024

Unveiling pancreatic mysteries: 3D imaging redefines islet cell distribution

Researchers at Umeå University have succeeded in imaging an entire human organ, a pancreas, in microscopic resolution.

22 Apr 2024

Mitochondrial depletion in axons linked to protein accumulation in neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have identified how proteins collect abnormally in neurons, a feature of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.

22 Apr 2024

Insightful review explores alcohol-related liver cancer pathogenesis

While heavy drinking is a well-established risk factor for liver cancer, the specific mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to A-HCC remain unclear.

22 Apr 2024

Familial environment key factor in metacognition and mentalizing abilities

Twin studies have proven invaluable for teasing out the effects of both genetics and the environment on human biology.

18 Apr 2024

Study pinpoints 95 locations in the genome associated with risk of developing PTSD

In posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intrusive thoughts, changes in mood, and other symptoms after exposure to trauma can greatly impact a person's quality of life.

18 Apr 2024

Penn State study examines how a person's telomeres are affected by caloric restriction

Penn State researchers may have uncovered another layer of complexity in the mystery of how diet impacts aging.

17 Apr 2024

Study identifies genomic variant linked to unique human skull base morphology

Humans, Homo sapiens, have unique features compared with other closely related hominin species and primates, including the shape of the base of the skull.

17 Apr 2024

Vitamin D deficiency persists despite easy access, review suggests need for tailored supplements

Researchers in a study published in the journal Nutrients delve into the pervasive issue of vitamin D deficiency and its link to various health conditions, advocating for precision nutrition and personalized supplementation to enhance vitamin D intake and effectiveness.

17 Apr 2024

Exploring Alzheimer's disease risk among Middle Eastern and North African immigrants

A new study led by Neda Jahanshad, PhD, a researcher at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI), is set to illuminate the underexplored domain of brain aging and risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) adults in the United States.

16 Apr 2024

Exploring how gene variants affect brain cells in children with severe epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring seizures.

16 Apr 2024

Placental IGFBP1: A key factor in development of gestational diabetes

A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute has identified that a deficit in the placental expression of the gene insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFBP1) and low IGFBP1 circulating levels are associated with insulin resistance during pregnancy, highlighting a potential risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes.

16 Apr 2024