Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Study identifies genetic variants with profound impact on obesity risk

A study led by Medical Research Council (MRC) researchers has identified genetic variants in two genes that have some of the largest impacts on obesity risk discovered to date.

4 Apr 2024

Mechanical pressure revealed as key factor in embryonic organ formation

A collaboration between research groups at the University of California, TU Dresden in Germany and Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's in Los Angeles has identified a mechanism by which embryonic cells organize themselves to send signals to surrounding cells, telling them where to go and what to do.

3 Apr 2024

JAX researchers develop a powerful platform to study human health conditions

In humans, the exact same mutation in a specific gene can produce widely different outcomes. It's a bit like adding the same amount of salt to different recipes-;the effect on the finished dish can be quite different, depending on the mix of other ingredients.

3 Apr 2024

Balanced diet linked to better brain health and cognition, large-scale study shows

Study utilizing the UK Biobank data identifies four dietary patterns, revealing the balanced diet subtype promotes superior cognitive functions and mental health outcomes compared to starch-free, vegetarian, or high-protein-low-fiber diets.

3 Apr 2024

Revolutionizing brain tumor treatment: the rise of AI in neuro-oncology

The current state of knowledge about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of brain tumors.

2 Apr 2024

Rare variants in the YKT6 gene cause new neurological disorder, study finds

A recent collaborative study has discovered rare variants in the YKT6 gene as the cause of a new neurological disorder characterized by developmental delays along with severe progressive liver disease and a potential risk for liver cancer.

1 Apr 2024

Scientists discover the diversity of human visual processing rates

Using a blink-and-you'll-miss-it experiment, researchers from Trinity College Dublin have discovered that individuals differ widely in the rate at which they perceive visual signals.

1 Apr 2024

UVA researchers discover Y chromosome gene linked to heart failure in men

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered a gene on the Y chromosome that contributes to the greater incidence of heart failure in men.

1 Apr 2024

Understanding the genetics behind thyroid cancer to prevent unnecessary invasive treatments

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine are hopeful new research could prevent up to 130,000 unneeded fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of thyroid nodules and subsequent surgeries each year in the United States by better understanding the genetic risk associated with thyroid cancer.

1 Apr 2024

Smartphone app shows promise in detecting early signs of frontotemporal dementia

UCSF-led research shows smartphone cognitive testing is comparable to gold-standard methods; may detect FTD in gene carriers before symptoms start.

1 Apr 2024

Research reveals genetic factors in cerebral palsy development

A Canadian-led study has identified genes which may be partially responsible for the development of cerebral palsy.

29 Mar 2024

Personalizing exercise to fight obesity: Study finds genetics influence effectiveness

A recent study in JAMA Network Open reveals that genetic risk influences how physical activity interventions counter obesity, suggesting a personalized approach to exercise based on one's genetic makeup might be more effective in managing obesity.

28 Mar 2024

Human breast cell atlas unveils early changes in BRCA gene mutation carriers

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created the world's largest catalog of human breast cells, which has revealed early cell changes in healthy carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.

28 Mar 2024

Unraveling gene regulation's role in pulmonary fibrosis

Regulators of gene expression are thought to play an outsized role in disorders from cancers to heart disease. But how exactly do variations in gene regulation translate into a disease's biology?

28 Mar 2024

Genetic and lifestyle factors linked to brain network aging, study reveals

Research highlights the impact of genetic and lifestyle factors on a brain network particularly sensitive to aging, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease, using data from nearly 40,000 UK Biobank participants to investigate modifiable risk factors and genetic associations.

28 Mar 2024

Predicting treatment response in common blood cancer with DNA methylation profiling

A recent study led by Dr. Manel Esteller, Director of the Josep Carreras Institute, shows how DNA methylation profiling in a common type of blood cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome, predicts whether the patient will respond to treatment.

28 Mar 2024

New research advocates genetic screening in early onset atrial fibrillation

Although the vast majority of clinicians do not view atrial fibrillation (AF) as a genetic disorder, a White Paper in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, published by Elsevier, analyzes the current understanding of genetics and the role of genetic testing in AF and concludes there is an increasing appreciation that genetic culprits for potentially life-threatening ventricular cardiomyopathies and channelopathies may initially present with AF.

28 Mar 2024

Genetic test streamlines diagnosis of rare developmental disorders

A single genetic test could potentially replace the current two-step approach to diagnosing rare developmental disorders in children. This shift could enable earlier diagnoses for families and save the NHS vital resources.

28 Mar 2024

Assistance dogs may detect PTSD flashbacks via breath

Dogs' sensitive noses can detect the early warning signs of many potentially dangerous medical situations, like an impending seizure or sudden hypoglycemia.

28 Mar 2024

Breakthrough tool illuminates neural stem cell dynamics

Researchers can use the light naturally thrown off by biological specimens to better study the different states of stem cells in the nervous system, thanks to a tool developed at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, brightening their chances for studying the way stem cells age.

27 Mar 2024