Genetic News and Research

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New gene editor evoCAST enables precise insertion of complete genes

Ask scientists what gene editing tool is most needed to advance gene therapy, and they'd probably describe a system that's now close to realization in the labs of Samuel Sternberg at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and David Liu at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

15 May 2025

Breakthrough bat organoid platform sheds light on behavior of zoonotic viruses

Did you know that more than 75% of new infectious diseases affecting humans originally come from animals? Bats, in particular, are natural hosts to some of the world's most dangerous viruses, including those responsible for COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), MERS-CoV, influenza A, and hantavirus outbreaks.

15 May 2025

Scientists reveal how upbringing and genetics interact to shape success

Large-scale registry data from Norway reveal that genetics and shared family environments significantly influence key socioeconomic status indicators, such as education, wealth, income, and occupational prestige. Education shows the strongest genetic influence, while wealth is more affected by family-shared environment. Findings are shaped by both societal context and methodological choices.

15 May 2025

New genetic database sheds light on Brazil’s ancestry and disease risks

Since the human genome was first sequenced in 2003, the world's scientific community has been racing to decipher this "book" written in an alphabet of four letters.

15 May 2025

Study: The link between physical fitness and reduced risk of mortality may be misleading

That fit people have a reduced risk of premature death from various diseases is a recurring result in many studies.

15 May 2025

Study sheds light on public attitudes about transplant allocations

Becoming an organ donor has never been easier. Registration is available online when renewing a driver's license or, for iPhone users, through an app.

15 May 2025

Customized CRISPR gene editing therapy successfully treats infant with rare disease

In a historic medical breakthrough, a child diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder has been successfully treated with a customized CRISPR gene editing therapy by a team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine.

15 May 2025

TMEM219 inhibition shows promise in restoring intestinal health in IBD

An international study led by Paolo Fiorina from Boston Children's Hospital and in collaboration with researchers from University of Milan highlights the beneficial effect of inhibiting the death receptor TMEM219 to restore mucosal healing in inflammatory bowel diseases.

15 May 2025

New stem cell model replicates human amniotic sac development

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a new stem cell model of the mature human amniotic sac, which replicates development of the tissues supporting the embryo from two to four weeks after fertilization.

15 May 2025

Two genetic variants linked to breast cancer discovered in black South African women

Genetic factors contribute to some 30% of breast cancer cases in SA, necessitating investment in genomic research in African contexts.

15 May 2025

Study deciphers the role of histone deacetylases in lymphoma development

Lymphomas belong to the group of malignant diseases of the immune system and mainly affect the organs of the lymphatic system.

15 May 2025

SLIRP protein identified as key regulator of immune responses

Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, various new infectious diseases continue to emerge, posing ongoing viral threats that demand robust and sustained immune defenses.

15 May 2025

Black tea kombucha reduces harmful gut microbes linked to obesity

Regular consumption of black tea kombucha for eight weeks beneficially shifted gut microbiota composition in both normal-weight and obese adults.

14 May 2025

AAN releases Evidence in Focus Article on new gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

To help neurologists, clinicians and families understand the current evidence for a new gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy called delandistrogene moxeparvovec, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has issued an Evidence in Focus article, published May 14, 2025, online in Neurology.

14 May 2025

Eating only wild foods reshapes your gut microbiome in just weeks, study shows

A new study shows that an eight-week wild-food-only diet in a modern adult leads to dramatic, partially lasting changes in the gut microbiome’s composition and function. While no “ancestral” microbes reappeared, the shift increased fiber-degrading species and reduced dairy-associated bacteria, highlighting the powerful role of diet.

14 May 2025

Injecting medicine into amniotic fluid shows promise for treating genetic disorders

Injecting medicine into the amniotic fluid staves off progression of spinal muscular atrophy in utero.

14 May 2025

Mother-infant bonding can buffer long-term effects of postpartum depression on child outcomes

Postpartum maternal mental health and mother-to-infant bonding are well-established as critical factors in a child's psychosocial development.

14 May 2025

How 196,000 Spanish participants are helping decode heart disease risk

The CORDELIA study combines data from 35 Spanish cohorts (n = 196,632) to investigate genetic, clinical, and lifestyle risk factors for ASCVD in Southern Europe. It aims to conduct the region’s most comprehensive genome-wide association study and develop tailored risk prediction tools.

14 May 2025

Portfolio diet delays heart risk and lowers cholesterol in young adults

A University of Toronto study found that higher adherence to the plant-based Portfolio Diet was associated with lower LDL cholesterol and improved cardiovascular risk markers in young adults. Modeling suggests the diet may delay cardiovascular risk onset by up to 13 years.

14 May 2025

Taurine identified as a key regulator of myeloid cancers

A new scientific study identified taurine, which is made naturally in the body and consumed through some foods, as a key regulator of myeloid cancers such as leukemia, according to a paper published in the journal Nature.

14 May 2025