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Genetic heritage from Neanderthals linked to severe COVID-19

Since first appearing in late 2019, the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, has had a range of impacts on those it infects. Some people become severely ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, and require hospitalization, whereas others have mild symptoms or are even asymptomatic.

30 Sep 2020

NIH-funded nationwide study seeks to discover the cause of rare forms of diabetes

A nationwide study funded by the National Institutes of Health will seek to discover the cause of several unusual forms of diabetes.

30 Sep 2020

Study reveals how subanesthetic ketamine is effective in treating adult amblyopia

In a new study, published in Current Biology, researchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine reveal how subanesthetic ketamine, which is used for pain management and as an antidepressant in humans, is effective in treating adult amblyopia, a brain disorder commonly known as "lazy eye."

30 Sep 2020

Study shows delirium as a possible warning sign of COVID-19 in frail, older adults

A new analysis of data from researchers at King's College London using information from the COVID Symptom Study app and patients admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in London, has shown that delirium - a state of acute confusion associated with a higher risk of serious illness and death - is a key symptom of COVID-19 in frail, older people.

30 Sep 2020

Study identifies mutations in single genes that can be responsible for cerebral palsy

The causes of cerebral palsy have long been debated and often are attributed to in utero infections, premature birth, or brain injury to the baby near or during delivery, usually from a lack of oxygen. But many young children diagnosed with cerebral palsy have not experienced such events.

30 Sep 2020

Researchers create drug-like compounds to destroy coronavirus' frameshifting element

Scripps Research chemist Matthew Disney, PhD, and colleagues have created drug-like compounds that, in human cell studies, bind and destroy the pandemic coronavirus' so-called "frameshifting element" to stop the virus from replicating.

30 Sep 2020

Neanderthal gene variant linked to higher risk of developing severe COVID-19

A study published in Nature shows that a segment of DNA that causes their carriers to have an up to three times higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals. The study was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.

30 Sep 2020

Different triggers for Kawasaki disease suggest slightly different genetic susceptibilities

Researchers at University of California San Diego report that while Kawasaki disease (KD) occurs in clusters, the traits, and thus the triggers of the inflammatory disease vary among clusters. The findings are published in the September 2020 online issue of The Journal of Pediatrics.

30 Sep 2020

Small for gestational age babies more likely to experience asymmetric growth

Carrying a fetus that is small for gestational age is associated with increased rates of stillbirth and neonatal death as well as metabolic disease in later life.

30 Sep 2020

Scientists identify mutations in single genes linked to certain cases of cerebral palsy

30 Sep 2020

Simple interactions between nerve cells can shape complex brain circuits

Complex brain circuits in rodents can organize themselves with genetics playing only a secondary role, according to a new computer modelling study published today in eLife.

30 Sep 2020

Genetic testing can identify 'concealed cardiomyopathies' in sudden cardiac arrest survivors

Centenary Institute researchers have discovered that genetic testing can identify ‘concealed cardiomyopathies’ in nearly a quarter of sudden cardiac arrest survivors who seem to have a normal heart.

30 Sep 2020

Study reveals unexpected mechanisms involved in working memory

Working memory: it's how you make a mental shopping list without forgetting the milk, or memorize a number just long enough to write it down.

29 Sep 2020

Genetic defects in patients' immune system may underlie severe COVID-19

Worldwide, otherwise healthy adolescents and young people without underlying conditions are sometimes severely affected by COVID-19, with the viral infection in the worst cases quickly becoming life-threatening. But why is this happening?

29 Sep 2020

A study contradicting the phenotypical relationship between plasmablasts and developing neutrophils

A team of scientists from Australia challenges the findings of a recent study by Wilk et al. demonstrating that plasmablasts transdifferentiate into developing neutrophils in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Australian study is currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

29 Sep 2020

Discovery of specific kinase as a novel drug target against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses

By using a modern genome-wide knockout approach to single out coronavirus host factors in human cells, researchers from Rega Institute in Belgium discovered a potential new target that might be exploited for developing drugs against the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, but also future outbreaks of highly pathogenic coronaviruses

29 Sep 2020

EPFL scientists measure the molecular footprint of aging

EPFL scientists have measured the molecular footprint that aging leaves on various mouse and human tissues. Using the data, they have identified likely regulators of this central process.

29 Sep 2020

Newly discovered genetic factor allows adult skin to regenerate like a newborn's

A newly identified genetic factor allows adult skin to repair itself like the skin of a newborn babe. The discovery by Washington State University researchers has implications for better skin wound treatment as well as preventing some of the aging process in skin.

29 Sep 2020

Cardiac arrhythmias linked to functional and structural consequences of gene mutations

Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias can be linked to the functional and structural consequences of gene mutations. The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Bioelectricity.

29 Sep 2020

Phase 1 trial of new class of drugs shows promise in range of advanced cancers

A new precision drug which stops cancer from repairing its DNA has shown promise in an early-stage clinical trial - highlighting the potential of a new class of drugs known as ATR inhibitors.

29 Sep 2020

Genetic News and Research

Genetic heritage from Neanderthals linked to severe COVID-19

NIH-funded nationwide study seeks to discover the cause of rare forms of diabetes

Study reveals how subanesthetic ketamine is effective in treating adult amblyopia

Study shows delirium as a possible warning sign of COVID-19 in frail, older adults

Study identifies mutations in single genes that can be responsible for cerebral palsy

Researchers create drug-like compounds to destroy coronavirus' frameshifting element

Neanderthal gene variant linked to higher risk of developing severe COVID-19

Different triggers for Kawasaki disease suggest slightly different genetic susceptibilities

Small for gestational age babies more likely to experience asymmetric growth

Scientists identify mutations in single genes linked to certain cases of cerebral palsy

Simple interactions between nerve cells can shape complex brain circuits

Genetic testing can identify 'concealed cardiomyopathies' in sudden cardiac arrest survivors

Study reveals unexpected mechanisms involved in working memory

Genetic defects in patients' immune system may underlie severe COVID-19

A study contradicting the phenotypical relationship between plasmablasts and developing neutrophils

Discovery of specific kinase as a novel drug target against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses

EPFL scientists measure the molecular footprint of aging

Newly discovered genetic factor allows adult skin to regenerate like a newborn's

Cardiac arrhythmias linked to functional and structural consequences of gene mutations

Phase 1 trial of new class of drugs shows promise in range of advanced cancers

Genetics & Genomics - Second Edition eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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