Genes News and Research

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Penn study sheds light on genetic cause of early hearing loss

From the moment a baby is born, they are put through a battery of screenings to test for all sorts of characteristics, which includes the sense of hearing.

26 Oct 2017

Penn study shows how blood flow shapes developing heart valves into mature valve leaflets

Congenital heart valve defects appear in 2 percent of all live births, making them the most common type of birth defect. While some of these defects have been linked to specific genetic mutations, the majority have no clearly definable genetic cause, suggesting that epigenetic factors - changes in gene expression versus an alteration in the genetic code -- play an important role.

26 Oct 2017

New study sheds light on normal function of Parkinson's gene

A new study published in the journal Neuron sheds light on the normal function of LRRK2, the most common genetic cause for late-onset Parkinson's disease. The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health.

26 Oct 2017

New enzyme may one day enable genome surgery that erases harmful mutations

DNA editing just got a sharp, new pencil. Researchers have built an enzyme that can perform a previously impossible DNA swap, directly changing the DNA base pair from an A•T to a G•C.

26 Oct 2017

Study: New histone modifications link cellular metabolism to chromatin architecture

Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich (LMU) have discovered that two new classes of histone modifications couple cellular metabolism to gene activity. The study was published in 'Nature Structural and Molecular Biology'.

26 Oct 2017

CRISPR - a genetic editor - used to edit DNA and RNA in two parallel studies

Two different studies have shown that CRISPR - a gene editing tool, could be the next big thing in manipulating and modifying the DNA to suit the needs.

26 Oct 2017

Genetic variability of Helicobacter pylori complicates efforts to develop effective vaccine

Helicobacter pylori is a widespread bacterial pathogen that infects the lining of the stomach, where it can cause ulcers and even cancer. As a new study shows, its genetic variability complicates efforts to develop an effective vaccine.

25 Oct 2017

Researchers find rare genetic variants that may help explain longevity in some CF patients

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by genetic mutations that disrupt the normal movement of chloride in and out of cells. Among other health problems, cystic fibrosis compromises the lungs' ability to fight infection and breathe efficiently, making it the most lethal genetic disease in the Caucasian population. Patients have an average lifespan of just 30 to 40 years.

25 Oct 2017

Researchers develop new way to genetically engineer T cells for treating leukemia relapse

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington have developed a novel way to genetically engineer T cells that may be effective for treating and preventing leukemia relapse.

25 Oct 2017

Skin plays role in helping regulate blood pressure and heart rate, say scientists

Skin plays a surprising role in helping regulate blood pressure and heart rate, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge and the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. While this discovery was made in mice, the researchers believe it is likely to be true also in humans.

25 Oct 2017

New analysis method allows to efficiently search for gene transfers onto Y chromosome

Y chromosomes, which are only inherited paternally, evolved from "normal" chromosomes known as autosomes. As males only possess one Y chromosome, there is no counterpart for recombination, the direct exchange of genetic material.

25 Oct 2017

Adopting healthy diet can help reverse risk of high triglycerides, despite genetic predisposition

Triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood, are important for good health. But having high triglycerides might increase a person's risk of heart disease, and may be a sign of metabolic syndrome--a combination of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and too much fat accumulation at the waist.

25 Oct 2017

New discovery could speed development and approval of antiviral drugs

New research shows that a new class of antiviral drugs works by causing the virus' replication machinery to pause and backtrack, preventing the virus from efficiently replicating. This discovery, made possible by a high-throughput experimental technique called "magnetic tweezers," could speed the development and approval of related antiviral drugs.

25 Oct 2017

Scientists get one step closer to reversing retinal degenerative diseases

Degenerative disorders affecting the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), such as age-related macular degeneration and autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy, can ultimately lead to blindness. Some of these life-changing disorders are the result of mutations in a single gene, called BEST1.

25 Oct 2017

Researchers mine blood-based epigenetic data to gain insights into autism biology

Using data from blood and brain tissue, a team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that they could gain insights into mechanisms that might help explain autism by analyzing the interplay between genes and chemical tags that control whether genes are used to make a protein, called epigenetic marks.

25 Oct 2017

New set of guidelines released for managing and caring patients with mitochondrial disease

Physicians who see patients with mitochondrial disease now have a practical new tool--a set of guidelines for managing and caring for those patients.

25 Oct 2017

Scientists discover 'molecular pencil sharpener' that releases powerful antibiotics

Picture a brand-new, unsharpened pencil. The graphite at its core can't be used for writing until a pencil sharpener chews away its wooden tip.

24 Oct 2017

Stony Brook University scientist receives $3.9 million NIH grant for ALS research

Stony Brook University scientist Josh Dubnau, PhD, has received a $3.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the impact of environmental stressors and other external factors that contribute to the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

24 Oct 2017

Scientists develop unique CRISPR-based method for more precise, systematic gene tagging

The genome editing tool known as CRISPR/Cas9 has opened many doors for biomedical research by allowing scientists to precisely edit DNA sequences and alter function. The technology offers hope for correcting genetic defects and preventing disease.

24 Oct 2017

Study explores role of genes in depression vulnerability

In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a study explored the role of genes in depression vulnerability. The financial crisis that has afflicted Greece since 2008 has adversely affected the physical and mental health of the population, with reports pointing to a rise in the prevalence of depression from 3.3% prior to the crisis to 12.3% in 2013.

24 Oct 2017

Genes News and Research

Penn study sheds light on genetic cause of early hearing loss

Penn study shows how blood flow shapes developing heart valves into mature valve leaflets

New study sheds light on normal function of Parkinson's gene

New enzyme may one day enable genome surgery that erases harmful mutations

Study: New histone modifications link cellular metabolism to chromatin architecture

CRISPR - a genetic editor - used to edit DNA and RNA in two parallel studies

Genetic variability of Helicobacter pylori complicates efforts to develop effective vaccine

Researchers find rare genetic variants that may help explain longevity in some CF patients

Researchers develop new way to genetically engineer T cells for treating leukemia relapse

Skin plays role in helping regulate blood pressure and heart rate, say scientists

New analysis method allows to efficiently search for gene transfers onto Y chromosome

Adopting healthy diet can help reverse risk of high triglycerides, despite genetic predisposition

New discovery could speed development and approval of antiviral drugs

Scientists get one step closer to reversing retinal degenerative diseases

Researchers mine blood-based epigenetic data to gain insights into autism biology

New set of guidelines released for managing and caring patients with mitochondrial disease

Scientists discover 'molecular pencil sharpener' that releases powerful antibiotics

Stony Brook University scientist receives $3.9 million NIH grant for ALS research

Scientists develop unique CRISPR-based method for more precise, systematic gene tagging

Study explores role of genes in depression vulnerability

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