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Researchers outline a connection between subplate neurons and brain disorders

The disappearance of an entire brain region should be cause for concern. Yet, for decades scientists have calmly maintained that one brain area, the subplate, simply vanishes during the course of human development.

22 Jun 2018

Study reveals how mTORC1-driven changes in crowding could influence major diseases

Among the most studied protein machines in history, mTORC1 has long been known to sense whether a cell has enough energy to build the proteins it needs to multiply as part of growth.

22 Jun 2018

Scientists identify gene that triggers senescence

Scientists seeking to unlock the secrets of cellular aging have identified a gene that triggers senescence, a phenomenon in which cells stop dividing.

22 Jun 2018

Jumping genes or transposons and their role in the genetic code

Researchers have found that there a numerous transposons or “jumping genes” within the genetic code that is responsible for development of the embryo and its growth. These were earlier thought to be junk or useless parts of the genome.

22 Jun 2018

Herpes may play role in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s

Herpes virus present within the body long after the overt infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease say researchers. The study titled, “Multiscale Analysis of Independent Alzheimer’s Cohorts Finds Disruption of Molecular, Genetic, and Clinical Networks by Human Herpesvirus” appeared in the latest issue of the journal Neuron, this Thursday.

22 Jun 2018

Massive analysis of genomes reveals insights into genetic overlap among psychiatric diseases

A massive undertaking by the Brainstorm Consortium to analyze the genomes of nearly 900,000 people has revealed important insights into the genetic overlap among some psychiatric diseases, as well as among personality traits.

21 Jun 2018

Researchers develop reliable DNA barcodes for biomedical research

Researchers have developed a new way of correcting the errors previously seen in DNA barcodes, yielding more reliable results for biomedical research.

21 Jun 2018

Harnessing Pediatric Cancer Genomic Data in the Cloud

Dr. Jinghui Zhang, an esteemed computational biologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discusses her latest study and how technology such as cloud computing is changing the way that scientists carry out research.

21 Jun 2018

New guidelines recommend newborns with Down’s syndrome to receive leukemia test

New genetic testing has been developed at the University of Oxford to detect early signs of a potentially fatal condition that can also develop into full blown leukaemia in children with Down’s syndrome.

21 Jun 2018

Study unravels new piece of information in the Huntington’s disease puzzle

In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered a hitherto unknown error in the transport of glutamine between astrocytes and neurons in the brain of mice with Huntington's disease.

21 Jun 2018

Scientists explore interactions between chromosomes 12 and 17

How are chromosomes arranged in the cell nucleus? Is it possible that they communicate with one another by "touching" each other?

21 Jun 2018

New therapeutic approach may delay neurodegeneration in rare genetic disease

A new therapeutic approach may one day delay neurodegeneration typical of a disease called mucopolysaccharidoses IIIB. Neurodegeneration in this condition results from the abnormal accumulation of essential cellular molecules called mucopolysaccharides.

21 Jun 2018

Fetal immune cells are fast-acting first responders to microbes in adulthood

Cornell University researchers have discovered there is a division of labor among immune cells that fight invading pathogens in the body.

20 Jun 2018

UT Southwestern scientists identify gene mutation linked with perplexing brain condition

Scientists conducting one of the largest full DNA analyses of a rare disease have identified a gene mutation associated with a perplexing brain condition that blinds and paralyzes patients.

20 Jun 2018

Study opens new window into cellular events that occur in the brain during absence seizures

At first, the teacher described her six-year-old student as absentminded, a daydreamer. The boy was having difficulty paying attention in class. As the teacher watched the boy closely, she realized that he was not daydreaming. He often blanked out for a few seconds and wouldn't respond when she called his name. On occasion, he would blink a lot and his eyes would roll up.

20 Jun 2018

Combining stem cell technology and artificial intelligence to diagnose genetic cardiac diseases

A new study by Professors Martti Juhola and Katriina Aalto-Setälä of the University of Tampere in Finland demonstrates that with the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, it is possible not only to accurately sort sick cardiac cell cultures from healthy ones, but also to differentiate between genetic cardiac diseases.

20 Jun 2018

Researchers characterize key signaling network that drives growth of triple negative breast cancers

It's called the 'kiss of death'. Triple negative breast cancer has no targeted drug therapy and, as such, the only hope for these patients is chemotherapy.

20 Jun 2018

Identifying gene variants that contribute to ovarian reserve may improve female fertility

For a woman to conceive and deliver a healthy baby, thousands of genes have to work correctly and together. These include genes controlling fertility factors such as the ovarian reserve, the capacity of ovaries to produce viable and fertilizable oocytes, or eggs.

20 Jun 2018

Increasing biodefense risks posed by synthetic biology

A US Department of Defense commissioned study has found that there are several genetic-engineering tools that could be used to devise biological weapons in a short amount of time.

19 Jun 2018

Scientists identify novel genes linked with infantile forms of schizophrenia

Scientists at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital and McGill University have identified novel genes associated with a specific form of schizophrenia.

19 Jun 2018