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Consortium develops new approach to understand causes of common cancers

Through the development of a novel, inexpensive genotyping microarray, the OncoArray, Dartmouth investigators have led a key collaborative research study that will revolutionize our knowledge of the causes of common cancers.

27 Oct 2016

Study shows how oxidative damage may contribute to ‘maternal age effect’

For women in their 30s and beyond, the probability of a pregnancy that results in a miscarriage or a Down syndrome pregnancy is staggering with the risk increasing to 1 in 3 by the time a woman reaches her early 40s due to the "maternal age effect," the high incidence of mistakes in chromosome segregation that occur during the cell division process of meiosis, which gives rise to the egg.

19 Oct 2016

African ancestry linked to increased kidney disease risk among Hispanic/Latino adults

African ancestry contributes to the risk of chronic kidney disease among some Hispanic/Latino adults, according to a study co-authored by Loyola University Chicago researchers.

5 Oct 2016

Prion proteins can drive emergence of new traits and adaptive opportunities

Prion proteins, best known as the agents of deadly brain disorders like mad cow disease, can help yeast survive hard times and pass the advantageous traits down to their offspring, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

4 Oct 2016

Leading kidney charities launch social media campaign to raise awareness of polycystic kidney disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease International has joined forces with six European kidney charities to launch a social media campaign called Give PKD the Bump.

4 Oct 2016

Studies find environment plays major role in shaping immune system

Like fingerprints, immune systems vary from person to person. And although we all inherit a unique set of genes that help us respond to infections, recent studies have found that our history and environment—like where and with whom we live—are responsible for 60% to 80% of the differences between individual immune systems, while genetics account for the rest.

29 Sep 2016

Researchers use novel technique to unravel key mystery of earliest stage of development

A Ludwig Cancer Research study published online September 14th in Nature reports a novel technique to map specific chemical (or "epigenetic") modifications made to the protein packaging of DNA using a small population of cells.

20 Sep 2016

Memory of heart attack can be stored in genes through epigenetic changes, study shows

Both heredity and environmental factors influence our risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study, by researches at Uppsala University, shows now that the memory of a heart attack can be stored in our genes through epigenetic changes.

19 Sep 2016

Mood stabilizers may decrease negative symptoms in psychiatric patients with specific genotype

A drug prescribed to many patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may decrease negative symptoms for people with a certain variant of the COMT gene, suggests a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.

14 Sep 2016

International researchers discover 44 novel gene sites linked to hypertension

In papers receiving advance online publication in Nature Genetics, two international multi-institutional research teams describe identifying a total of 44 novel gene sites associated with hypertension or high blood pressure.

13 Sep 2016

Interactions between rare and common genetic variants may contribute to craniosynostosis

During the first year of life, the human brain doubles in size, and continues growing through adolescence.

8 Sep 2016

Epigenetic changes from stress exposure can be passed from traumatized parent to offspring

The children of traumatized people have long been known to be at increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and mood and anxiety disorders.

1 Sep 2016

Novel innovation could help scientists study new treatments for mitochondrial diseases

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences from the University of Missouri has succeeded in creating embryos with "heteroplasmy," or the presence of both maternal and paternal mitochondrial DNA.

23 Aug 2016

Low selenium levels linked to liver cancer risk? An interview with Dr David Hughes

Food provides us with a variety of substances we need to maintain life. These substances are essential nutrients and are classified as macronutrients (water, protein, fats, and carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).

22 Aug 2016

Scientists find new way to use CRISPR gene editing to help fix sickle cell disease

An international team of scientists led by researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has found a way to use CRISPR gene editing to help fix sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia in blood cells isolated from patients.

16 Aug 2016

New biochip test helps identify individuals at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers today unveiled results from a new blood test to help identify which patients are at an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease.

3 Aug 2016

Study finds mutations in three new genes can cause rare syndromic CHD disorders

Researchers at The University of Nottingham have been involved in one of the largest international studies of congenital heart disease, which has discovered gene mutations linked to three new rare congenital heart disorders (CHD).

1 Aug 2016

Study finds risk markers for Parkinson's disease hiding in unusual spots

Clues that point toward new risk mechanisms for developing Parkinson's disease are hiding in some unusual spots, according to a study published today in Scientific Reports

28 Jul 2016

Adding DNA sequencing to newborn screenings may increase early diagnosis of cystic fibrosis

A study by researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Brigham and Women's Hospital and the California Department of Public Health suggests that all babies with a known mutation for cystic fibrosis (CF) and second mutation called the 5T allele should receive additional screening in order to better predict the risk of developing CF later in life.

26 Jul 2016

Study reveals unexpected process for acquiring chemoresistance in breast cancers

A laboratory study has revealed an entirely unexpected process for acquiring drug resistance that bypasses the need to re-establish DNA damage repair in breast cancers that have mutant BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

25 Jul 2016