Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Study finds genetic factors key to post-stroke cardiovascular risks

Research identifies genetic and molecular risk factors for cardiovascular outcomes after an initial stroke, uncovering potential therapeutic targets to improve patient prognoses.

28 Jul 2024

Scientists explore early life factors contributing to SMA

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe neurological disease for which there is presently no cure, although current therapies can alleviate symptoms. In the search for better treatment options, scientists at DZNE and the Dresden University of Technology are now drawing attention to previously unnoticed abnormalities in embryonic development. They base their argument on studies of so-called organoids: Laboratory-grown tissue cultures that can reconstruct disease processes. Their findings are published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine.

27 Jul 2024

Breakthrough therapy heals spinal cord injuries

In November 2021, Northwestern University researchers introduced an injectable new therapy, which harnessed fast-moving "dancing molecules," to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries.

27 Jul 2024

Innovative dual-drug strategy for colorectal cancer treatment

A combination of two drugs was capable of suppressing tumors in a non-conventional manner. Instead of inhibiting tumor cell division, as the most widely used medications do, the strategy consisted of hyperactivating oncogenic signaling by these cells to the point where they became stressed.

27 Jul 2024

New biomarker helps determine the optimal treatment for colon cancer

Many people with stage II or III colon cancer receive additional, or adjuvant, chemotherapy following surgery. However, clinical trials have shown that this treatment doesn't improve the chances of survival for every patient. A study published July 25th, 2024 in Cell Reports Medicine identifies and validates a 10-gene biomarker that potentially predicts whether a stage II or III colon cancer patient will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.

27 Jul 2024

Unraveling the microbial dynamics of spontaneous fermentation

Shibazuke is a traditional Japanese eggplant pickle produced by the process of fermentation using lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB which is commonly present in vegetables causes the spontaneous fermentation of vegetables, resulting in the distinctive acidic flavor of pickles. While LAB is beneficial, other species of bacteria and microbes that may be present in the food source can affect the food quality and safety. Advancements in the areas of food technology and nutrition have allowed the large-scale fermentation of pickles via industrial fermenters, where conditions that affect fermentation like temperature, pH-acid levels, and salt content are closely monitored.

27 Jul 2024

New guidelines expand BRCA testing and screening for men

More and more studies show that men face risks of cancer from BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that are most often associated with breast and ovarian cancers in women.

27 Jul 2024

Understanding Global Harmonization of Regulatory CMC within Veterinary Medicine with Tammy Newbold

In this interview, News Med talks to Tammy Newbold about Global Harmonization of Regulatory CMC within Veterinary Medicine.

From DSI, a PLG Company 26 Jul 2024

Cellular competition determines X chromosome usage in female bodies

A new study published in Nature Genetics by the Lymphoid Development Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences has reveals that the contribution of cells expressing maternal or paternal X chromosomes can be selectively skewed in different parts of the body. The study leverages human data from the 1000 Genomes Project combined with mouse models of human X chromosome-linked DNA sequence variation to advance our fundamental understanding of development in biologically female individuals who have two X chromosomes.

26 Jul 2024

New brain atlas reveals hidden cell vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's

Researchers created a detailed transcriptomic atlas of six brain regions, revealing cell-type-specific and region-specific vulnerabilities in Alzheimer's disease and highlighting astrocyte genes linked to cognitive resilience.

25 Jul 2024

Insilico Medicine's PandaOmics Box enhances drug discovery with advanced AI capabilities

The development of innovative medicines is an expensive, time-consuming and risky business. On average, it usually takes at least a decade and billions of dollars to bring a new drug from project initiation to approval.

25 Jul 2024

Understanding the epigenetic regulation of hepatic stellate cells in NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 38% of the global population from 2016 to 2019.

25 Jul 2024

Innovative array targets methylation in imprinted genes, simplifies epigenetic research

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an array that assesses methylation levels of genes located in imprint control regions (ICRs) within the human genome.

25 Jul 2024

Experimental cancer drug could make thinking easier for individuals with Rett syndrome

An experimental cancer drug could make thinking easier for individuals with Rett syndrome, a rare disorder linked to autism, according to new research from the University of California San Diego - a discovery that could lead to therapies for patients with other neurological conditions.

25 Jul 2024

Stanford's muscle chips reveal microgravity's impact on muscle regeneration

A gentle rumble ran under Ngan Huang's feet as a rocket carrying her research - live, human muscle cells grown on scaffolds fixed on tiny chips - lifted off, climbed, and disappeared into the sky to the International Space Station National Laboratory.

25 Jul 2024

New insights into how genetic variants influence disease risk

A new study by scientists at deCODE Genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, shows that sequence variants drive the correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression. The same variants are linked to various diseases and other human traits.

25 Jul 2024

Study identifies genes increasing risk of severe COVID-19

Whether or not a person becomes seriously ill with COVID-19 depends, among other things, on genetic factors. With this in mind, researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn, in cooperation with other research teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, investigated a particularly large group of affected individuals.

25 Jul 2024

Unprecedented brain cell mapping sheds light on Alzheimer's

Less than a decade ago, when Dr. Hansruedi Mathys launched an ambitious project to create an annotated library of all the gene readouts stored within 100 individual brain cells, the task felt daunting.

25 Jul 2024

Comprehensive analysis of Alzheimer’s brain tissue identifies novel biomarkers

From studying the human genome, to analyzing the way proteins are encoded, or monitoring RNA expression, researchers are rapidly gaining a far richer understanding of the complex genetic and cellular mechanisms that underpin dementia. But there's a catch: While new technologies are revealing myriad avenues for Alzheimer's research, it's impossible to know in advance which research pathways will lead to effective treatments.

25 Jul 2024

Gene variant predicts cognitive decline after stroke

New research led by UCLA Health has found that specific genes may be related to the trajectory of recovery for stroke survivors, providing doctors insights useful for developing targeted therapies.

25 Jul 2024