Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

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

Scientists discover new mechanism controlling multiple sclerosis risk

While the DNA sequence remains the same throughout a person's life, the expression of the encoded genes may change with time and contribute to disease development in genetically predisposed individuals.

19 Jun 2018

Mayo Clinic researchers find genetic mutations that increase person's risk for pancreatic cancer

Six genes contain mutations that may be passed down in families, substantially increasing a person's risk for pancreatic cancer. That's according to Mayo Clinic research published in the June 19 edition of the JAMA.

19 Jun 2018

Inhibiting epigenetic proteins with drugs could prevent development of breast cancer

Researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto have discovered that epigenetic proteins promote the proliferation of mammary gland stem cells in response to the sex hormone progesterone.

19 Jun 2018

Gene signature could improve early diagnosis of TB

Researchers have identified a gene signature that could determine whether a person is going to develop TB, months before they show any symptoms.

19 Jun 2018

Study: Effects of in vitro fertilization depend on genetic variation inherited from parents

In vitro fertilization affects the regulatory region of genes essential for placental and embryonic growth, as well as the birth weight.

19 Jun 2018

Unusual gene provides novel insight into how the brain wires itself

The study of a Quebec family with an unusual gene provides novel insight into how our brain is built and, according to the McGill led team of scientists, offers a better understanding of psychiatric disorders such as depression, addictions, and schizophrenia.

19 Jun 2018

Study shows how moderate consumption of alcohol can protect the heart

For at least 20 years, research has shown that for many people, moderate consumption of alcohol can protect the heart, but the reason for this is poorly understood.

18 Jun 2018

Study finds more information about how gene linked to ASD affects the brain

New preclinical research shows a gene already linked to a subset of people with autism spectrum disorder is critical to healthy neuronal connections in the developing brain, and its loss can harm those connections to help fuel the complex developmental condition.

18 Jun 2018

Scientists discover genetic causes underlying group of related infant cancers

The genetic causes of a group of related infant cancers have been discovered by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Wuerzburg and their collaborators.

18 Jun 2018

Research finds addictions to be diseases of the brain, not criminal behavior or personality disorders

Alcohol dependence, and opiate, cocaine and other stimulant addictions, are all diseases of the brain that have behavioral manifestations and they are not due to criminal behavior alone or to antisocial or "weak" personality disorders.

18 Jun 2018

Study combines gene editing and stem cell technologies to predict person’s risk for heart disease

Scientists may now be able to predict whether carrying a specific genetic variant increases a person's risk for disease using gene editing and stem cell technologies, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.

18 Jun 2018

Scientists to focus on big data and genetics to identify risk factors for dementia

Physical activity plays an important part in dementia prevention. In order to identify risk factors for this neurological disease more effectively, scientists will increasingly focus on big data and genetic research, experts reported at the Congress of the European Academy of Neurology in Lisbon.

18 Jun 2018

Gene editing technology predicts heart disease risk

Scientists could now use gene editing and stem cell technologies to predict whether carrying a specific gene variant increases the risk of heart disease.

18 Jun 2018

Studies provide insight into molecular changes prior to onset of arthritis

The results of two studies presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2018) provide insight into molecular changes prior to the onset of arthritis which could inform future novel diagnostics and early therapeutic interventions.

18 Jun 2018

Study suggests state-of-the-art genomic testing for routine autopsy of stillbirths

Pregnancy loss and the death of a newborn baby are devastating events, and as of today around 25% of these perinatal deaths are unexplained despite autopsy.

18 Jun 2018

Childhood, adult obesity raise risk of developing hip and knee osteoarthritis

The results of a study to be presented at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology suggest childhood and adult obesity increase the risk of developing hip osteoarthritis and knee OA but not hand OA.

18 Jun 2018

Study: Lenabasum has acceptable safety and tolerability in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis

The results of an open label extension of a phase II study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, 2018, demonstrate that lenabasum continues to have acceptable safety and tolerability in diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis with no severe or serious adverse events.

18 Jun 2018

Researchers identify gene enhancer that affects sex determination

Researchers have identified a gene enhancer that is critical for male sex development and shown that deleting it results in male-to-female sex reversal in mice.

15 Jun 2018