Genetics

Genetics is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

How Do Genetic Mutations Cause Disease?

Mutations in genes can lead to genetic disorders, impacting health. Understand the types, causes, and implications of genetic mutations and disease.

Applications of the Expanded Genetic Code

What is Cytogenetics?

What is Genetic Anticipation?

Genetics and Gene Expression

Genetics Research and Technology

Von Recklinghausen Disease Expressivity

Genotype Versus Phenotype

The Role of Alternative Splicing in Disease

History of Genetics

START and STOP Codons

Genetic Regulation of Fingers and Toes Development

See more featured articles »

Genetic Risk Associated with Social Anxiety

The Importance of Genetic Counseling In Healthcare And Medicine

Genetics of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

What is the Expanded Genetic Code?

Genetic Inheritance

Genetic Change

Latest Genetics News and Research

Weill Cornell Medicine receives ARPA-H award to advance lymphatic disease diagnosis

Weill Cornell Medicine has received a $5.2 million, initial two-year award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Lymphatic Imaging, Genomics, and pHenotyping Technologies (LIGHT) program to develop a comprehensive and innovative approach to diagnosing lymphatic disease.

20 Jan 2026

Far-red light suppresses biofilm formation and virulence in pathogenic bacteria

Light is a universal stimulus that influences all living things. Cycles of light and dark help set the biological clocks for organisms ranging from single-celled bacteria to human beings.

20 Jan 2026

Prenatal wildfire smoke exposure linked to higher autism risk in children

Exposure to wildfire smoke during the final months of pregnancy may raise the risk that a child is later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study led by Tulane University researchers.

20 Jan 2026

Blood lipid–hormone ratios predict future asthma attacks years in advance

This study shows that specific ratios of circulating sphingolipids to steroids can predict the risk of future asthma exacerbations over five years with high discriminatory performance. By integrating metabolomics with longitudinal medical records, the research highlights lipid–hormone pathway imbalance as a key driver of asthma instability.

20 Jan 2026

New genetic insights reveal vitamin B1's role in gut health and motility

Bowel habits aren't exactly dinner-table talk. But they reflect how quickly the gut moves things along, and when that goes wrong people can experience constipation, diarrhoea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

20 Jan 2026

How "old RNA" reshapes sperm metabolism

Increasing paternal age has been linked to elevated health risks for the next generation, including higher risks of obesity and stillbirth. But what drives this increased risk remains unknown.

20 Jan 2026

Genomic screening uncovers hidden cancer and heart disease risk in young adults

A nationwide Australian pilot screened more than 10,000 adults aged 18–40 years for high-risk genetic variants linked to hereditary cancer and familial hypercholesterolaemia, identifying clinically actionable findings in about 2% of participants.

19 Jan 2026

Can dietary supplements support nutrition security as climate change disrupts food systems?

Environmental change is reshaping food availability, nutrient quality, and health risks, exposing major gaps in how nutrition science addresses climate-related stressors. This perspective argues that dietary supplements may have a context-dependent role but require rigorous, interdisciplinary research before informing public health action.

19 Jan 2026

Blood metabolites reveal who will develop type 2 diabetes years before diagnosis

This large prospective study integrated blood metabolomics, genetics, and lifestyle data to identify hundreds of metabolites associated with long-term risk of type 2 diabetes in initially healthy adults. A validated 44-metabolite signature improved risk prediction beyond conventional factors, offering insights into biological pathways and opportunities for earlier, more precise prevention.

18 Jan 2026

Paracetamol use during pregnancy not linked to autism, ADHD or intellectual disability

Taking paracetamol during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability among children.

16 Jan 2026

New markers improve detection of aggressive breast cancer cells in the blood

Of all the types of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and lacks specific therapies.

16 Jan 2026

New oral drug safely lowers triglycerides and other blood lipids in Phase 1 trial

In a Phase 1 clinical study, researchers led by EPFL and their partners report that a new liver- and gut-targeted oral drug can safely lower triglycerides and other blood lipids.

16 Jan 2026

CRISPR-Cas3: A safer gene-editing tool shows promise for transthyretin amyloidosis treatment

Genetic disorders occur due to alterations in the primary genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), of an organism. Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a progressive disorder involving amyloid deposits of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) proteins.

14 Jan 2026

Novel liquid biopsy technology could advance cancer diagnostics and monitoring

A novel liquid biopsy technology is set to advance cancer diagnostics and monitoring by overcoming the long-standing challenge of simultaneously achieving high sensitivity, broad coverage, and simple workflow.

14 Jan 2026

New metabolomic signature predicts type 2 diabetes risk beyond traditional factors

Diabetes, a metabolic disease, is on the rise worldwide, and over 90 percent of cases are type 2 diabetes, where the body does not effectively respond to insulin.

14 Jan 2026

Specific foods linked to autism risk via immune pathways

Genetic and clinical data suggest dietary factors may influence autism risk via immune pathways, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

14 Jan 2026

Fruit fly study identifies genes regulating dopamine and sleep

Dopamine in the brain influences movement, learning, motivation and sleep. In humans, problems with dopamine are linked to conditions like Parkinson's disease, depression and sleep disorders.

13 Jan 2026

Why some people can’t lose weight even when they follow the rules

New research reveals biological factors, not just effort, influence weight loss success, highlighting the need for personalized diet and exercise interventions.

13 Jan 2026

Two harmful gene variants can combine to restore normal protein function

In a groundbreaking study published in the in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), scientists at Pacific Northwest Research Institute (PNRI) have overturned a long-held belief in genetics: that inheriting two harmful variants in the same gene always worsens disease.

12 Jan 2026

CNIO study identifies genes linked to pancreatic cancer risk and prognosis

A new study by the National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has identified several sets of genes related to the predisposition to develop pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (the most common type of pancreatic cancer), as well as the prognosis of the disease once it has appeared.

12 Jan 2026