Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Younger child's disability may adversely affect outcomes of older siblings

A recent paper published in The Economic Journal indicates that, in families with disabled children, the second born child is more adversely affected cognitively than the first-born child.

13 Aug 2020

Reelin inhibition may be effective for treating multiple sclerosis

In an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS), decreasing the amount of a protein made in the liver significantly protected against development of the disease's characteristic symptoms and promoted recovery in symptomatic animals, UTSW scientists report.

12 Aug 2020

Researchers develop an integrated technology for seeing into cells at greater detail

Invading cells' private space - prying into their internal functions, decisions and communications - could be a powerful tool that may help researchers develop new immunotherapy treatment for cancer.

12 Aug 2020

More than 40-year-old cancer mystery solved: Thanks to epigenetics

In an article that was just published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by the group of Dr. Manel Esteller, is solved this mystery by describing that in cancer cells the protein that generates the nucleotide "Y" is epigenetically inactivated, causing small but highly aggressive tumors.

12 Aug 2020

Study focuses on genetic neurological disorders that develop in children over time

A team of researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) affiliated with the CHOP Epilepsy Neurogenetics Initiative (ENGIN) further bridged the gap between genomic information and clinical outcome data by systematically linking genetic information with electronic medical records, focusing on how genetic neurological disorders in children develop over time.

12 Aug 2020

Study identifies three potential drugs to eradicate parasitic worms

Scientists have revealed a way to eradicate parasitic worms by stopping them from using alternative metabolism pathways provided by bacteria that live within them, according to new findings published today in eLife.

12 Aug 2020

Mouse study shows potential new way to unlock the power of immunotherapy for cancer patients

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by stimulating the patient's own immune system to attack cancer cells, yielding remarkably quick and complete remission in some cases. But such drugs work for less than a quarter of patients because tumors are notoriously adept at evading immune assault.

11 Aug 2020

TRA-1 gene determines the sex of roundworms

Biological sex is typically understood in binary terms: male and female. However, there are many examples of animals that are able to modify sex-typical biological and behavioral features and even change sex.

11 Aug 2020

Genomic sequencing falls short as a standalone screening tool for newborns

With the rise of genomic sequencing, health technology companies are promising parents they can detect rare metabolic disorders in newborns who, despite a healthy appearance, may need immediate treatment.

10 Aug 2020

NIH supports research on how pathogens evolve

For several years, physicist John Barton at the University of California, Riverside, has been working on developing models to understand and predict how pathogens, such as HIV, evolve. This research pursuit has just received support from the National Institutes of Health.

10 Aug 2020

HPV type may impact cervical cancer characteristics and prognosis

An analysis of cervical cancers in Ugandan women has uncovered significant genomic differences between tumors caused by different strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), signifying HPV type may impact cervical cancer characteristics and prognosis.

10 Aug 2020

Kids with silent malaria remain vulnerable to developing endemic Burkitt lymphoma

A study has found strong similarities between children with endemic Burkitt lymphoma — an aggressive cancer that attacks the body's defense system and children with silent malaria infection.

10 Aug 2020

Research identifies a potential therapeutic target for clogged arteries

New work led by Carnegie's Meredith Wilson and Steve Farber identifies a potential therapeutic target for clogged arteries and other health risks that stem from an excess of harmful fats in the bloodstream. Their findings are published by PLOS Genetics.

7 Aug 2020

New approach enhances prediction of type 1 diabetes among susceptible children

A new approach to predicting which babies will develop type 1 diabetes moves a step closer to routine testing for newborns which could avoid life-threatening complications.

7 Aug 2020

New approach improves SCA1 symptoms in animal models

Research has shown that a mutation in the ATAXIN-1 gene leads to accumulation of Ataxin-1 (ATXN1) protein in brain cells and is the root cause of a rare genetic neurodegenerative disease known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1).

7 Aug 2020

Custom smartwatch tracks drug levels inside the body in real time

Engineers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and their colleagues at Stanford School of Medicine have demonstrated that drug levels inside the body can be tracked in real time using a custom smartwatch that analyzes the chemicals found in sweat.

7 Aug 2020

Study reveals the genetic cause of congenital malformation

Study by the University of Bonn reveals that genetic information controls development of the urinary tract, rectum and genitals Spontaneous mutations of a single gene are likely to cause serious developmental disorders of the excretory organs and genitalia.

7 Aug 2020

New document includes practical resources to improve diversity and inclusion in clinical research

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated social and health inequities and the impact of structural and systemic racism in society.

7 Aug 2020

Humans promote diseases from the animal kingdom

The coronavirus pandemic, which has now infected nearly 19 million and killed more than 712,000 people, most likely originated from bats. Just like other coronavirus outbreaks in the past, a spill-over event or zoonosis caused the viruses to jump from animals to humans.

6 Aug 2020

Tasmanian devil research provides new insights for treating human cancers in future

A rare, transmissible tumor has brought the iconic Tasmanian devil to the brink of extinction, but new research by scientists at Washington State University and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle indicates hope for the animals' survival and possibly new treatment for human cancers.

6 Aug 2020