Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Scripps researchers awarded two grants to support studies on cocaine, oxycodone addiction

Last year, more than 60,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose, and millions more struggled with opioid and cocaine addiction.

27 Apr 2018

Autism disorder increases in U.S. children, shows new CDC report

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health contributed to a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that finds the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among 11 surveillance sites as one in 59 among children aged 8 years in 2014 (or 1.7 percent).

27 Apr 2018

New study identifies 44 genomic variants linked to depression

A new meta-analysis of more than 135,000 people with major depression and more than 344,000 controls has identified 44 genomic variants, or loci, that have a statistically significant association with depression.

26 Apr 2018

‘Rapid autopsy’ programs seek clues to cancer within hours of death

After Keith Beck died of bile duct cancer last year, family members said more than 900 people showed up to pay respects to the popular athletic director at the University of Findlay in northwestern Ohio.

26 Apr 2018

HBP researchers develop new tool to examine role of genes in disease-relevant brain regions

Elucidating the way from genes to cognition requires detailed insight into how anatomical areas with specific gene activities contribute to brain function and dysfunction. Up to now, the scientific community has developed many separate brain atlases for different modalities and scales.

25 Apr 2018

Researchers discover significant distortions in leading genetics study method

Many conclusions drawn from a common approach to the study of human genetics could be distorted because of a previously overlooked phenomenon, according to researchers at the Department of Genetics and Genomics Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators from Massachusetts General Hospital and the Broad Institute.

25 Apr 2018

Expression of long non-coding RNAs can result in high levels of specific proteins involved in cancer

A Danish-German research team has shown that not only the where and when of long non-coding RNA expression is important for their function but also the how.

25 Apr 2018

Salk researchers develop new glioblastoma model using gene-edited organoids

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an incredibly deadly brain cancer and presents a serious black box challenge. It's virtually impossible to observe how these tumors operate in their natural environment and animal models don't always provide good answers.

25 Apr 2018

MGH researchers identify risk factors for drug overdose in youth with substance use disorders

A team of Massachusetts General Hospital investigators has identified factors that may increase the risk of drug overdose in adolescents and young adults. In their report published online in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, the researchers describe finding that more than a quarter of those seeking treatment at Addiction Recovery Management Service, an MGH-based outpatient substance-use-disorder treatment program for youth ages 14 to 26, had a history of at least one overdose.

24 Apr 2018

New technique harnesses 'natural barcodes' to facilitate better cell tracking

Each of us carries in our genomes about 10 million genetic variations called single nucleotide polymorphisms, which represent a difference of just one letter in the genetic code.

24 Apr 2018

Researchers discover new gene associated with aortic aneurysms

An interdisciplinary team of researchers has identified a new gene linked to human aortic aneurysms. By combining comprehensive genetic studies in the fruit fly, dataset searches and analysis of diseased human aortic tissue, the researchers shed light on mechanisms not previously known to be associated with this devastating disease.

24 Apr 2018

Role of extrachromosomal pieces of DNA in cancer development and treatment resistance

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer. Response to standard-of-care treatment is poor, with a two-year survival rate of only 15 percent.

24 Apr 2018

Salamander study provides clues for treating spinal cord injuries

One of the most vexing problems with spinal cord injuries is that the human body does not rebuild nerves once they have been damaged. Other animals, on the other hand, seem to have no problem repairing broken neurons.

23 Apr 2018

Study examines how higher-order gene combinations help maintain normal cell physiology

We inherit many traits from our parents including the color of our eyes and hair. Unfortunately, we also inherit risk factors for certain diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Understanding those genetic connections can help prevention efforts and develop new life-saving treatments to combat these diseases.

20 Apr 2018

Scientists identify gene responsible for evolution of recombination rates

Genetics is a crapshoot. During sexual reproduction, genes from both the mother and the father mix and mingle to produce a genetic combination unique to each offspring. In most cases, the chromosomes line up properly and crossover. In some unlucky cases, however, "selfish DNA" enters the mix, causing abnormal crossovers with deletions or insertions in chromosomes, which can manifest as birth defects.

20 Apr 2018

Study may explain how chemoresistance evolves over time in some triple-negative breast cancers

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of the disease accounting for 12 to 18 percent of breast cancers. It is a scary diagnosis, and even though chemotherapy can be effective as standard-of-care, many patients become resistant to treatment.

20 Apr 2018

Role of UBE3A enzyme in Angelman syndrome

The group, led by the Ikerbasque professor Ugo Mayor of the UPV/EHU's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has just published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics an explanation of the mechanisms affected by Angelman syndrome.

20 Apr 2018

New initiative launched to support goals of Human Cell Atlas

Uri Laserson, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genomics Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and collaborators have been awarded one of 85 grants announced today from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF (CZI), an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

20 Apr 2018

Researchers develop new drug-testing platform for epilepsy

For more than a third of children living with epilepsy, the currently approved medications do not stop their seizures. This statistic has not changed for the past five decades, despite the development of many new anti-seizure drugs.

20 Apr 2018

UT Southwestern researchers identify 170 potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer

After testing more than 200,000 chemical compounds, UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center researchers have identified 170 chemicals that are potential candidates for development into drug therapies for lung cancer.

20 Apr 2018

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Scripps researchers awarded two grants to support studies on cocaine, oxycodone addiction

Autism disorder increases in U.S. children, shows new CDC report

New study identifies 44 genomic variants linked to depression

‘Rapid autopsy’ programs seek clues to cancer within hours of death

HBP researchers develop new tool to examine role of genes in disease-relevant brain regions

Researchers discover significant distortions in leading genetics study method

Expression of long non-coding RNAs can result in high levels of specific proteins involved in cancer

Salk researchers develop new glioblastoma model using gene-edited organoids

MGH researchers identify risk factors for drug overdose in youth with substance use disorders

New technique harnesses 'natural barcodes' to facilitate better cell tracking

Researchers discover new gene associated with aortic aneurysms

Role of extrachromosomal pieces of DNA in cancer development and treatment resistance

Salamander study provides clues for treating spinal cord injuries

Study examines how higher-order gene combinations help maintain normal cell physiology

Scientists identify gene responsible for evolution of recombination rates

Study may explain how chemoresistance evolves over time in some triple-negative breast cancers

Role of UBE3A enzyme in Angelman syndrome

New initiative launched to support goals of Human Cell Atlas

Researchers develop new drug-testing platform for epilepsy

UT Southwestern researchers identify 170 potential therapeutic targets for lung cancer

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