Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Imperial College London researchers discover new inherited form of obesity, type 2 diabetes

Scientists have discovered a new inherited form of obesity and type 2 diabetes in humans. A large number of genes are involved in regulating body weight, and there are now over 30 genes known in which people with harmful changes in DNA sequence become extremely overweight. Similarly, there are a number of genes that can, when altered, cause type 2 diabetes. These conditions are inherited through families in exactly the same way as disorders such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington's disease.

30 Jun 2015

New discovery could lead to personalized treatment for colon cancer

A UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center discovery of just how a certain tumor suppressor molecule works to prevent tumor growth could lead to a personalized treatment approach for colon cancer.

30 Jun 2015

Scientists develop high-throughput strategy to build de novo genomes

Scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a new approach to build nearly complete genomes by combining high-throughput DNA sequencing with genome mapping. The methodology enabled researchers to detect complex forms of genomic variation, critically important for their association with human disease, but previously difficult to detect.

30 Jun 2015

Kay E. Davies named recipient of ASHG's 2015 William Allan Award

The American Society of Human Genetics has named Kay E. Davies, DPhil, Dr. Lee's professor of anatomy, associate head of the medical sciences division; and director of the Medical Research Council Functional Genomics Unit in the department of physiology, anatomy and genetics at the University of Oxford, the 2015 recipient of the annual William Allan Award.

30 Jun 2015

Study may lead to better treatments for children with neuroblastoma

Researchers studying the pediatric cancer neuroblastoma have detailed how cancer-driving mutations evolve during chemotherapy, and they hope to exploit this knowledge to design better treatments for children.

30 Jun 2015

Rare genetic variants in A2ML1 gene responsible for chronic middle ear infections, say researchers

Many parents have heard the night-time cry of "my ear hurts." For some children, this might happen frequently beginning in infancy and even persist into adulthood. An international consortium led by those at Baylor College of Medicine may have taken the first step on the road to understanding why only some people get frequent painful or chronic middle ear infections. The culprit may be rare genetic variants in a gene called A2ML1.

30 Jun 2015

Researchers discover gene locations affecting wrist bones in children

Pediatric researchers have discovered gene locations affecting bone strength in wrist bones, the most common site for fractures in children. Children who have those genetic variants may be at higher-than-average risk of wrist fractures, and could especially benefit from activities and diets that promote bone strength.

30 Jun 2015

NGS technology helps identify new mitochondrial disease gene

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology offers an incredible opportunity for the rapid and relatively low-cost characterization of individual genomes, giving us a chance to make a substantial leap ahead in the molecular dissection of all mitochondrial disorders in humans.

27 Jun 2015

NIDA announces recipients of Avenir Award programs for HIV/AIDS, genetics or epigenetics research

The National Institute on Drug Abuse today announced the first six recipients of its two newly developed Avenir Award programs for HIV/AIDS and genetics or epigenetics research. The Avenir (meaning "future" in French) Awards support early stage investigators who propose highly innovative studies. The six scientists will each receive up to $300,000 per year for five years to support their research.

27 Jun 2015

Texas Biomed, Take Off Pounds Sensibly establish new TOPS Nutrition and Obesity Research Center

Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Wisconsin-based non-profit Take Off Pounds Sensibly are establishing the new TOPS® Nutrition and Obesity Research Center with the goal of conducting research into the causes, health risks and treatment of human obesity. Studies at the Center will focus on the role of genetic predisposition to metabolic changes, nutritional preferences, appetite regulation, food intake and choice and incidence of obesity-related illnesses.

27 Jun 2015

Study: High blood pressure linked to lower risk for Alzheimer's disease

A new study suggests that people with a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure have a lower risk for Alzheimer's disease.

27 Jun 2015

Special protein in the brain's smallest blood vessels may affect stroke risk

Studies on mice reveal that a special protein in the brain's tiniest blood vessels may affect the risk of stroke. Peter Carlsson, professor in genetics at the University of Gothenburg, and his research team are publishing new research findings in the journal Developmental Cell about how the blood-brain barrier develops and what makes the capillaries in the brain different from small blood vessels in other organs.

26 Jun 2015

Lamont R Jones receives 2015 Research Scholar Award to study pathogenesis of keloids

Lamont R Jones, M.D., vice chair of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital, received the 2015 Research Scholar Award from the Educational and Research Foundation for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to continue his efforts to study the pathogenesis of keloids and improve understanding of how keloid scars develop.

26 Jun 2015

Diet, acidity of urine may influence susceptibility to urinary tract infections

The acidity of urine -- as well as the presence of small molecules related to diet -- may influence how well bacteria can grow in the urinary tract, a new study shows. The research, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, may have implications for treating urinary tract infections, which are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide.

26 Jun 2015

Growth of lymph node metastases takes advantage of existing blood vessels

While the use of antiangiogenesis drugs that block the growth of new blood vessels can improve the treatment of some cancers, clinical trials of their ability to prevent the development of new metastases have failed. Now a study from the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center may have found at least one reason why.

26 Jun 2015

IU researchers find that microRNA-29 may be potent therapeutic target against pancreatic cancer

Indiana University cancer researchers found that a particular microRNA may be a potent therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer. The research was published June 22 in the journal Scientific Reports.

26 Jun 2015

Scientists develop small molecule drug that prevents autophagy from starting in cancer cells

As a tumor grows, its cancerous cells ramp up an energy-harvesting process to support its hasty development. This process, called autophagy, is normally used by a cell to recycle damaged organelles and proteins, but is also co-opted by cancer cells to meet their increased energy and metabolic demands.

26 Jun 2015

University of Pittsburgh surgeon receives Anthony Cerami Award in Translational Medicine

The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Molecular Medicine announced today that the fourth Anthony Cerami Award in Translational Medicine will be conferred to Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD, professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The award is in recognition of his research in organ transplantation and alloengraftment mechanisms.

26 Jun 2015

E2F4 biomarker can help predict prognosis and response to BCG therapy in bladder cancer

Investigators from Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center harnessed genomic data to discover that the previously identified E2F4 signature in breast cancer can be utilized to predict prognosis and response to therapy in bladder cancer.

25 Jun 2015

Myriad Genetics, Chris4Life launch educational campaign to teach individuals about risk of hereditary cancer

Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based national non-profit organization, and Myriad Genetics, a leader in personalized medicine, today announced their “What’s Your History” family history week (June 24-30, 2015).

25 Jun 2015

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Imperial College London researchers discover new inherited form of obesity, type 2 diabetes

New discovery could lead to personalized treatment for colon cancer

Scientists develop high-throughput strategy to build de novo genomes

Kay E. Davies named recipient of ASHG's 2015 William Allan Award

Study may lead to better treatments for children with neuroblastoma

Rare genetic variants in A2ML1 gene responsible for chronic middle ear infections, say researchers

Researchers discover gene locations affecting wrist bones in children

NGS technology helps identify new mitochondrial disease gene

NIDA announces recipients of Avenir Award programs for HIV/AIDS, genetics or epigenetics research

Texas Biomed, Take Off Pounds Sensibly establish new TOPS Nutrition and Obesity Research Center

Study: High blood pressure linked to lower risk for Alzheimer's disease

Special protein in the brain's smallest blood vessels may affect stroke risk

Lamont R Jones receives 2015 Research Scholar Award to study pathogenesis of keloids

Diet, acidity of urine may influence susceptibility to urinary tract infections

Growth of lymph node metastases takes advantage of existing blood vessels

IU researchers find that microRNA-29 may be potent therapeutic target against pancreatic cancer

Scientists develop small molecule drug that prevents autophagy from starting in cancer cells

University of Pittsburgh surgeon receives Anthony Cerami Award in Translational Medicine

E2F4 biomarker can help predict prognosis and response to BCG therapy in bladder cancer

Myriad Genetics, Chris4Life launch educational campaign to teach individuals about risk of hereditary cancer

eBook: Using iPSCs models for human disease research and drug discovery eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging