Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Genetic testing can guide safer chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer patients

For some patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers like colorectal and pancreatic cancer, chemotherapy can cause severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects in those who carry certain genetic variants that can impact how their bodies process the drugs used to treat their disease.

7 Aug 2025

Uncovering the science behind musical anhedonia

Ten years ago, researchers discovered a small group of people who derive no pleasure from music despite having normal hearing and the ability to enjoy other experiences or stimuli.

7 Aug 2025

Personalizing endometrial cancer prevention through diet and lifestyle

This review synthesizes emerging evidence on modifiable risk factors for endometrial cancer (EC)-the sixth most common female malignancy globally-with rising incidence despite diagnostic advances.

7 Aug 2025

Genetic markers could help prevent age-related frailty

Novel genetic insights into frailty highlight potential early predictors, aiding in the prevention of age-related decline and improving health outcomes.

7 Aug 2025

Sweetened tea doesn’t offer the same health benefits

Unsweetened tea is associated with reduced mortality risk, while sugar-sweetened varieties show no significant health benefits, according to recent studies.

7 Aug 2025

Scientists map the genes behind diet and dementia risk

Researchers established a high-quality genetic dataset from the MIND diet trial, enabling new studies of gene–diet interactions in cognitive health. This resource allows deeper investigation into why individuals respond differently to dietary interventions targeting dementia risk.

6 Aug 2025

Apple snail eye regeneration offers new insights into human sight restoration

The eye of the apple snail is unusually similar to a human eye-but, unlike human eyes, it can regrow itself if injured or even amputated.

6 Aug 2025

Mother’s genetics may play an important role in influencing her child's weight

A mother's genetics may play a bigger role in determining whether a child becomes overweight than a father's, as a result of a concept known as genetic nurture, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

5 Aug 2025

Children’s obesity often traced back to parental genes

A new study finds that kids with obesity are more likely to have obese parents because they inherit obesity-related genes, and to a smaller extent, are impacted indirectly by genes carried by the mother – even when those genes aren't passed down.

5 Aug 2025

New initiative expands screening for cardiovascular disease marker in community health centers

Elevated lipoprotein(a), also known as Lp(a), is an independent, inherited and causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death and disability worldwide.

5 Aug 2025

Weight loss with ozempic may weaken muscles even when size remains stable

As use of the popular anti-diabetic and weight-loss drug Ozempic skyrockets, so have concerns about the medication's side effects.

5 Aug 2025

Breakthrough study reveals potential treatment path for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is an incurable neurological disorder affecting motor neurons-nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing.

5 Aug 2025

Chemical in everyday products found to worsen alcohol-related liver damage

Have you ever wondered why some people who drink alcohol develop serious liver problems while others don't? A study from University of Louisville researchers published in May in Toxicological Sciences suggests that the answer might be hidden in everyday sources such as drinking water, food packaging or even non-stick cookware.

4 Aug 2025

UCLA study shows stem cells can be reprogrammed to fight cancer

In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, UCLA scientists have shown it's possible to reprogram a patient's blood-forming stem cells to generate a continuous supply of functional T cells, the immune system's most powerful cancer-killing agents.

4 Aug 2025

Programmable Chromosome Engineering systems enable precise DNA manipulations

A team of Chinese researchers led by Prof. GAO Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed two new genome editing technologies, known collectively as Programmable Chromosome Engineering (PCE) systems.

4 Aug 2025

Metformin’s blood sugar control starts in the brain, not just the liver, study finds

Low, clinically relevant doses of metformin lower blood glucose by inhibiting the Rap1 protein in specific neurons of the hypothalamus, revealing a brain-first mechanism. This action is essential for metformin’s effect at therapeutic doses and highlights new directions for diabetes treatment.

3 Aug 2025

AI spots hidden diabetes risk even when test results look normal

Researchers used continuous glucose monitoring and multimodal data from over 3,000 people to reveal hidden patterns in glucose spikes across normoglycemia, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes. Their AI-driven model exposed high individual variability and offers a personalized path for early detection and prevention of diabetes.

3 Aug 2025