Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Public actions can help reduce discrimination, stigma faced by menopausal women

Hot flushes, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, urinary incontinence and joint pain: these are just some of the more than 100 symptoms associated with the menopause, a natural process that all women go through when they stop ovulating and menstruating, typically between the ages of 45 and 55.

26 May 2025

New blood test speeds up diagnosis of rare childhood diseases

A new, rapid testing method will greatly help the diagnosis of rare diseases in babies and children, according to research to be presented to the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Monday).

25 May 2025

Genetic discovery sheds light on infection-triggered neuropathy

Neuropathy, a disorder in which damage to nerves can impair sensation and movement, has many causes, including infection.

25 May 2025

Blood cell-free RNA signatures can predict preterm birth months in advance

Children born before 37 weeks of gestation have a considerably increased risk of dying before they reach the age of five.

25 May 2025

Rare cancer gene found in sperm donor sparks European regulatory concerns

A case in which a sperm donor was later found to be carrying a cancer-causing pathogenic variant in his gametes has highlighted the problems of regulating gamete donation at European and international level, the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics will hear today (Saturday).

23 May 2025

Fungal antiviral responses controlled by RNA editing and transcription factor dynamics

The expression of symptoms of viral infections is a byproduct of complex virus-host molecular pathways.

23 May 2025

FOXP4 gene variants reveal new genetic link to long COVID risk

Researchers have identified genetic variants in the FOXP4 gene that significantly increase the risk of developing long COVID, independently of COVID-19 severity. The study also reveals that ancestry, smoking, and other factors contribute to the complex genetics of long COVID.

23 May 2025

Ancient DNA sheds light on evolution of relapsing fever bacteria

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.

22 May 2025

Machine learning tool identifies metabolic clues in colorectal cancer

Scientists aiming to advance cancer diagnostics have developed a machine learning tool that is able to identify metabolism-related molecular profile differences between patients with colorectal cancer and healthy people.

22 May 2025

Infrared vision achieved through new nanoparticle contact lenses

Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light.

22 May 2025

Natural compounds from Brazilian plants show promise against stomach cancer

A new review was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on May 8, 2025, titled "The chemopreventive effects of native Brazilian plants on stomach cancer: A review of the last 25 years."

22 May 2025

Mediterranean eating habits help European children fight genetic obesity risk

A large European cohort study found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet mitigates the impact of genetic risk for obesity in children, especially in early childhood. High consumption of vegetables and legumes was linked to lower obesity risk, regardless of genetic predisposition.

22 May 2025

Unlocking the secrets of human longevity and healthy aging

Human healthy aging and longevity are complex phenomena influenced by a dynamic interplay of genetic, epigenetic, metabolic, immune, and environmental factors.

22 May 2025

New AI blood test tracks pancreatic cancer treatment response

An artificial intelligence technique for detecting DNA fragments shed by tumors and circulating in a patient's blood, developed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigators, could help clinicians more quickly identify and determine if pancreatic cancer therapies are working.

22 May 2025

New study links fetal mutations to early pregnancy loss

In a study published in Nature today "Sequence diversity lost in early pregnancy," scientists from deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, estimate that around one in 136 pregnancies are lost due to new mutations in the fetus.

21 May 2025

Scientists identify key molecular process driving deadly childhood brain cancer

An international group of scientists has identified a key molecular process that drives a deadly form of childhood brain cancer, potentially offering a much-needed, new therapeutic target.

21 May 2025

Researchers discover a genetic link to long COVID

An international team of researchers has found a genetic link to long-term symptoms after COVID-19.

21 May 2025

New multiple myeloma-like score assesses disease severity and risk of progression to active cancer

A new risk assessment score developed by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard reveals how multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, begins and progresses from precancerous to malignant states by tracing DNA mutations.

21 May 2025

Discovery unravels two populations of gonadotrophs in the pituitary gland

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shown that gonadotrophs, cells in the pituitary gland with a key role in puberty and reproduction, come from two different populations, with the majority produced after birth rather than in the embryo, as previously thought.

21 May 2025

Gut bacteria and genes jointly shape obesity risk, review reveals hidden links

Researchers examined the heritability of body mass index (BMI), highlighting that genetics and the gut microbiome both play major roles in obesity risk. The review emphasizes that maternal microbiome transmission and family environment may help explain “missing heritability” beyond known genetic factors.

20 May 2025