Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Study supports genetic predisposition to chronic regional pain syndrome in a third of cases

Genes may be responsible for third of complex regional pain syndrome cases. But the condition is less common in men, even though they are more likely to have the 4 genetic variations implicated in heightened risk, suggesting that there may be sex specific causes, say the researchers.

10 Oct 2023

Neanderthal genes make some humans more pain-sensitive

People with three Neanderthal-inherited gene variants in SCN9A are more sensitive to certain types of pain, revealing past interbreeding's genetic influence on modern humans. This study, led by UCL researchers, underscores pain sensitivity as a crucial evolutionary trait potentially shaped by Neanderthal genetics.

10 Oct 2023

Macrophages play a central role in intestinal cell renewal, study reveals

A research team from MedUni Vienna and the FWF-sponsored Special Research Area SFB F83 Immunometabolism has now demonstrated for the first time the central role of macrophages in the renewal of intestinal cells, which sheds light on the complex interplay between immune cells and tissue regeneration.

10 Oct 2023

New AI tool could aid in the diagnosis of enigmatic rare diseases

An innovative AI-based tool leverages varied symptom descriptions, along with evidence from the scientific literature and genomic datasets, to pinpoint disease-associated gene variants.

10 Oct 2023

Did the COVID-19 pandemic increase drunkness among people with a history of alcohol use disorder?

How COVID-19-related stressors altered drunkenness frequency.

10 Oct 2023

Is your DNA steering you towards a vegetarian diet?

Researchers using the UK Biobank identified genetic markers linked to strict vegetarianism, revealing potential connections between vegetarianism, lipid metabolism, and brain activity. The study highlighted genes, particularly those active in the brain and related to cholesterol movement, as influential in an individual's inclination towards a vegetarian lifestyle.

9 Oct 2023

Midbody remnant found to play role in cancer spread

Once thought to be the trash can of the cell, a little bubble of cellular stuff called the midbody remnant is actually packing working genetic material with the power to change the fate of other cells - including turning them into cancer.

9 Oct 2023

Targeting Microbiota 2023 captures the essence of microbiota research and future implications

Targeting Microbiota 2023 will be a ground-breaking experience that will introduce you to the latest advancements in the microbiota field.

9 Oct 2023

Can discrimination fuel obesity?

Researchers have identified a potential link between experiences of discrimination and increased obesity risk by examining neural responses to food cues and gut metabolites. The study reveals that discrimination may influence unhealthy food choices, potentially disrupting the brain-gut connection, and suggests brain-targeted treatments or dietary changes as potential interventions.

8 Oct 2023

Inhaled nitric oxide shows promise as treatment for COVID-19 respiratory failure

Inhaled nitric oxide gas widens blood vessels in the lungs and is used to treat severe cardio-pulmonary conditions in newborns and adults.

6 Oct 2023

Study reveals unexpected variation in genetic code of protist

Scientists testing a new method of sequencing single cells have unexpectedly changed our understanding of the rules of genetics.

6 Oct 2023

New animal model replicates the development of cardiac sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease in which immune cells form tissue nodules in various organs, which can drastically impair organ function.

5 Oct 2023

Genetics linked to placental growth and risk of preeclampsia

New research has shed light on how genetics influences the growth of the placenta, revealing a link to risk of disease in the mother.

5 Oct 2023

CRISPR gene editing study provides insights into how autism gene affects brain development

Researchers have used CRISPR gene editing, stem cells and human neurons to study the impact of a gene that is commonly mutated in autism.

5 Oct 2023

Cancer tumors hijack genetic program of developing nerves, study shows

Cancer tumors "hijack" the genetic program used by developing nerves. This is shown in a study by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden.

4 Oct 2023

How vitamin D and genetics shape early brain development

The study examined how vitamin D levels and vitamin D binding protein genotypes in both pregnant mothers and their children aged 3-5, impact early childhood neurodevelopment. Findings suggest that higher vitamin D concentrations in children were associated with better neurodevelopmental scores, with additional influences from sociodemographic factors and certain genetic variations.

4 Oct 2023

Genetics may influence a person’s ability to adhere to a vegetarian diet

From Impossible Burger to "Meatless Mondays," going meat-free is certainly in vogue. But a person's genetic makeup plays a role in determining whether they can stick to a strict vegetarian diet, a new Northwestern Medicine study has found.

4 Oct 2023

Wood cookstove use linked to gastric cancer risk

Researchers conducted a population-based study with a case–control design in rural areas of Honduras in Central America to examine whether wood cookstove use by indigenous populations was associated with increased risk of stomach cancers, including gastric adenocarcinoma.

4 Oct 2023

Breakthrough technique could one day provide tailored repairs for people with brain injuries

A breakthrough technique developed by University of Oxford researchers could one day provide tailored repairs for those who suffer brain injuries.

4 Oct 2023

Could infants' robust immune responses reshape future vaccination strategies?

Utilizing next-gen sequencing techniques, researchers analyzed infants' immune responses to infections, uncovering a predominant innate immune activation unlike adults and older children. This insight could steer child vaccination research and pediatric infection management strategies, potentially revolutionizing infant healthcare.

3 Oct 2023