Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Findings in epilepsy gene in animals may guide treatment directions for infants

Researchers studying a difficult-to-treat form of childhood epilepsy called infantile spasms have developed a line of mice that experiences seizures with features closely resembling those occurring in patients with infantile seizures. These genetically engineered mice provide a new opportunity for scientists to test treatments that may benefit children.

1 Jun 2009

Glioblastoma may originate in neural stem cells

University of Michigan scientists have found that a deficiency in a key tumor suppressor gene in the brain leads to the most common type of adult brain cancer. The study, conducted in mice that mimic human cancer, points the way to more effective future treatments and a way to screen for the disease early.

1 Jun 2009

Smoking and genetics play role in rheumatoid arthritis

Recent genetic studies have revealed several new sites of genes that are risk factors for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

1 Jun 2009

Oligophrenin-1 signaling protein linked to mental retardation controls synapse maturation, plasticity

A team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has demonstrated the mechanism by which a signaling protein found throughout the brain controls the maturation and strength of excitatory synapses, the tiny gaps across which the majority of neurons communicate.

1 Jun 2009

Protein abundant in embryonic stem cells offers a new cancer target

A protein abundant in embryonic stem cells is now shown to be important in cancer, and offers a possible new target for drug development, report researchers from the Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston.

1 Jun 2009

New research shows that a “breast cancer gene” causes osmidrosis and makes earwax wet and sticky

If having malodorous armpits (called osmidrosis) and goopy earwax isn't bad enough, a discovery by Japanese scientists may add a more serious problem for women facing these cosmetic calamities.

1 Jun 2009

MicroRNAs grease the cell's circadian clockwork

Most of our cells possess an internal clock, a group of genes displaying a cyclic expression pattern that reaches a peak once a day. A large number of circadian genes are expressed by organs such as the liver, whose activity needs to be precisely regulated over the course of the day.

31 May 2009

Discovery of gene associated with a three-fold increase in risk for testicular cancer

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have uncovered variation around two genes that are associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer.

31 May 2009

Combination of gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem cells cure human genetic disease in vitro

A study led by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, has catapulted the field of regenerative medicine significantly forward, proving in principle that a human genetic disease can be cured using a combination of gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology. The study, published in the May 31, 2009 early online edition of Nature, is a major milestone on the path from the laboratory to the clinic.

31 May 2009

Genetic profiling reveals genes active in the earliest brain circuit construction

Long before the brain's neurons can facilitate life's big decisions, they have to find their own destiny in the rapidly developing embryo.

31 May 2009

Genomic research lays groundwork for new approaches for treating, preventing skin diseases

The health of our skin - one of the body's first lines of defense against illness and injury - depends upon the delicate balance between our own cells and the millions of bacteria and other one-celled microbes that live on its surface.

28 May 2009

Discovery of genetic cause for primary biliary cirrhosis

Researchers have discovered a novel molecular path that predisposes patients to develop primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease that mainly affects women and slowly destroys their livers. Primary biliary cirrhosis has no known cause.

27 May 2009

Humans may be genetically programmed to care about the long-term future, finds new study of behaviour

Dr Peter Sozou suggests that individuals may have an innate tendency to care about the long-term future of their communities, over timescales much longer than an individual's lifespan. This in turn may help to explain people's wish to take action over long-term environmental problems.

27 May 2009

Revealed - the culprit gene in hair loss!

Researchers at the Division of Mammalian Development at the National Institute of Genetics in Mishima, say the gene appears to determine cyclical hair loss in mice and they suspect it may also be the culprit in hair loss, or alopecia, in people.

26 May 2009

Cohesin protein disrupts gene function in Cornelia deLange syndrome

An international team of scientists studying a rare genetic disease discovered that a bundle of proteins with the long-established function of keeping chromosomes together also plays an important role in regulating genes in humans.

26 May 2009

The evolution of gene regulation: How microbial neighbors settle differences

Even microbes are governed by the principle of supply and demand - at least at the genetic level. Not all of their gene products, the blueprints for proteins, are required at all times. That means most of their genes only become active when they are needed, as is the case in higher organisms.

26 May 2009

Comprehensive cardiogenetic testing for families of sudden unexplained death victims can save lives

Relatives of a young person who dies suddenly should always be referred for cardiological and genetic examination in order to identify if they too are at risk of sudden death, a scientist told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Tuesday 26 May).

26 May 2009

The neurobiology of music perception and production related to the pathways affecting intrinsic attachment behavior?

Music is social communication between individuals - humming of lullabies attach infant to parent and singing or playing music adds croup cohesion. The neurobiology of music perception and production is likely to be related to the pathways affecting intrinsic attachment behavior, suggests a resent Finnish study. The study gives new information about genetic background of musical aptitude.

26 May 2009

Discovery of genetic factors that influence the age at which natural menopause occurs in women

For the first time, scientists have been able to identify genetic factors that influence the age at which natural menopause occurs in women. Ms Lisette Stolk, a researcher from Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today ( Monday 25 May) that a greater understanding of the factors influencing age at menopause might eventually help to improve the clinical treatment of infertile women.

25 May 2009

Discovery of genetic link between periodontitis and heart attack

The relationship between the dental disease periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) has been known for several years. Although a genetic link seemed likely, until now its existence was uncertain. Now, for the first time, scientists have discovered a genetic relationship between the two conditions, a researcher told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today (Monday 25 May).

25 May 2009

Genetics News and Research

Latest Genetics News and Research

Findings in epilepsy gene in animals may guide treatment directions for infants

Glioblastoma may originate in neural stem cells

Smoking and genetics play role in rheumatoid arthritis

Oligophrenin-1 signaling protein linked to mental retardation controls synapse maturation, plasticity

Protein abundant in embryonic stem cells offers a new cancer target

New research shows that a “breast cancer gene” causes osmidrosis and makes earwax wet and sticky

MicroRNAs grease the cell's circadian clockwork

Discovery of gene associated with a three-fold increase in risk for testicular cancer

Combination of gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem cells cure human genetic disease in vitro

Genetic profiling reveals genes active in the earliest brain circuit construction

Genomic research lays groundwork for new approaches for treating, preventing skin diseases

Discovery of genetic cause for primary biliary cirrhosis

Humans may be genetically programmed to care about the long-term future, finds new study of behaviour

Revealed - the culprit gene in hair loss!

Cohesin protein disrupts gene function in Cornelia deLange syndrome

The evolution of gene regulation: How microbial neighbors settle differences

Comprehensive cardiogenetic testing for families of sudden unexplained death victims can save lives

The neurobiology of music perception and production related to the pathways affecting intrinsic attachment behavior?

Discovery of genetic factors that influence the age at which natural menopause occurs in women

Discovery of genetic link between periodontitis and heart attack

Genetics & Genomics - Second Edition eBook

How does norepinephrine influence anxiety-related behaviours?

Transforming Lab Workflows with Cell Culture Automation

Building Bridges to Scalable Allogeneic Cell Therapy