DNA, which has a double-helix structure, can have many genetic mutations and variations. Credit: NIH A rare autoimmune condition with a tongue-twister of a name may impact people of Puerto…
Tag: Genetics
Finger Lengths May Reveal Insights Into Drinking Habits
Summary: The relative lengths of your fingers might be linked to your alcohol consumption patterns. Researchers found that individuals with longer 4th (ring) fingers relative to 2nd (index) fingers, indicating…
RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy—here’s what you need to know
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its aim is to treat an eye…
Immune System Gene Linked to Hyperactivity, ADHD and Autism
Summary: Researchers have uncovered a link between the immune gene regulator STAT1 and hyperactive behaviors in mice, offering new insights into neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and ADHD. STAT1, vital for…
Presence of white spots on MRI brain scans linked to genetic risk of dementia in older adults
Association between white matter hyperintensities and cortical thickness. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53689-1 They show up as bright white spots when you get a brain MRI: lesions called white…
Major genetic defect linked to female infertility identified
Manhattan plots for female infertility. Credit: The American Journal of Human Genetics (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.10.018 Up to 15% of all couples suffer from infertility at some point in their lives.…
War Impacts Child Development, Alters DNA
Summary: War exposure in Syrian refugee children triggered unique DNA methylation changes, marking genes involved in brain development and stress responses. These epigenetic changes suggest potential long-term effects on health…
Large-scale genetic study identifies 14 genes linked to neuroticism
Study overview. Credit: Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-02045-w Neuroticism is a key personality trait described by well-established psychological theories, associated with a tendency towards emotional instability and negative emotions.…
New Gene-Editing Tool Targets Mutations with Unmatched Precision
Summary: A breakthrough tool called Helicase-Assisted Continuous Editing (HACE) allows scientists to create precise genetic mutations in specific genes without affecting the rest of the genome. By combining helicase enzymes…
Mapping Protein Changes Across Aging
Summary: Researchers have developed the Mouse Aging Proteomic Atlas, a comprehensive database detailing protein changes in major tissues as mice age. By analyzing proteomes and transcriptomes across tissues like the…
