UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Using a new technique that can identify genetic profiles of individual cells, University of Notre Dame researchers modeled a breast cancer tumor’s potential resistance to a drug, and then identified a drug combination that reversed that resistance. Siyuan Zhang, the Dee Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame, and his...
Category: <span>Genetics</span>
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Unravelling the mystery of how one gene contributes to Parkinson’s, Crohn’s and leprosy
Research on LRRK2 gene in mice could lead to new treatments, prevention THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL Researchers have struggled for years to understand how mutations in one gene, called LRRK2, can increase the risk of three very different diseases: Parkinson’s (a brain disease), Crohn’s (a gut disease) and leprosy (a peripheral nervous system disease). Now, a Canadian team has found that inflammation is the likely culprit....
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New genes identified in hearing loss, providing treatment hope
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON A new study published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics has identified 44 genes linked to age-related hearing loss giving a much clearer understanding of how the condition develops and potential treatments. In the study, researchers from King’s College London and UCL analysed the genetic data from over 250,000 participants...
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Genomic map implicates broad immune cell involvement in multiple sclerosis
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IRVING MEDICAL CENTER The International Multiple Sclerosis Genetic Consortium (IMSGC) reports the results of its latest study, “Multiple sclerosis genomic map implicates peripheral immune cells and microglia in susceptibility”, in the journal Science today: the highly productive collaborative group presents a new milestone in its efforts to understand the genetic basis of multiple...
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Major error undermines study suggesting change introduced in the CRISPR babies experiment shortens lives
A scientific study published this past spring came with damning implications for Chinese scientist He Jiankui, who created the world’s first gene-edited babies: People with the rare genetic variants that He tried to engineer into embryos, the study asserted, had an increased death rate. On Friday, the paper’s senior author said his study was wrong....
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Major gaps exist in patient understanding of genomic test results, Lung-MAP study shows
by SWOG Cancer Research Network A majority of cancer patients don’t understand key aspects of the genomic test results they receive as participants in biomarker-driven clinical trials, according to a first-of-its-kind pilot study conducted under the Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP). In a September 9 presentation at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Barcelona,...
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Tiny capsules packed with gene-editing tools offer alternative to viral delivery of gene therapy
Posted Today New tools for editing genetic code offer hope for new treatments for inherited diseases, some cancers, and even stubborn viral infections. But the typical method for delivering gene therapies to specific tissues in the body can be complicated and may cause troubling side effects. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have addressed many...
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Unexpected hope for DNA damage-related diseases
by CORDIS DNA damage in cells can lead to genetic diseases and a variety of cancers. To repair any damage, a process in our bodies flags repair proteins and recruits them to the damaged site. This process is called ADP-ribosylation (ADPr), and understanding it is vital for the development of better treatments for DNA damage-related diseases such as cancer. However, until recently, scientists have...
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Scientists listed ways of applying genetic engineering to treat Parkinson’s disease
How CRISPR can help fight against neurodegenerative diseases SECHENOV UNIVERSITY Researchers of Sechenov University and University of Pittsburgh described the most promising strategies in applying genetic engineering for studying and treating Parkinson’s disease. This method can help evaluate the role of various cellular processes in pathology progression, develop new drugs and therapies, and estimate their...
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How your genes affect the number on your scale
by Len Canter Could your genes be keeping you from losing weight? While you shouldn’t use a family tendency toward wide hips or an apple shape as an excuse to stray from a healthy diet, acceptance can help you reassess your personal ideal and make you happier with your body. Hundreds of genes have been...