Tag

Genetics

All articles tagged with #genetics

science2 days ago•50 min saved

Ancient gut microbes traveled with humans from Africa to the Americas, study finds

A new study in Nature reveals that many gut bacteria co-migrated with humans out of Africa and into the Americas tens of thousands of years ago. Researchers compared the microbiomes of the Tsimane people in Bolivia and the Hadza in Tanzania, finding 1,231 shared microbial species. Most of these species are rare or absent in industrialized populations, suggesting a long-term co-evolution that is now being disrupted by modern lifestyles.

via Nature|

#anthropology #genetics #human-evolution

health2 days ago•5 min saved

Breast Cancer Surge in Young Women Drives New Risk Tools and Lifestyle Warnings

Breast cancer diagnoses among women under 50 are rising at twice the rate of older cohorts. Experts link this to lifestyle factors, while new genetic tools aim to identify high-risk individuals earlier.

via CBS News|

#breast-cancer #genetics #health

science-and-health3 days ago•8 min saved

Cornell Study Identifies First Feline Marfan Syndrome Cases in Sibling Cats

Researchers at Cornell University have confirmed the first documented cases of Marfan syndrome in domestic cats. The condition was identified in two sibling cats, Gary and Shaggy, who exhibited severe connective tissue abnormalities. The study, published in Scientific Reports, marks a significant milestone in veterinary genetics and provides a foundation for future diagnostic testing.

via NDTV|

#cornell-university #fbn1-gene #genetics

science4 days ago•63 min saved

Imputing Fluid Intelligence Scores Boosts UK Biobank Genetic Discovery

Researchers have developed a method to impute fluid intelligence scores for UK Biobank participants who did not take cognitive tests, expanding the sample size from approximately 270,000 to over 455,000. This approach increases the power to detect genetic associations, identifying 550 independent common SNP associations and 26 genes linked to rare variants. The method also reduces ascertainment bias caused by the higher education levels of those who originally completed the tests.

via Nature|

#cognitive-science #data-imputation #genetics

health5 days ago•26 min saved

Study Links Centenarian Parents to Longer, Healthier Lives for Offspring

A new study published in JAMA Network Open indicates that having a parent who lived past 100 is associated with significantly delayed mortality and lower risks of age-related diseases in their children. The research analyzed data from 4,030 participants across three major cohorts in the US and UK, finding that offspring of centenarians had reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and early death compared to those whose parents died by age 73. While only about 101,000 people in the US are centenarians, the findings suggest that genetic and environmental factors contributing to extreme longevity may be heritable, offering a model for identifying mechanisms that promote healthy aging.

via nypost.com|

#aging #centenarians #genetics

science5 days ago•1 min saved

Genomic 'Jumping Genes' Explain Ant Explosion After Dinosaur Extinction

A new study reveals that transposable elements, or 'jumping genes,' drove the rapid diversification of ants following the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. By analyzing 163 ant species, researchers found that lineages with high levels of these mobile DNA sequences evolved into the most species-rich groups today. This genomic mechanism allowed ants to thrive in the ecological vacuum left by the asteroid impact 66 million years ago, enhancing their chemical communication and social structures.

via BBC Wildlife Magazine|

#ants #biodiversity #evolution

health6 days ago•8 min saved

A 15-year-old’s decade-long quest for a diagnosis ends with a rare genetic discovery

Oliver Broner, now 15, spent over a decade seeking answers for his movement disorders after early developmental delays and a misdiagnosis of cerebral palsy. A rare mutation in the DNM1L gene, initially dismissed as insignificant, was eventually confirmed as the cause through genetic research and fruit fly studies. The condition, affecting only 58 known cases worldwide, is now being managed with medication that has significantly improved his mobility and quality of life.

via The Washington Post|

#dnm1l-gene #genetics #health

science7 days ago•129 min saved

Genetic Data Places Indigenous Ancestors' Arrival in Americas at 21,000 Years Ago

A new study suggests the ancestors of today's Indigenous peoples arrived in the Americas no earlier than 21,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. Researchers analyzed genetic data to evaluate three migration models, finding that while humans were definitely present by 13,500 years ago, earlier arrivals remain uncertain due to significant gaps in ancient DNA records.

via Live Science|

#anthropology #archaeology #genetics

health8 days ago•5 min saved

Aspirin May Cut Dementia Risk for Specific Genetic Subgroup, New Analysis Suggests

A new analysis of a large randomized trial indicates that daily low-dose aspirin may reduce dementia risk by 70 percent for individuals with specific platelet-related genetic markers. However, this benefit comes with a doubled risk of serious bleeding, and experts caution against self-prescribing. The findings suggest that previous trials may have missed benefits by averaging results across all participants, highlighting the potential for personalized prevention strategies.

via sciencealert.com|

#aspirin #cardiovascular #dementia

science9 days ago•118 min saved

NYU Study Finds Human Genome Resilient to Short-Term Simulated Microgravity

Researchers at New York University have demonstrated that human cells maintain stable genome organization after 24 hours in simulated microgravity, challenging previous assumptions about immediate genetic damage in space. By using a custom random-positioning machine that minimizes fluid currents, the team isolated the effects of gravity from mechanical stress, finding no detectable DNA damage or disruption to the nuclear envelope. While the nucleus expanded and the nucleolus smoothed, these changes were distinct from the DNA damage caused by fluid flow in traditional rotating cultures. This finding supports the emerging concept of treating gravity as a variable 'dose' for health, though experts caution that long-duration spaceflight involves additional factors like radiation that this short-term experiment did not replicate.

via Space|

#astronaut-health #cell-biology #genetics

science9 days ago

Genetic analysis splits gentoo penguin into four species, revealing hidden Antarctic lineage

A 22-person international team has reclassified the gentoo penguin into four distinct species, including a previously unknown 'cryptic' species in the Indian Ocean. This is the first new penguin species described in over a century. The findings, published in April 2026, highlight urgent conservation needs for sub-Antarctic populations facing climate change.

via The Washington Post|

#biodiversity #climate-change #conservation

health-and-science12 days ago•3 min saved

Yale Study Links Misophonia to Family History and Shared Neuropsychiatric Risks

A new pre-print study from Yale University School of Medicine suggests misophonia may have genetic and environmental components, as it frequently co-occurs with anxiety, ADHD, and OCD in families. While not a definitive cause, the data supports further DNA sequencing to identify biological pathways.

via ScienceAlert|

#genetics #health-and-science #medrxiv

health12 days ago•6 min saved

Genetic Dementia: A Family’s Fight for a Cure

Robert Kolker’s new book, 'The Vanishing Family,' chronicles a Pittsburgh family’s struggle with early-onset frontotemporal dementia (FTD) caused by a specific genetic mutation. The narrative highlights how rare, hereditary forms of dementia can drive broader scientific breakthroughs, including tau-targeting drugs and gene therapies, while illustrating the profound personal toll on carriers who face a 50% risk of inheriting the condition.

via New York Post|

#book-review #dementia #frontotemporal-dementia

science12 days ago•3 min saved

Study Links IVF Conception to Elevated LINE-1 DNA in Children

Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University found that children conceived via IVF have higher levels of LINE-1 DNA, a type of 'jumping gene,' compared to those conceived naturally. The study analyzed blood samples from 33 IVF-conceived and 42 naturally conceived children, noting the difference was more pronounced in girls. While the study does not prove causation or link to health issues, it suggests assisted reproduction may leave a genetic trace.

via ScienceAlert|

#assisted-reproduction #genetics #ivf

science13 days ago•132 min saved

PsychAD Consortium Maps 6.3 Million Brain Cells to Link Genetic Risk with Cellular Disease Mechanisms

A coordinated series of nine papers led by the PsychAD Consortium has released the largest single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the human brain to date. The primary study, published in Nature, analyzes over 6.3 million nuclei from 1,494 donors to map molecular changes across eight brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia. The research identifies shared cellular vulnerabilities across diseases, particularly in immune and vascular cells, while distinguishing specific signatures for neurodegenerative versus psychiatric conditions. Complementary studies link genetic risk variants to specific cell types and develop AI frameworks for personalized Alzheimer’s progression. The findings suggest that while many brain disorders share common molecular pathways, distinct cellular responses drive individual disease trajectories, offering new targets for therapeutic intervention.

via Nature|

#alzheimers-disease #genetics #neuroscience