Newswise Feature Channel: Genetics

Researchers Solve Medical Mystery of Neurological Symptoms in Kids

Washington University in St. Louis — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:00:00 EST

Researchers at WashU Medicine collaborated with an international team of doctors and scientists to identify the cause of a rare disorder involving intellectual disability and brain malformations. The team found a link between the child's neurological symptoms and a genetic change that affects how proteins are properly folded within cells, providing the parents with a molecular diagnosis and identifying an entirely new type of genetic disorder. The findings are published in Science.

Genomic Databases Need More Diversity

University of Maryland School of Medicine — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 11:00:00 EST

Researchers at the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) have developed a broad and deep genomic database of Latin Americans which gathers genome-wide data of Latin American populations into a single source and allows other scientists to easily add that population to their own research studies without straining budgets.

Genetic Risk, Sexual Trauma Associated with Mental Illness: Study

Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:05:29 EST

A research team exploring how genes and environmental factors interact in psychiatry has discovered that a history of sexual trauma and a genetic tendency to develop mental illness are associated with increased risk for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.

Complexity of Tumors Revealed in 3D

Washington University in St. Louis — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:00:00 EST

A new analysis led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed detailed 3D maps of the internal structures of multiple tumor types. These cancer atlases reveal how different tumor cells -- and the cells of a tumor's surrounding environment -- are organized, in 3D, and how that organization changes when a tumor spreads to other organs. The detailed findings offer scientists valuable blueprints of tumors that could lead to new approaches to therapy and spark a new era in the field of cancer biology, according to the researchers.

Breakthrough in Taro Research: New Gene Silencing System Enables Rapid Gene Function Verification

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:40:01 EST

A research team has established a Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) system in taro, enabling researchers to rapidly verify gene functions in this underutilized crop.

New Insights Into Mango Evolution: Study Reveals Extensive Hybridization Within the Mangifera Genus

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:05:58 EST

A research team investigated whole chloroplast genomes and nuclear gene sequences from 14 species, uncovering new insights into the genetic diversity and hybrid origins of mango species.

New Computational Method Links One Mammal's Striking Longevity and Resistance to Cancer With 'Dark Genome'

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 16:00:11 EST

The Roswell Park team has developed a new method to measure mutation loads across species, revealing the role of the "dark genome" -- ancient, virus-like genes that affect cellular function. The findings support further exploration of antiviral drugs as potential tools to target the dark genome in controlling cancer.

Mesophyll Conductance Doubles in Soybean Domestication

Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) Project — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:50:31 EST

RIPE researchers found that modern soybean plants have increased mesophyll conductance compared to ancestral soybean plants. Their work was recently published in Plant, Cell and Environment.

Iowa State Study Shows Zinc's Potential to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

Iowa State University — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:55:04 EST

A research team at Iowa State University has found that zinc supplements may be an inexpensive, effective antidote to the growing health threat of antimicrobial resistance, potentially extending the effectiveness of today's antibiotic arsenal against disease.

Discovery of Critical Iron-Transport Protein in Malaria Parasites Could Lead to Faster-Acting Medications

University of Utah Health — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:00:40 EST

New research from University of Utah Health has identified a promising target for new antimalarial drugs: a protein called DMT1, which allows single-celled malaria parasites to use iron. Preventing DMT1 activity causes parasites to die unusually quickly.

A New Chemistry for CRISPR

Rockefeller University — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:30:10 EST

It acts as a sort of molecular fumigator to battle phages and plasmids.

UC San Diego Awarded $8 Million to Uncover Genetic Foundations of Substance Use Disorders

University of California San Diego — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:00:06 EST

UC San Diego has received a five-year, $8 Million grant to support a NIDA P30 Center to investigate the genetics, genomics, and epigenetics behind substance use disorders.

Dramatic Drop in Marijuana Use Among U.S. Youth Over a Decade: (2011 to 2021)

Florida Atlantic University — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 08:30:36 EST

Among 88,183 U.S. high school students, marijuana use declined from 23.1% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2021, with first-time use before age 13 dropping from 8.1% to 4.9%. In 2021, use was highest among 12th graders (22.4%) and 11th graders (18.7%). Notably, girls (17.8%) surpassed boys (13.6%) in reported use in 2021, reversing past trends. While Asian, Hispanic, and white adolescents saw declines, Black adolescents had a higher usage rate of 20.5% in 2021, indicating ongoing racial disparities.

Advancing Care of a Devastating Disease Through Gene Therapy

University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:00:38 EST

A new international trial is investigating the efficacy and safety of gene therapy in patients with Hurler syndrome and will compare results of gene therapy against BMT which is the current standard of care. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals are among three sites in the U.S. and seven in the world now enrolling patients for the clinical trial.

Childhood Attention Issues and Genetic Factors May Predict Psychosis Risk

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 06:00:00 EST

Researchers at UCLA Health have found that a person's risk of developing psychotic-like experiences may be influenced by both childhood attention problems and their genetic makeup.

Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN, to Become Next President of the American Society of Nephrology

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 12:00:00 EST

Dr. Roy-Chaudhury will head up an organization--with nearly 21,000 health professionals representing 140 countries--dedicated to leading the fight against kidney diseases.

Researchers Test Imlifidase Enzyme Versus Plasma Exchange in Removing Donor-Specific Antibodies in Kidney Transplant Rejection Trial

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 19:30:00 EST

For kidney transplant recipients experiencing antibody-mediated rejection, the current standard of care involves removing donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) through plasmapheresis (PLEX)--a procedure that removes antibodies from the plasma portion of the blood. Results from a recent clinical trial reveal that an investigational drug called imlifidase, which cleaves and inactivates the type of antibodies that include DSAs, is more effective than PLEX. The research will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024 October 23-27.

Do Certain Diabetes Drugs Increase the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Taking Anti-Cancer Therapies?

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:30:00 EST

Glucagon-like peptide-1-receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are medications that are increasingly prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure. Reports of GLP-1RA-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) have emerged, but the risk of GLP-1RA-associated AKI among patients on anti-cancer drugs is unclear. Surprisingly, new research suggests that taking GLP-1RA is not associated with an increased risk of AKI in patients receiving anti-cancer therapies. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024 October 23- 27.

Researchers Integrate Multiple Protein Markers to Predict Health Outcomes in Individuals with Chronic Kidney Disease

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:30:00 EST

Prior efforts to identify novel kidney biomarkers as risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression have typically evaluated proteins individually, which limits their prognostic power. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases' (NIDDK's) CKD Biomarkers Consortium of investigators recently developed and tested novel dimensions of kidney health by combining a set of 17 urine and plasma biomarkers that had been individually associated with CKD progression. The research will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024 October 23- 27.

Heart and Kidney Outcomes After Canagliflozin Treatment in Older Adults

American Society of Nephrology (ASN) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:30:00 EST

Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, but it is unclear whether their effects differ based on patients' age. A recent analysis of clinical trial data reveals that the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin benefited patients across all age categories. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024 October 23 - 27.