Genetics

Novel cell death gene signatures predict colorectal cancer prognosis

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Novel cell death gene signatures predict colorectal cancer prognosis

Credit: Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/Getty Images Genes related to anoikis, a mechanism of cell death, have been linked to colorectal cancer. Using scRNA-seq data, the researchers identified seven marker genes associated with anoikis and divided colorectal cancer (CRC) samples into high/low prognosis groups. They found significant differences in immune infiltration, distribution of immune checkpoints, sensitivity to … Read more

What links our Siberian ancestors to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis?

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What links our Siberian ancestors to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis?

The genetic predisposition to suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS) is closely related to historical migration patterns and the lifestyle of our ancestors. Specifically, MS is linked to genetic contributions made by nomadic populations that arrived in Western Europe 5000 years ago from the Siberian Steppe. Human genomes vary by 0.1%, and this variation is often … Read more

Population genetic diversity is a major factor in the reproductive success of flowering plants

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Population genetic diversity is a major factor in the reproductive success of flowering plants

May 22, 2024May 22, 2024 When we see large fields filled with flowering plants and lots of bees and other pollinators, people may assume that plant reproduction is not a problem. But looks can be deceiving. Research by Clemson University biologist Matthew Koski and former Clemson postdoctoral researcher Anita Cisternas-Fuentes has revealed that genetic … Read more

The Greenwood Genetics Center celebrates its 50th anniversary

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The Greenwood Genetics Center celebrates its 50th anniversary

GREENWOOD, SC (FOX Carolina) – About an hour south of Greenville, miles down country roads sits the Greenwood Genetics Center. The campus, with its backdrop of greenery and fountains, includes several buildings. This year the leaders are celebrating their 50th anniversary. They have come a long way with research, diagnosis and treatment of patients. Three-year-old … Read more

Cracking the genetic code for COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness

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Cracking the genetic code for COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness

A medical assistant prepares a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to administer to a patient. Credit: Public domain image courtesy of Lisa Ferdinando, US Department of Defense Researchers have uncovered critical insights into how our genetic makeup affects the body’s response to COVID-19 vaccines. The study, published in Nature Communicationsmay open new paths to personalized … Read more

The study reveals that wild birds possess genetic predispositions to learn population-specific songs

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The study reveals that wild birds possess genetic predispositions to learn population-specific songs

Graphic abstract. Credit: Current Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.061 Genetic predispositions drive the learning of population-specific songs in wild birds, a new study from Stockholm University shows. By studying adult hosts that had been moved as eggs from the Netherlands to Sweden, the researchers found that the songs of the relocated birds resembled both their social … Read more

The study reveals that wild birds possess genetic predispositions to learn population-specific songs

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The study reveals that wild birds possess genetic predispositions to learn population-specific songs

Graphic abstract. Credit: Current Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.061 Genetic predispositions drive the learning of population-specific songs in wild birds, a new study from Stockholm University shows. By studying adult hosts that had been moved as eggs from the Netherlands to Sweden, the researchers found that the songs of the relocated birds resembled both their social … Read more

Stroke genetics: HTRA1-independent mechanisms increase risk, study shows

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Stroke genetics: HTRA1-independent mechanisms increase risk, study shows

Analytical workflow of human phenotypes associated with rare and common HTRA1 variants. Credit: Cardiovascular Nature Research (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s44161-024-00475-3 Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and coronary artery disease, are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Classic risk factors include age, personal lifestyle and pre-existing conditions, but genetic predisposition also plays a role. “Genome-wide association studies … Read more

New gene expression patterns linked to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, new study shows

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New gene expression patterns linked to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, new study shows

MANHASSET, NY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 22, 2024– Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression have a strong genetic signature. Through advanced transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS), researchers can identify unique gene expression profiles to identify new drug targets to treat these disorders. Today, the results from a study published by researchers at the Feinstein Institute for … Read more

How yeasts manage to compensate for the genetic imbalance of extra chromosomes

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How yeasts manage to compensate for the genetic imbalance of extra chromosomes

High-throughput proteomics pipeline and assembly of an inter-omic dataset for the study of aneuploidy in natural yeast isolates. Credit: Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07442-9 Having extra chromosomes is usually a problem for an organism and can disrupt development or cause disease. But some cells benefit instead. For example, cancer cells or pathogenic yeast can use extra … Read more