Cancer cells in the brain can form connections with neurons to receive electrical impulses that stimulate tumour growth, new research has shown. These findings could both explain the rapid growth rate of brain tumours and provide a viable drug target by ‘jamming’ the electrical signals. Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumour that spreads in […]
51% of child cancer patients in a recent trial had gene mutations in their tumours that could be targeted by an existing adult cancer drug. However, due to clinical obstacles only 7% were able to receive the relevant drug, raising concerns about the lack of cancer therapies available for children. Treating cancer in children is […]
A non-invasive eye scan that determines retinal thickness could effectively diagnose Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as most of the disease hallmarks are contained within the brain tissue. However, new research has revealed that the retina of the eye could act as a window into the activities of the brain. […]
A 28 year-long genomics study revealed how crops will respond to the rising temperatures associated with climate change. Over the study, period the temperature in Israel, where the study was conducted, increased by 2°C, even higher than the 1.5°C global temperature increase limit agreed in the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Food scarcity will be one […]
We talked to Laxmi Parida, Fellow and Computational Genomics Research Lead at IBM, to discuss her recent ground-breaking research paper on an AI algorithm that can distinguish blood cancer subtypes from dark matter DNA. Personalised Medicine for Cancer Patients The future of personalised medicine relies on quick and non-invasive diagnostics. Simple blood tests for tumour […]
Working night shifts could impair immune system functionality and make people more susceptible to gut based infections, new research shows. The Rhythm of the Night The body runs like clockwork. When you eat, when you sleep and when you get up is all controlled by the body’s internal circadian rhythm aka the body clock. The […]
Babies born by caesarean section have different gut bacteria, or microbiome, compositions to babies born vaginally, new research shows. The Microbiome is Essential to Childhood Health The gut microbiome is the ecosystem of bacteria resident in our gut. Recent research has only scratched the surface on uncovering the instrumental role the microbiome plays in our […]
Cancer cells can consume neighbouring cells to survive chemotherapy, new research shows. Doxorubicin is a common chemotherapy drug that works by selectively damaging the DNA of cancer cells. However, multiple cancer cells have been observed to survive doxorubicin treatment to allow a relapse of the disease. These cancer cells can enter a form of dormancy, […]
A newly developed ‘electronic nose’ can measure chemicals in the breath of small cancer lung patients to determine if they will respond to immunotherapy treatment. Immunotherapy is Changing Cancer Care Immunotherapy treatments harness the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells, which is transforming the treatment of advanced stage cancers. However, only a small […]
Australian cancer patients cited ‘bad luck’ or ‘fate’ as the third most common cause of their cancer, a new study has shown. The research raises worrying implications about public understanding of the disease. Cancer is caused by genetic changes that allow cells to grow and divide out of control. These genetic changes can be initiated […]
A genetic population study across Scotland has been found to reflect the boundaries of the medieval kingdoms. Population studies can give a window into human history as migrations, invasions and hardships all leave a genetic signature. For example, Britain was first invaded by the Vikings in AD 793. Interbreeding between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons […]
Front Line Genomics hosted the webinar Improved Methods for CRISPR Homology-Directed Repair Using Alt-R HDR Enhancer and ssDNA Donors with Optimized Design, which you can watch on demand for free here. The webinar described how to overcome some of the bottlenecks to using the CRISPR-Cas9 for genome manipulation and ensure its efficacy in a clinical […]
Breast Cancer Metastasis Metastasis, where cancer cells break off from the primary tumour and form a new tumour elsewhere in the body, is particularly deadly for breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is prone to metastasising in the brain, which is challenging to treat. However, new research that demonstrates breast cancer cells can use exosomes to […]
Changing Attitudes to Cannabis Cannabis is now legalised for recreational use in 11 US states and attitudes around its risk are changing rapidly. Between 2002 and 2014, the percentage of adults in the US who perceived cannabis use as risky declined from 50% to 33%. However, as cannabis usage becomes more widespread the health risks […]
The Digital DNA series explores the role of large-scale genetic testing in science, industry and society. We aim to understand both the benefits and risks of this emerging technology and see what the future may hold. We talked to Dr. David Bick, Clinical Geneticist at the Smith Family Clinic for Genomic Medicine and Chief Medical […]
