Explaining to people that they have a high genetic risk for melanoma makes them choose positive lifestyle changes to reduce their risk, a new study has shown. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer to which certain people are predisposed to through genetic factors. These include having a family history of the disease and carrying […]
The genes that enable a fish to re-grow limbs have been found to be present in humans, new research has found. This insight could help develop regenerative treatments in humans. Many species can regenerate limbs after amputation including fish, salamanders and geckos. This can be used as a mechanism to escape predators and heal from […]
Cigarette smoke has been found to make MRSA bacteria more resistant to antibiotics. The MRSA bacteria, s. aureus, can cause severe infections in humans. These are difficult to treat as MRSA is resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. MRSA poses a major problem in hospitals due to the high numbers of patients with open wounds […]
A CRISPR technique has been used to identify genes in cells that enable them to survive infection of the Zika Virus. It is hoped that this development will lead to future treatments for Zika. Currently there is no vaccine or treatment specific to the Zika virus. If pregnant women contract the disease their unborn children […]
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. As part of the Digital DNA series we talked to Kevin Quinn, Chief Product Officer at Nebula Genomics. He […]
Genomics England has today announced the appointment of Chris Wigley as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 1 October. Chris joins Genomics England from QuantumBlack, a world leader in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Machine learning is critical in the analysis of the vast amounts of data involved in genomics, so Chris’ expertise in this […]
Genetic factors contribute to how likely you are to own a dog, a new study has revealed. Evidence points to dogs being domesticated as early as 15,000 years ago. However, there is not much understanding to how this happened and if genetic factors had any influence. There is also debate if genetic influences could contribute […]
A rare and difficult to cure bone cancer in children has been found to have significant genetic similarities with the same type of cancer in dogs. This insight could improve understanding of the disease and lead the development of more effective treatments. Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare bone cancer in children, but relatively common in […]
Scientists have engineered proteins to form fractal geometric shapes with never-ending patterns, closely resembling those found in nature. The protein patterns could have applications in next-generation biomaterials. Fractal geometric shapes make extremely useful biomaterials as they have large surface to volume ratios, allowing rapid exchange of materials. This makes them ideal for applications both in […]
As it is announced that Boris Johnson will be the next UK Prime Minister, the UK government has released their genomic policies for the 2020s. The policies aim to ‘build on [the Uk’s] position as a world leader in genomics.’ From 2023-2034 the NHS aims to analyse five million genomes and fully sequence one million […]
A genomics study has revealed that a strain of malaria resistant to both drugs used for treatment has spread rapidly across Asia. Malaria causes approximately a million deaths worldwide in each year and is a serious public health issue, particularly in Asia. The widely used anti-malarial drugs dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine have been relatively effective treatments […]
Front Line Genomics brought together thought leaders from around the world to discuss New Approaches to the Old Hunt for NASH Therapies, available to watch on-demand. The conversation was moderated by Donna Cryer, the President and CEO of the Global Liver Institute. The panel discussed why there has been limited progress in therapies for nonalcoholic […]
The largest scale genomic study in Africa has identified a new gene that is linked to the onset of diabetes in African populations. Interestingly, the gene has not been found to be linked to diabetes in European populations. In type 2 diabetes the body is able to produce insulin but the body’s cells do […]
The inaccuracy of a genetic test that gave false positives to patients has resulted in doctors calling for a crackdown on genetic testing. If a woman’s BCRA gene is faulty, her risk of breast and ovarian cancer is much higher than average. People with a family history of these cancers are often tested to identify […]
The Digital DNA series will explore 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. In the first of our Digital DNA series, we talked to Dr. Peter Ney, a researcher in the […]
