First-degree relatives of patients with Parkinson's disease are at increased risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment, particularly those with younger age of onset. The study suggests shared familial susceptibility factors may be driving this association.
The Smithsonian is a key player in the Barcode of Life Initiative, which aims to revolutionize species identification using DNA barcoding. With over 280,000 records, this technique has practical applications for food safety, disease prevention, and environmental monitoring.
Botanists at Oregon State University have discovered a single plant gene that causes resistance to one disease, while producing susceptibility to a different disease. This unusual phenomenon may help scientists better understand the pathways of genetic disease resistance and susceptibility in plants.
A policy paper proposes new ethical principles for obtaining informed consent in large-scale genomic studies conducted in low-income countries. The authors emphasize the importance of protecting participants' rights and dignity, while also advancing global health research.
Researchers have discovered a new genetic locus associated with an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory disorder. The study, published in PLOS Genetics, found that a specific region on chromosome 5 is linked to the disease.
Researchers have sequenced the DNA of 15 commonly used mouse strains, discovering over 8.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms. This data will help understand complex genetic traits and their relation to human diseases, such as Parkinson's, cancer, and asthma.
Acquired susceptibility plays a crucial role in disease development, with environmental and genetic factors contributing to its acquisition. The study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between these factors to develop effective prevention strategies.
Under the contract, TIGR will sequence dozens of genomes per year to provide data for vaccine and antimicrobial drug development projects. The institute's affiliated facility has already conducted sequencing for over 50 organisms, including microbes that cause various diseases.
Men with constipation were nearly three times as likely to develop Parkinson's disease over the next 24 years compared to those without constipation. The study suggests a potential link between bowel movement frequency and the risk of developing Parkinson's, highlighting the importance of understanding how the disease progresses.