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Can DNA evidence fill gaps in our history books?

Researchers used DNA to reconstruct past events that brought European populations together, shedding light on the lives of 'regular people.' The study found evidence of multiple migrations, including from Central Asia to Europe and from West Africa to the Mediterranean.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 17, 2015

Data mining DNA for polycystic ovary syndrome genes

Researchers identified two new genetic susceptibility regions specific to European women with PCOS, including a region containing the FSH gene, which plays an essential role in ovarian function. The study provides crucial insights into the disorder's biological pathways, paving the way for new treatments and disease prevention approaches.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 19, 2015

Many experiments for the price of one -- a breakthrough in the study of gene regulation

Researchers developed a novel approach to deciphering gene regulation networks by leveraging biological knowledge and computational algorithms. They found that combining laboratory experiments with motif information can accurately predict DNA-binding behavior of transcription factors.

A single DNA tweak leads to blond hair

HHMI researchers have pinpointed a single-letter change in the genetic code that generates blond hair in humans. This variation is common in Northern Europeans and fine-tunes the regulation of an essential gene involved in hair color, showcasing how independent changes can be encoded to produce specific traits.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 1, 2014

New gene for bipolar disorder discovered

A recent study published in Nature Communications has identified two new gene regions linked to bipolar disorder, bringing hope for new treatments. The research, involving over 24,000 patients and healthy individuals, sheds light on the genetic factors contributing to the complex condition.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 11, 2014

Grasshoppers are what they eat

A new protocol allows researchers to investigate feeding patterns and detect plant DNA in grasshoppers, providing insights into insect-plant interactions. The method enables tracking of plant food movement during consumption and can be completed in under three hours.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateFeb 5, 2014

Why is type 2 diabetes an increasing problem?

A new study has found that genetic regions associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes were unlikely to have been beneficial to people at stages through human evolution. The researchers tested this theory by examining 65 genetic regions and found no evidence to support the thrifty gene hypothesis.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateJan 9, 2014

Getting to grips with migraine

The study found 5 genetic regions linked to the onset of migraine and identified 12 genetic regions associated with migraine susceptibility. The regulation of these pathways may be important to the genetic susceptibility of migraines, which affects approximately 14% of adults and is a debilitating disorder.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 23, 2013

Stocking Florida bass in Texas reservoirs may alter stream systems connected to stocked reservoirs

A genetic analysis by Baylor University biologists reveals that Florida bass stocking in Texas reservoirs affects bass populations far beyond the actual stocking location. The study found Florida bass DNA in bass at all sampling locations, including sites over 50 miles upstream from the closest documented stocking location.

SourceBaylor University·JournalTransactions of the American Fisheries Society·DateMar 7, 2013

Gut reaction: The evolution of IBD

Researchers have identified 71 genetic regions associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), increasing the total number discovered to date to 163. The study reveals that IBD may result from an over-active immune response, which can lead to inflammation and damage in the intestinal tract.

Metabolic MAGIC

Researchers have identified 38 new genetic regions linked to glucose and insulin levels, expanding the total number of associated genetic regions to 53. The study used a powerful technology to analyze DNA sequence variations for multiple traits at once.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateAug 12, 2012

Rewriting DNA to understand what it says

The new study proposes a way to effectively introduce carefully planned DNA segments into genomes of living cells and test the effects. The technology enables simultaneous introduction of tens of thousands of DNA regions into tens of thousands of living cells, allowing for precise measurement of results within a single experiment.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature Genetics·DateMay 31, 2012

Plant DNA speaks English, identifies new species

Researchers have successfully diagnosed a new species of plant using DNA barcoding, a method that relies on short DNA sequences for identification. The study marks a significant shift towards English-language diagnoses, which will enable scientists to more easily share and verify findings.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalPhytoKeys·DateMar 23, 2012

Ancient humans were mixing it up

A team of researchers led by Michael Hammer found evidence of hybridization between modern humans and archaic forms in Africa. Contemporary African populations contain small proportions of genetic material brought in by an archaic population that split from the ancestors of anatomically modern humans about 700,000 years ago.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 5, 2011