Articles tagged with Human Genetics
A study found that Labrador retrievers with a genetic variation in the POMC gene are more likely to be obese and food-motivated. The deletion affects dogs' ability to produce neuropeptides, leading to increased hunger and food begging behavior.
The critically endangered Himalayan wolf is distinct from its European cousin and has a separate lineage that diverged thousands of years ago. Local herders view the wolves as a threat to their livelihoods, leading to persecution and killing.
Researchers identified a compound that reverses symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases in genetically altered fruit flies. The study suggests that the treatment could work for humans by targeting a specific enzyme involved in disease progression.
The NASA Twins Study uses omics to compare identical twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly, shedding light on the effects of spaceflight on human health. By analyzing biomolecules, researchers hope to develop personalized countermeasures for astronauts, leading to longer and healthier lives.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have created a new model to study the human immune system, using 'dirty mice' that mimic the exposure to microbes found in humans. This new model has shown to improve the accuracy of potential therapeutics and vaccines.
A new study by J. Andrew Gillis at the MBL Whitman Center found striking similarities between the genetic mechanism used to pattern gill arch appendages and human limbs.
The Hastings Center has launched a three-year project to examine the fundamental questions of using gene editing in humans, including its impact on human flourishing and core values. The project aims to develop new scholarship, equips journalists, and prepares teachers to engage with these issues.
A study found that FOXO proteins regulate 46 conserved genes across four species, including metabolism and DNA repair processes. This research provides new guidance on understanding the biology of aging and could lead to the development of interventions to promote health and longevity in humans.
Researchers suggest that Neanderthals across Europe were infected with diseases carried out of Africa by waves of anatomically modern humans. This could have weakened the hunter-gathering Neanderthals and contributed to their extinction.
Researchers at NC State University have genetically engineered green bottle fly larvae to produce and secrete human growth factor-BB, a molecule that promotes cell growth and wound healing. The modified maggots show promise for cost-effective wound treatment that could save people from amputation.
Researchers discovered 19 new non-human DNA sequences from ancient viruses, one containing a complete viral genome, found in 50 out of 2,500 human genomes. The study sheds light on how humans and viruses have evolved together over time.
Researchers found that SIX1 plays a more substantial role in human kidney development than previously thought, remaining present beyond the initial branching of the kidney. This discovery may help better understand normal development and pediatric kidney cancer, Wilms' tumor.
Researchers have excavated substantial genomic remnants of the extinct Denisovans in Oceania populations, shedding light on early human history. The study identified genes inherited from Neanderthals and Denisovans that conferred advantages to the ancestors of modern Island Melanesians.
Researchers have identified 39 generic biomarkers for human neuronal maturation using single cell transcriptome profiling. The study found that certain genes are consistently elevated when neurons mature, highlighting the importance of calcium signaling, mitochondrial function, and ubiquitination-related processes.
Researchers developed a cell-based model of the human placenta that can help explain how pathogens, like Zika virus, cross from mother to unborn child. The model recapitulates the barrier properties of naturally occurring cells and resists infection by certain viruses.
A recent study published in Science used GemCode technology to analyze the biomedical consequences of adult humans with gene knockouts. The research revealed that PRDM9 redundancy in humans suggests that the gene may not be essential for human life, challenging previous assumptions.
Researchers identify IRF4 as the first gene associated with greying hair, revealing a genetic link to human aging. The study analyzed 6,000 people from diverse ancestry, uncovering additional genes influencing hair shape, curliness, and density.
Researchers have discovered alternative protein versions, known as proteoforms, which are stable and tightly regulated, challenging the single gene-single protein theory. This study adds an extra dimension to the human protein landscape, potentially affecting gene editing techniques.
The ORFeome Collaboration has created a comprehensive library of open-reading frames, comprising 17,154 clones that code for full-length proteins. This resource allows researchers to express virtually any cell protein, enabling large-scale mapping of protein-protein interactions and functional screening.
Researchers compared human male- and female-line genealogies with those of our closest animal relatives. Human 'Adam' is about 200,000 years old, while chimpanzee 'Adam' is over 1 million years old.
A team of geneticists found that the R2d2 gene distorts cell division, leading to fewer offspring and violating Darwin's principle of natural selection. The discovery has implications for fields like basic biology, agriculture, and human health.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a crucial HIV RNA modification called m6A that influences viral replication. Silencing the enzyme adding or removing m6A from RNA can increase or decrease HIV replication, offering new avenues for developing effective anti-HIV therapies.
A team of researchers found gene flow from early modern humans into Neanderthals around 100,000 years ago. This discovery challenges previous estimates and suggests that some modern humans may have left Africa earlier than thought.
Scientists discovered that Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens interbred at least twice, 100,000 and 50,000 years ago. The findings contradict the previous understanding of Neanderthals' genetic makeup and suggest a more complex evolutionary history.
Researchers found genetic evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, occurring around 100,000 years ago. This event likely occurred when some modern humans left Africa early and mixed with Neanderthals.
Scientists have isolated a new type of herpes virus from bat cells, providing insights into the biology of these viruses and their potential to transmit to humans. The discovery could aid in understanding why bats are often associated with viral infections that can be transmitted to humans.
Researchers found strong evidence of interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, occurring tens of thousands of years earlier than previously thought. The team analyzed DNA from a specific Neanderthal individual, which showed human DNA, contradicting previous findings that dated such events to around 47,000-65,000 years ago.
A new study published in Nature suggests that the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees evolved in Africa, not Eurasia, two million years earlier than previously thought. The analysis of fossils found in Ethiopia reveals that the human branch of the tree split from gorillas around 10 million years ago.
The bed bug's genome shows significant changes in receptor types for smell and taste, leading to increased resistance to pesticides. The decoded genome also reveals insights into the species' evolution from bat parasite to human feeder, highlighting genetic adaptations for chemosensation and traumatic reproduction.
Scientists have identified three previously unknown subgroups of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a group of immune cells crucial for maintaining the barrier function of mucosa. This discovery was made possible by single-cell RNA sequencing, which allowed researchers to analyze gene expression across thousands of genes.
Scientists at the University of Sheffield have identified a network of genes that enables sharks to regenerate their teeth throughout their lifetime. Humans possess similar cells, but with limited tooth regeneration ability.
Researchers developed a new method to study genetic differences between long-separated species of yeast, providing insights into how mutations shape growth and behavior. The discovery has implications for understanding age-related diseases and developing new treatments.
Two Penn professors, Dorothy Roberts and Sarah Tishkoff, co-authored a piece in Science journal arguing that the use of genetic concepts of race is problematic and harmful. They recommend using terms like ancestry and population instead.
Researchers at Newcastle University have found that eliminating mitochondria from aging cells can rejuvenate them, highlighting the critical role of mitochondria in cellular aging. The study's findings shed light on how mitochondrial biogenesis drives cellular aging and pave the way for targeted therapies to counteract this process.
A team of scientists, including Michael Yudell, Dorothy Roberts, and Sarah Tishkoff, recommend phasing out race from genetic research due to its lack of clear-cut genetic boundaries. Instead, they propose using terms like 'ancestry' or 'population' to describe grouping for studies.
Dan R. Littman receives the $100,000 Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science for his fundamental insights into the immune system and its role in HIV pathogenesis. Young researchers Fernando Camargo, Roberta Capp, and Houra Merrikh win $50,000 Vilcek Prizes for Creative Promise for their innovative work on blood cell development.
A Spanish study analyzed 2,000 volunteers and found that men sharing rare surnames have similar Y chromosomes, indicating they descended from the same original bearers. The correlation between surname frequency and Y chromosome variation only depends on surname frequency.
A high-fat diet during pregnancy and lactation leads to epigenetic changes in the offspring, affecting metabolic pathways regulated by the gut hormone GIP. Adult offspring are more susceptible to obesity and insulin resistance, similar mechanisms cannot be ruled out in humans.
Researchers at Columbia University develop a new model considering life history traits' impact on mutation rates, finding that the molecular clock wobbles as it evolves. This leads to revised estimates of the human-chimp split time, supporting a mutational slowdown and reconciling genetic and paleontological data.
A new study reveals that grey squirrels may not be as hardy as thought and were helped more by humans in their conquest of the British Isles. The research shows that different populations are genetically distinct, tracing human intervention in their movement to new areas.
A study exploring GABPa gene regulator reveals its influence as a master switch in energy metabolism and human brain evolution. Key findings include enrichment of GABPa sites at genes important for unique human functions and associations with diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and breast cancer.
A Northwestern University study uses fruit fly genetics to understand how normal cells switch to specialized states and how this process might go wrong in cancer. Researchers found that a protein called Yan fluctuates wildly during this transition, suggesting a critical role in the development of cancer cells.
A team of researchers has developed a system that predicts how to create any human cell type from another, eliminating the need for trial and error. This breakthrough has significant implications for treating various medical conditions and diseases.
A study of over 13,000 couples found that genetic variation affecting height influences mate choice, revealing an innate preference for partners of similar height. The research provides new insights into the mechanisms driving sexual attraction and human variation.
Researchers found a change in gene expression that may have contributed to the development of a weight-bearing structure in humans, allowing for bipedalism. The study identified a region in the human genome responsible for controlling armor plate size in threespine sticklebacks, which expressed higher levels of GDF6 in freshwater fish.
The CRISPR genome editing technique has been hailed as a breakthrough due to its ability to deliver genes precisely, low cost, and ease of use. It has enabled the creation of gene drives, human embryo editing, and the deletion of retrovirus DNA in pig genomes.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have made a groundbreaking discovery that the nucleus acts as a passive filter to regulate gene activity, reducing random noise. By visualizing subtle physiological details with microscopic dyes, they were able to detect and predict the activity of individual genes in human cells.
A recent study published in Oncogene reveals that alterations in an intermediate molecule called RNA can lead to protein mutations without DNA damage. This discovery highlights the importance of RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 in regulating gene expression and contributing to tumor growth.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have identified a key liver protein that accelerates the growth of insulin-producing beta cells, a critical step in treating all forms of diabetes. The protein, serpinB1, was found to be highly expressed in liver cells and boosted beta cell proliferation in human and mouse islets.
Researchers at UT Health Science Center discover how poxviruses outsmart the body's immune system by targeting a key restriction factor called SAMD9. This finding has significant implications for cancer treatment and therapy, as SAMD9 also suppresses tumors.
A Rutgers study links a protein in sperm to its counterpart in roundworms, providing clues to human infertility. The discovery could lead to more effective treatments and better contraceptives.
The Unified Microbiome Initiative aims to study the planet's least understood ecosystems, with potential breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture and environmental science. New genomic tools have linked microbes to various health issues, including obesity and brain development.
Researchers discovered unique gene variants that protect against neurodegenerative diseases in older adults, preserving their valuable contributions to society. These protective genes are present in Africa and evolved to help preserve elderly wisdom and cultural knowledge.
A comprehensive genomic study of turtle shells has identified unique adaptations in genes that control hard cutaneous layers, dating back to the evolution of claws and feathers. The study also reveals a shared genetic organization between turtles and humans, highlighting the common ancestry of these defense mechanisms.
A recent study by the University of Chicago has found that loneliness triggers fight-or-flight stress signaling, leading to increased production of white blood cells and impaired antiviral responses. This shift in monocyte output contributes to loneliness' associated health risks, including premature death.
Researchers at Kumamoto University have successfully connected iPS-derived kidney cells to a capillary network, enabling the formation of a functional filtration membrane. This breakthrough has significant implications for regenerative medicine and organ transplantation, particularly for patients with renal failure.
A collaborative team of researchers identified over 100 genes crucial for high-altitude adaptation in fruit flies, including more than 40 human equivalents. These genes prioritize respiratory system development and metabolic rewiring, enabling organisms to thrive in low-oxygen environments.
Researchers discovered human brains exhibit greater plasticity and adaptability than chimpanzee brains. Human brain organization is less influenced by genetics compared to chimpanzees, suggesting a strong role for environmental factors in shaping the human cerebral structure.
Research finds men carrying ApoE4 gene suffer more tiny brain bleeds and memory loss than women with similar diagnoses. The study provides new insights into the effects of ApoE4 on Alzheimer's disease in humans.
Michihisa Umetani, a University of Houston professor, has won a $5,000 grant from the Neuron-Genetics Institute to further research into hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5A. The prize will help him and his team investigate the role of 27-hydroxycholesterol in human physiology and disease.