genetics

Breast Cancer May Be Developing Earlier

Mindy Hartman — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:24:33 -0500

Researchers noted that breast cancer may be developing in more women at younger ages.

Studies Suggest Skin Cancer Can Be Inherited

Michael Santo — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:38:55 -0500

Skin cancer has always been attributed to exposure to the sun. In particular, those who receive bad sunburns when young, particularly as a baby, have a higher incidence of skin cancer. However, new studies are pointing to a genetic predisposition to skin cancer as well.

Wanting To Be An Actor May Be Genetic

ChristopherCalliope — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:07:56 -0500

Why would anyone want to become an actor? Most actors wonder: why did they start wanting to be an actor? I don't mean "the event" that started it all, e.g, a high school play, seeing one's first Broadway show, but why did the event have that specific effect? Many actors, especially during tough times, have probably looked to the stars and asked: Why me?!

Genetic Differences Between Blood And Tissue Cells Revealed

harminka — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:13:47 -0500

Research by a group of Montreal scientists calls into question one of the most basic assumptions of human genetics: that when it comes to DNA, every cell in the body is essentially identical to every other cell. Their results appear in the July issue of the journal Human Mutation.

Breast Cancer's Ability To Spread Linked To Genetics

harminka — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:03:56 -0500

New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) sheds light on a genetic function that gives breast cancer cells the ability to survive and spread to the bone years after treatment has been administered. The findings support the study of therapies that target this survival capacity and force the death of latent breast cancer cells before they get a chance to metastasize, or spread – a problem that accounts for a majority of breast cancer–related deaths.

Multiple Sclerosis Genetic Discovery Made by Researchers

harminka — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:35:00 -0500

Australian and New Zealand researchers have accelerated research into Multiple Sclerosis by discovering two new locations of genes which will help to unravel the causes of MS and other autoimmune disease.

Junk DNA Has An Important Role

harminka — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:42:10 -0500

Scientists have called it "junk DNA." They have long been perplexed by these extensive strands of genetic material that dominate the genome but seem to lack specific functions. Why would nature force the genome to carry so much excess baggage?

Genetic Variations Contribute To Depression In Heart Disease Patients.

harminka — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:32:13 -0500

Individuals with heart disease are twice as likely to suffer from depression as the general population, an association the medical community has largely been unable to explain. Now, a new study by researchers at The Miriam Hospital, in conjunction with The Montréal Heart Institute, University of Montréal and McGill University, reveals there may be genetic variations that contribute to depression in heart disease patients.

Why We Should Change The Way We Think Genetics

harminka — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:57:06 -0500

For years, genetics have been considered the one and only way biological traits could be passed down through generations of organisms.

Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness Affected by Breast Cancer Gene Mutations

Michael Santo — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 13:37:17 -0600

On Thursday, U.S. researchers stated that the so-called breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) can raise the risk that a man who develops prostate cancer will get an aggressive form of the disease.

Rethinking the genetic theory of inheritance

harminka — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:19:44 -0600

Embargoed Until January 18, 2009 at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time / 13:00 Eastern Standard Time (TORONTO): Scientists at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) have detected evidence that DNA may not be the only carrier of heritable information; a secondary molecular mechanism called epigenetics may also account for some inherited traits and diseases.

How to achieve greater precision in genetic annotation

harminka — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:52:12 -0600

A biologist from the Public University of Navarre enhances use of bioinformatic tools and achieves greater precision in genetic annotation