Scientists tie obesity to sex- and age-specific genes
From influencing how our body stores fat to how our brain regulates appetite, hundreds of genes, along with environmental factors, collectively determine our weight and body size. Now, researchers add several genes, which appear to affect obesity risk in certain sexes and ages, to that list. The study, published on August 2 in the journal […]
How dietary restraint could significantly reduce effects of genetic risk of obesity: Obesity risk genes make people feel hungrier and lose control over their eating, but practicing dietary restraint could counteract this.
Obesity risk genes make people feel hungrier and lose control over their eating, but practicing dietary restraint could counteract this. New research by University of Exeter, Exeter Clinical Research Facility, and University of Bristol — funded by the Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership and published in the International Journal of Epidemiology — found that […]
Clinical Challenges: Treating AML With IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations
About 20% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harbors a mutation in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes, IDH1 or IDH2. Within the last decade, treatment for these patients “has changed significantly” with the development of first-in-class IDH1 and IDH2 inhibitors, said Tapan Kadia, MD, of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Moreover, “treatment paradigms are […]
Early life experiences can have long-lasting impact on genes
Early life experiences can impact the activity of our genes much later on and even affect longevity, finds a new study in fruit flies led by UCL researchers. In the study published in Nature Aging, the scientists report that gene expression ‘memory’ can persist across the lifespan, and may present a novel target for improving […]
Taste sensors keep proteins in order in flies: New role for adult proteins in development
A set of genes that promote sweet taste sensation is also crucial for protein management during fly development, according to a new study by Eugenia Piddini of the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and colleagues, publishing July 21stin the open-access journal PLOS Biology. The finding expands the understanding of a key process in successful development, […]
Nature vs. Nurture: Effects on Genes, Mental & Physical Health
Your Genes and Disease Some genetic diseases and conditions are inherited from your family, while others are caused by changes or mutations in a pre-existing gene, or group of genes. These gene mutations can occur from an environmental exposure or randomly. Click for more about your genes and disease » What is nature vs. nurture […]
Development of fatty liver disease under a healthy diet
A new study identifies two genes, previously reported to be involved in cancer, as regulators of the metabolic state of the liver. Alterations in these genes influence the likelihood of developing fatty liver disease. The epidemic of obesity worldwide has increased the risk of accumulating fat in the liver, a preamble to liver inflammation and […]
A missing genetic switch at the origin of malformations: Scientists have discovered how the absence of a genetic switch can lead to malformations during embryonic development.
Embryonic development follows delicate stages: for everything to go well, many genes must coordinate their activity according to a very meticulous scheme and tempo. This precision mechanism sometimes fails, leading to more or less disabling malformations. By studying the Pitx1 gene, one of the genes involved in the construction of the lower limbs, a team […]
Gut flora composition and function may impact susceptibility to konzo, a neurological disease caused by world staple crop cassava: New study is first to shed light on gut microbiome of people that rely on this food source
Differences between gut flora and genes from konzo-prone regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may affect the release of cyanide after poorly processed cassava is consumed, according to a study with 180 children. Cassava is a food security crop for over half a billion people in the developing world. Children living in high-risk […]
Molecular Changes Could Guide Metastatic Breast Cancer Therapy
Certain molecular changes in breast cancer genes occurred more often in metastatic disease, possibly suggesting new strategies for difficult-to-treat disease, according to initial data from an ongoing study. Matched tissue specimens from primary tumors and metastases showed higher rates of mutations in driver genes and variations in gene copy number in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). […]