Scientists link genes to diet in inflammatory bowel disease: A study in mice identifies candidate genes associated with bowel inflammation caused by a high-fat diet
A study of the genetic variation that makes mice more susceptible to bowel inflammation after a high-fat diet has identified candidate genes which may drive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans. The findings are published as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife. Described by the editors as a fundamental study, the work provides a framework for […]
Genes can affect our nutrient tolerance
Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are essential nutrients to all animals. Yet dietary variation between species, populations and individuals can vary dramatically. In an international collaborative study, researchers from Australia, Denmark and Finland investigated how individuals of a same population differ in their ability to survive on various diets. The researchers utilised a genetic reference panel […]
In the absence of genetic variation, asexual invasive species find new methods of adapting to their environment
Without the benefits of evolutionary genetic variation that accompany meiotic reproduction, how does an asexual invasive species adapt over time to a new environment to survive? In all-female weevil species that produce only female offspring from unfertilized eggs, the insects’ survival techniques have led to the surprising discovery that these creatures can pass down gene […]