Category: Genetics
SARS-COV-19 may have arisen when two viruses combined
A comparison of the genomes of different strains of SARS-Cov-2 suggest the virus is the result of a recombination between two existing strains.
What the ban on gene-edited babies means for family planning
Today, it’s not longer “can we,” but rather, “should we” edit human embryos destined to be born?
Human evolution is still happening – possibly faster than ever
Some genes are evolving rapidly. but we still don’t fully understand why fast evolution happens to some genes but not others.
Fraud Alert: Genetic Testing Scam
Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries “free” genetic tests to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes.
Polycystic kidney disease, the most common genetic kidney disorder you’ve probably never heard of
For about half of people with this condition will eventually progress to kidney failure.
Genetic-Testing Scam Targets Seniors
Scores of older Americans who have been targeted in a scam that uses DNA tests to defraud Medicare or steal personal information.
UW researchers turn back the genetic clock to see how cancer evolves
It’s possible to take precancerous cells back in time, so to speak, to identify the genetic mutations that triggered their transformation.
Gene therapy restores immunity in infants with ‘bubble boy’ disease
A small clinical trial has shown that gene therapy can safely correct the immune systems of infants newly diagnosed with a rare, inherited disorder.
Can a genetic test predict if you will develop Type 2 diabetes?
The short answer is yes.
What makes you a man or a woman?
There are cultural and social factors involved in making a baby into a man or a woman. But biologically speaking, sex starts when you’re a tiny group of cells.
UW researchers find cause of rare genetic disorder
Repeating strings of DNA not easily detected using standard genetic tests appear to cause cases of a rare developmental disorder called Baratela-Scott syndrome.
What is CRISPR anyway? And how does it work?
Some bacteria have an enzyme that can cut the DNA of invading viruses as a defense mechanism. Scientists realized they could use this enzyme to edit human DNA.
Go slow, start small with genome screening, experts urge
Programs to screen the genomes of healthy adults to identify genes that may put them at risk for disease later in life need to be implemented with care so that they do not do more harm than good, says an expert panel.
Gene-edited babies: China wants to be the world leader, but at what cost?
This isn’t the first time a Chinese team has used the CRISPR technique on human embryos in a way that few researchers from other countries have attempted.