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Clinical genetics news

Patchy brain development may help explain autism's varied traits

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects every individual differently. Scientists have identified more than a thousand genes associated with ASD, yet no single gene accounts for most cases. This has left researchers with a ...

Rare gene variants may multiply Alzheimer's disease risk

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia worldwide, and its development is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. In recent years, the PLCG2 gene and its encoded enzyme, PLCγ2, have ...

What is sudden adult death syndrome?

When Mark Hughes, the former Manchester United and Wales manager, lost his 38-year-old son, an inquest found the cause was sudden adult death syndrome, or SADS.

New approach opens rare immune cells to genetic risk research

Much of how genetic risk leads to disease has remained hidden. In many cases, genetic variants linked to disease do not act on nearby genes along the chromosome. Instead, they influence genes located far away along the DNA ...

Genetic variants shed light on kidney transplant rejection

Immunosuppressive medications help prevent organ rejection following transplantation, yet some patients still experience rejection despite receiving adequate treatment. New research from Yale, published in the Journal of ...

Finding new osteoarthritis medicines via AI and genetics

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic, painful joint disease and a leading cause of disability. Despite its prevalence, therapies for osteoarthritis are limited and focus on symptom management. Now, researchers are combining genetic ...

Human genome milestone opens door for personalized genomics

Scientists have reconstructed the complete genome of a real person, with full sets of chromosomes from each parent, a breakthrough expected to advance research, improve the diagnosis of genetic diseases and make personalized ...

A heritable 'brake' for stopping cocaine use in rats

Cocaine produces strong euphoric effects, but many users experience unpleasant effects after the rewarding aspects of the drug wear off, which serve as a "brake" for continued use. Research suggests that those who go on to ...

Heart elasticity may hinge on a hidden genetic switch

The human heart must constantly adapt to changing demands—a task that requires tightly coordinated molecular shuffling in heart cells. One of the key regulators of this process is RBM20, a protein that controls an editing ...

Genetic trade-off between youth and longevity uncovered

A new study identifies vgll3 as a key gene that promotes rapid growth and early reproduction while increasing the risk of aging and cancer later in life. The findings provide rare experimental evidence for the theory that ...