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Articles on Genetic disorder

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For many people with fragile X, the mutated gene that causes symptoms is active rather than silenced. Thom Leach/Science Photo Library

Fragile X syndrome often results from improperly processed genetic material – correctly cutting RNA offers a potential treatment

Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability. Using short bits of DNA to fix improperly transcribed genes may one day be a potential treatment option.
Addressing the increased risks of certain diseases among those with Down syndrome could help improve their quality of life. Halfpoint Images/Moment via Getty Images

Several Down syndrome features may be linked to a hyperactive antiviral immune response – new research

People with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome 21. Understanding the effects of those triplicated genes could help improve the health of those with Down syndrome and other medical conditions.
Your genetic material instructs your cells to produce the proteins encoded in it. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Helping cells become better protein factories could improve gene therapies and other treatments – a new technique shows how

Gene therapies and vaccines are often injected into muscle cells that are inefficient at producing desired proteins. Making them work more like liver cells could lead to better treatment outcomes.
The National Institutes of Health estimates the existence of 7,000 rare diseases, with some affecting only a handful of people. Alan Phillips/E! via Getty Images

When it comes to the rarest of diseases, the diagnosis isn’t the answer – it’s just the starting point

Deciphering the biological pathways behind rare genetic diseases often involves assembling a team of specialists to work closely with the family members of those affected.
Pipette tips with reaction mixture to amplify DNA. anyaivanova/www.shutterstock.com

Should we edit out genetic disease?

It seems like a no brainer to edit out genetic disease…until we pause to consider what would be lost.
Rare genetics. Embraceablemovie.com/Kent Creative

Explainer: what is Williams syndrome?

The vast majority of people can probably tell you that autism is associated with problems relating to others and interacting socially. Far fewer people will be able to tell you about another developmental…

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