FTD leads to changes in personality and behavior. Understanding its genetic and molecular causes could lead to new ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases.
Your genetic material instructs your cells to produce the proteins encoded in it.
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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.
Crystal jellyfish contain glowing proteins that scientists repurpose for an endless array of studies.
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Three pioneering technologies have forever altered how researchers do their work and promise to revolutionize medicine, from correcting genetic disorders to treating degenerative brain diseases.
A complete human genome, seen here in pairs of chromosomes, offers a wealth of information, but it is hard connect genetics to traits or disease.
HYanWong/Wikimedia Comons
The first full human genome was sequenced 20 years ago. Now, a project is underway to sequence 1 million genomes to better understand the complex relationship between genetics, diversity and disease.
Using ‘base editing’, researchers have cured progeria in mice. This genetic syndrome causes premature ageing in humans – those with the disease usually don’t live past the age of 13.
This confocal microscope image shows the face of a week-old zebrafish.
Peter Fabian and Gage Crump
Should Australia allow the creation of babies with DNA from more than two people? This reproductive technology could prevent babies being born with mitochondrial disease, so the simple answer is yes.
Rare diseases aren’t, in fact, all that rare. Yet they continue to be brushed aside by most politicians. Why?
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Cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and fragile X syndrome are serious diseases, and most couples carrying the genetic mutations for these don’t know it. Should they all be tested?
Canadians are overwhelmingly opposed to insurance companies having access to their genetic test results. A new Canadian law prevents insurers from using genetic information to determine coverage or pricing.
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Canadian insurance companies argue that a new law denying them access to genetic test results will raise the cost of insurance for everyone. That’s doubtful.
Human genome editing raises a lot of questions.
Gene sequence image via www.shutterstock.com.
A new report from the National Academies of Science and Medicine outlines conditions that have to be met before gene editing that results in heritable genomic changes can be considered.
Future people would be grateful if their disease is cured, rather than being replaced by a different healthier or non-disabled person.
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Experts from around the world are in the US to discuss the scientific, ethical and governance issues linked to human gene editing. Here are five reasons they shouldn’t ban research in the field.
A visually impaired young girl reads a Braille notice. Retinal dysfunction results in one in 3 500 people suffering night blindness, loss of peripheral vision and later complete blindness.
Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Today is the start of World Retinal Week. Establishing retinal degenerative disorders in Africa is challenged by the unique genetic diversity of Africans.
That genetic editing techniques have become as straightforward as they have poses questions for how we want them to be used.
A powerful new genetic engineering technique allows scientists to precisely cut out and replace DNA in genes.
Jennifer Doudna/University of California Berkeley
Leading researchers have called for a ban on using a precise gene-editing technology on humans. How can CRISPR advance science and why is it raising concerns?
Supermodel Gisele Bündchen: sixth generation German, 100% Brazilian.
Bob Bekian
There’s a huge variety in physical appearance in Latin America: there are indigenous native Americans, descendants of African slaves, Europeans and Middle Easterners of all kinds, and Chinese and Japanese…
Mitochondrial genes are inherited from our mothers’ eggs and passed on through her daughters to subsequent generations.
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The UK government has announced its intention to draft proposals allowing carriers of mitochondrial disease to have babies using a controversial IVF treatment that’s currently prohibited. The procedure…
Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford
Medical Biological Scientist: Scientific Officer and Project Leader of the Retinal Degenerative Disorders research group, Division of Human Genetics, UCT, University of Cape Town