Blurred boundaries – the language of DNA

The general public have appropriated the term DNA to mean much more than just the molecule itself. This may not be a problem most of the time but, in the case of donor eggs and sperm in particular, it's important that people are clear on what genetics and epigenetics really tell us... [Read More]

Gene testing in young patients may uncover 'cancer families'

More than half of patients with sarcoma, a rare cancer, have mutations that are known to increase the risk of other types of cancer... [Read More]

Ice-bucket challenge funds ALS gene discoveries

Donations from the ALS 'ice-bucket challenge' have funded research that has led to the discovery of new genes linked to the disease... [Read More]

New 'obesity gene' found in half of Samoan population

A newly discovered genetic variant in the Samoan population increases obesity risk by 35 percent – the largest effect of any obesity gene... [Read More]

Quick and cheap DNA tests for ovarian cancer patients 'would save lives'

Researchers have developed a new pathway for genetically testing ovarian cancer patients which they say will save both lives and money... [Read More]

'Silent' red hair gene increases skin cancer risk

Having a single copy of the 'ginger gene' may increase the risk of skin cancer, even among people who don't have red hair, according to a study... [Read More]

BRCA mutations linked to prostate and uterine cancers

Genetic mutations on several genes including BRCA2 have been associated with prostate cancer; while in a separate study, a BRCA1 mutation has been linked to a particular form of uterine cancer... [Read More]

Osteoporosis drug touted as potential 'BRCA-blocker'

A drug currently used to treat osteoporosis in old age may help prevent breast cancer in women with a genetic predisposition for the disease... [Read More]

Radio Review: Born in Bradford

The Born in Bradford study, which began in 2007, has recorded data prospectively from 12,000 mothers, 4000 fathers and their 14,000 children born in Bradford General Hospital... [Read More]

Acute myeloid leukaemia made up of 'at least 11 subtypes'

A study on the blood cancer acute myeloid leukaemia has shown which combinations of mutations lead to the most aggressive forms of the disease and revealed a complicated picture at the genetic level... [Read More]

Mutation for rare form of multiple sclerosis could be 'genetic smoking gun'

A gene variant has been linked to early onset multiple sclerosis in a small number of cases, lending weight to the hypothesis that genetic factors underlie multiple sclerosis more widely... [Read More]

Healthy lifestyle reduces risk of common breast-cancer genes

Researchers in the USA have found that following a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of developing breast cancer among certain women with a strong genetic disposition to the condition... [Read More]

Rare mutation may protect against heart disease

A rare genetic mutation reduces the risk of having a heart attack by one-third, a study has found... [Read More]

Five new risk genes unearthed in breast cancer DNA trawl

What researchers claim as the largest-ever whole-genome sequencing study in breast cancer has revealed five previously unidentified genes which drive the development of the disease... [Read More]

No benefit from expanding cancer-risk gene test beyond the essentials

Adding more genes to existing multi-gene panels that test for breast and ovarian cancer risk offers little clinical benefit, a study says... [Read More]

Gene therapy reverses inherited blindness

A trial of gene therapy for choroideremia, a rare form of inherited blindness, has partially restored the vision of several patients... [Read More]

Study links gene to skin ageing

Scientists say they have identified a gene that could explain why some people appear to look younger than they are... [Read More]

BRCA1 mutation linked to reduced egg reserves

Women with a mutation in the breast-cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 may have reduced numbers of eggs left in their ovaries, according to a study led by Australian scientists... [Read More]

CRISPR upgrade promises single-letter gene editing

Scientists have fine tuned the genome-editing tool CRISPR so that it can now edit a single 'letter' of DNA... [Read More]

Mitochondrial mutations could hamper stem cell therapies

A study has found that stem cells from older people accumulate high numbers of mitochondrial DNA mutations, which could limit their therapeutic value... [Read More]