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Clinical genetics news

This unusual epigenetic modifier promotes certain cancers but suppresses others

The epigenetic modifier MLL4 has an unassuming name—the 4, for instance, indicates it's just one in a family of such modifiers. But MLL4 is quite special: In a specific type of leukemia, it drives disease progression, while ...

Links between genetics and cognition change across childhood

Rare DNA changes are most strongly linked to cognition in early childhood, but the link fades as children age, while common DNA changes show stronger links later in childhood, a new study finds. The research was reported ...

Genetic mapping identifies new hope for bone diseases

In a global breakthrough published in Nature Genetics, researchers have successfully mapped the cells and genes that regulate bone formation and loss at an unprecedented scale and discovered the critical role that blood vessel ...

Researchers discover new form of hereditary prostate cancer

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have identified a new form of hereditary prostate cancer that, while rare, can cause aggressive disease at a young age. The discovery paves the way for genetic testing programs ...

New approach to gene correction for iron storage disease

Hereditary primary hemochromatosis is caused by a single faulty building block in a gene. This leads to iron overload, which can have serious consequences for organs and joints. In preclinical studies, researchers have already ...

Why does Parkinson's disease affect more men than women?

New research presented at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum 2026 has discovered some of the genetic changes in brain cells that may help explain why more men than women develop Parkinson's disease.

National rare disease registry may improve care for patients

In Sweden, more than 500,000 individuals live with a rare condition. Globally, approximately 7,000 distinct rare diseases have been identified, the majority of which have a genetic etiology. Expertise regarding these diagnoses ...

Genetic testing changes care for pulmonary fibrosis patients

A new Mayo Clinic study shows that integrating telomere length evaluation and genetic testing into pulmonary care can significantly change how physicians diagnose and treat pulmonary fibrosis—in some cases even redirecting ...