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Clinical genetics news

Rare cranial disorders: Towards a non-invasive therapy using gene silencing delivered by nanoparticles and 3D printing

A "gene silencer" (technically known as small interfering RNA, or siRNA), locally delivered by nanoparticles embedded in an injectable gel produced through 3D printing, can switch off the defective gene responsible for serious ...

Williams-Beuren syndrome: Early enzyme changes may hold key to future treatments

Williams-Beuren syndrome is a rare, congenital disease in which the main morbidity and mortality comes from obstructions, or stenoses, in specific arteries. When these obstructions involve the aorta, it is known as supravalvular ...

Neuronal activity reveals new clues to ALS progression

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no cure and limited treatment options. One of the earliest signs of ALS is overactive brain signals known as cortical hyperexcitability. ...

Qatari genetic map reveals over 150,000 structural variants

Research co-led by King's College London and Sidra Medicine, Qatar, has produced the most detailed map to date of large-scale genetic differences in the Qatari population, providing a clearer picture of the genetic diversity ...

3D genome mapping tool reveals hidden complexity in DNA

Standard laboratory tests can fail to detect many disease-causing DNA changes. Now, a novel 3D chromosome mapping method can reliably reveal these hidden structural variants and lead to new discoveries.

Previously unknown genetic cause of microcephaly identified

Microcephaly is a congenital malformation that leads to a significantly reduced brain size and is often accompanied by developmental delay. An international research team led by Dr. Tran Tuoc from the Department of Human ...

Study sheds light on the role of genetics in the body weight

The obesity rate has been steadily climbing and so have scientific efforts to understand why. A new study, published in Nature Communications, takes a closer look at the genes behind body weight and how they might point toward ...

Missing molecule holds clues to Down syndrome

New research suggests a missing brain molecule may hold the key to understanding—and potentially treating—the faulty neural circuits seen in Down syndrome. Restoring the molecule, called pleiotrophin, could enhance brain ...