Last update:

Clinical genetics news

Men lose their Y chromosome as they age: Scientists thought it didn't matter—but now we're learning more

Men tend to lose the Y chromosome from their cells as they age. But because the Y bears few genes other than for male determination, it was thought this loss would not affect health. But evidence has mounted over the past ...

False alarm in newborn screening: How zebrafish can prevent unnecessary spinal muscular atrophy therapies

A positive newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is currently considered a medical emergency. Without early treatment, severe disability or death in infancy are likely. However, research findings from Germany ...

Eye cancer genes predetermine liver metastasis, study finds

Cells from cancerous tumors can spread, or metastasize, throughout the body. Researchers have long sought to understand what determines where those cells will go and thrive in order to more effectively treat the cancer and ...

Genetic testing in sports: Fairness, human rights and the law

Testing the biological sex of an athlete is becoming more common in sport, with governing bodies defending the practice as safeguarding fairness for women. But as the introduction of mandatory genetic testing raises questions ...

Common genetic causes across motor neuron diseases identified

Motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), share physical similarities but have been largely viewed as genetically distinct. However, an analysis led by investigators ...

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 ...