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Clinical genetics news

A long‑standing mystery in the deadliest breast cancer just yielded 81 new treatment targets

Researchers have solved a long-standing mystery of how abnormal chromosomes drive cancer, identifying 81 new genes involved in aggressive breast cancer. The discovery expands understanding of the cellular processes behind ...

Genetic insights into a fluid-related brain condition in newborns

Early detection and treatment of congenital cerebral ventriculomegaly (CCV)—when a fetus's fluid-filled brain ventricles swell due to a condition called hydrocephalus—can help clinicians prevent developmental or neurological ...

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 ...

Rare aging disorder links 'biological clock' to disease

Scientists have discovered a rare genetic condition that causes people to age at a much faster rate, offering fresh insights into the aging process. The study shows for the first time how a "biological clock" present in every ...

3D genome architecture pre-wires early developmental decisions

New research tracks how cells prepare gene regulatory decisions that will define their fate during the earliest stages of human development. The study reconstructs a timeline of chromosome folding that brings remote DNA regulatory ...

A heritable 'brake' for stopping cocaine use in rats

Cocaine produces strong euphoric effects, but many users experience unpleasant effects after the rewarding aspects of the drug wear off, which serve as a "brake" for continued use. Research suggests that those who go on to ...

Heart elasticity may hinge on a hidden genetic switch

The human heart must constantly adapt to changing demands—a task that requires tightly coordinated molecular shuffling in heart cells. One of the key regulators of this process is RBM20, a protein that controls an editing ...

Genetic trade-off between youth and longevity uncovered

A new study identifies vgll3 as a key gene that promotes rapid growth and early reproduction while increasing the risk of aging and cancer later in life. The findings provide rare experimental evidence for the theory that ...