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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 ...

How a gene shapes the architecture of the human brain

Researchers around the world are studying how the human brain achieves its extraordinary complexity. A team at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim and the German Primate Center—Leibniz Institute for Primate ...

A rare respiratory disease may be more prevalent in Quebec

A study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (The Institute) has identified a rare genetic variant in the ODAD4 gene that causes primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a chronic hereditary disorder ...

New mutation hotspot discovered in human genome

Researchers have discovered new regions of the human genome particularly vulnerable to mutations. These altered stretches of DNA can be passed down to future generations and are important for how we study genetics and disease.

How a mitochondrial mutation rewires immune function

Scientists have discovered how a mitochondrial mutation rewires immune function in a model of inherited primary mitochondrial disorders, which often lead to severe disability and death. They have discovered that this single ...

RNA editing study finds many ways for neurons to diversify

All starting from the same DNA, neurons ultimately take on individual characteristics in the brain and body. Differences in which genes they transcribe into RNA help determine which type of neuron they become, and from there, ...