International Genetics and Genomics of Diseases

Gene discovery revolutionizes the detection and treatment of prostate cancer Genetic studies reveal how PSA variations affect prostate cancer detection and outcomes, paving the way for personalized diagnostic tools and care. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer affecting men globally, with diagnostic methods and risk assessment remaining a challenge despite decades of research. For years, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test has been a cornerstone in detecting prostate cancer However, while PSA testing has been shown to reduce prostate cancer-related deaths, it also leads to over-diagnosis. This calls for a shift toward more individualized and informed approaches to screening, especially for younger men. PSA’s biological role goes beyond its use as a diagnostic marker. It plays a critical role in liquefying semen and tumor progression by interacting with growth factors and proteins in the extracellular matrix. This activity promotes cancer cell migration, bone met...

Nobel Prize goes to microRNA researchers Victor Ambros (l) and Gary Ruvkun (r) share the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 has been awarded to US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their work on microRNA. Their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on Earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues. MicroRNAs influence how genes - the instructions for life - are controlled inside organisms, including us. The winners share a prize fund worth 11m Swedish kronor (£810,000). Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA. However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function. The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell...

2024 a breakthrough year for science: A look at some intriguing discoveries 2024 saw groundbreaking medical advances, major space exploration milestones, and progress in ancient genetics, marking exciting discoveries. As 2024 draws to a close, let's reflect on some of the most remarkable inventions and discoveries in science and technology. From groundbreaking medical breakthroughs and significant space exploration milestones to advances in ancient genetics, this year has been filled with exciting progress and innovations. Best inventions and discoveries of 2024 HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir: Approved in 2022, Lenacapavir showed impressive results in 2024 trials with a 96% success rate in one and 100% in another. Administered as a semi-annual shot, it serves as an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), according to Discover Magazine. You 2025 Fortune revealed! Read Now Fruit fly brain mapping: In October 2024, scientists released a detailed map of 140,000 neurons in a fruit fly’s b...

How Genes Shape Personality Traits: New Links Are Discovered Your DNA has long been known to play a role in shaping your personality. Now, researchers at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) have taken another step in determining exactly how by identifying a number of new genetic sites associated with specific personality traits. They published their findings in Nature Human Behavior on August 12. Using data from the Million Veteran Program, researchers performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variations, called “loci,” associated with each of the “Big Five” personality traits: extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness. The researchers then combined these data with previous GWAS to perform a meta-analysis with almost 700,000 individuals, marking the largest GWAS for personality traits to date. “We are a step closer in that process of increasing the sample size to be able to more clearly understand which variants are truly related to ...

Predictive Genetic Testing and Consumer Genomics Market Research 2024-2034 Dublin, Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Predictive Genetic Testing and Consumer Genomics Market by Test, Application, by End-User, and By Region" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global predictive genetic testing and consumer genomics market size was estimated to be USD 4.77 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 17.16 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 12.34% during the forecast period 2024-2034 The consumer genomics and predictive genetic testing market is expected to grow due to expanding direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing, consumer interest in personalized healthcare, consumer awareness of early disease detection and prevention, and strategic alliances and collaborations. For instance, in August 2024, FDA approval of Illumina's TruSightT Oncology (TSO) Comprehensive test is poised to be a significant driver in the predictive genetic testing and ...

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. This year’s Nobel Prize honors two scientists for their discovery of a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated. The information stored within our chromosomes can be likened to an instruction manual for all cells in our body. Every cell contains the same chromosomes, so every cell contains exactly the same set of genes and exactly the same set of instructions. Yet, different cell types, such as muscle and nerve cells, have very distinct characteristics. How do these differences arise? The answer lies in gene regulation, which allows each cell to select only the relevant instructions. This ensures that only the correct set of genes is active in each cell ty...

Forensic genetic detectives of Hyderabad crack Tamil Nadu monitor lizard case The CCMB researchers said that forensic genetic evidence is a powerful tool to secure convictions in wildlife crimes. The forensic genetic detectives of Hyderabad have uncovered a wildlife crime involving the mystery of occult and how the gullible can be taken for a ride by poachers. The DNA investigators in Hyderabad received small pieces of plant material for analysis. It turned out that the plant materials were, in reality, the gonads of male Bengal monitor lizard, which was killed by the poachers in Tamil Nadu. Published as a case study in Springer Nature (September, 2024), the group of researchers from Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), through their DNA analysis, helped investigators from Tamil Nadu to unravel the mystery and prosecute the poachers. The poachers harvested the forked penises of monitor lizards and fraudulently sold them to individuals as the roots of a ver...