Genetics News and Research

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Genetics is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

Uncoupling Nucleotide Synthesis: A Yeast-Derived Solution for Mitochondrial Disease

Nucleotide synthesis-the production of the basic components of DNA and RNA-is essential for cell growth and division.

17 Feb 2026

Eleven Genetic Regions Shape the Human Gut Microbiome

In two new studies on 28,000 individuals, researchers are able to show that genetic variants in 11 regions of the human genome have a clear influence on which bacteria are in the gut and what they do there.

16 Feb 2026

Complete Flax Genome Assembly Advances Fatty Acid Research

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the richest plant sources of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid linked to human health benefits ranging from cardiovascular protection to metabolic regulation.

13 Feb 2026

Landmark Study Maps Complex Genetics of Anxiety

Anxiety disorders - including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and phobias - affect as many as one in four people over the course of their lives.

11 Feb 2026

Molecular Hitchhikers Boost Bacterial Resistance Without Genes

A Dartmouth study finds that molecular hitchhikers living within bacteria can make their hosts extra resistant to medical treatment by corralling them into tightly packed groups.

11 Feb 2026

Microglia Found to Drive New Neuron Growth in Adult Hippocampus

Breakthrough research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine is revealing how immune cells in the adult brain can regulate the generation of new neurons.

10 Feb 2026

Tool Enables Accurate Detection of Microbes in Cancer Genomes

When scientists sequence tumor DNA, they typically find small amounts of genetic code from bacteria, viruses and fungi – microorganisms that, if actually present in tumor tissues, could influence how they grow, evade immunity or respond to treatment.

10 Feb 2026

New CRISPR Tool Actively Reverses Antibiotic Resistance Spread

Antibiotic resistance (AR) has steadily accelerated in recent years to become a global health crisis. As deadly bacteria evolve new ways to elude drug treatments for a variety of illnesses, a growing number of "superbugs" have emerged, ramping up estimates of more than 10 million worldwide deaths per year by 2050.

9 Feb 2026

CRISPR Screen Reveals Genes Driving Human Muscle Development

Muscles make up nearly 40% of the human body and power every move we make, from a child’s first steps to recovery after injury. For some, however, muscle development goes awry, leading to weakness, delayed motor milestones or lifelong disabilities.

6 Feb 2026

Ancestry-Specific Genetic Models Advance Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

Despite major advances in genetic testing for breast cancer risk prediction, death rates remain disproportionately high among women of African ancestry.

4 Feb 2026

Selective Mitophagy Enables Invasive Growth of Anthracnose Pathogen

Anthracnose is one of the most damaging fungal diseases affecting woody oil crops and many other plants, causing severe yield losses worldwide.

4 Feb 2026

New Map Reveals How Cancer Gene Mutations Influence Tumor Growth

Scientists have created a complete map showing how hundreds of possible mutations in a key cancer gene influence tumor growth.

3 Feb 2026

Bat Virome in Indochina Peninsula: Uncovering PEDV Evolution and Zoonotic Threats

Bats, critical reservoirs of viruses with significant cross-species spillover risks, have long been understudied in the Indochina Peninsula.

3 Feb 2026

Brain's Aging Waste System Linked to Synapse Loss and Cognitive Decline

As we age, we begin to lose the connections that wire up our brains-and neuroscientists aren't sure why.

3 Feb 2026

New Research Reveals RFC's Dynamic Partnership in DNA Synthesis

Every time a cell divides, it must copy its entire genome so that each daughter cell inherits a complete set of DNA. During that process, enzymes known as polymerases race along the DNA to copy its code and build new strands.

2 Feb 2026

Ancient DNA Reveals Rare Growth Disorder in Upper Paleolithic Individuals

Researchers led by the University of Vienna and Liège University Hospital Centre have identified genetic variants associated with a rare inherited growth disorder in two prehistoric individuals who lived more than 12,000 years ago.

30 Jan 2026

Abundance of Oral Microbes Is Strongly Influenced by Genetics

No matter how much they brush their teeth, some people still get more cavities than others, in part because of differences in genetics and the make-up of the microbes in their mouths.

29 Jan 2026

Autism-Linked Mutations Converge on Shared Early Brain Pathways

UCLA Health researchers have created a comprehensive map showing how eight different genetic mutations associated with autism spectrum disorder affect early brain development, providing new insights into the ways diverse genetic causes may lead to shared features and symptoms of the disorder.

29 Jan 2026

New Epigenetic Catalog Helps Explain Individual Differences in Immune Responses

The COVID-19 pandemic gave us tremendous perspective on how wildly symptoms and outcomes can vary between patients experiencing the same infection.

28 Jan 2026

Novel Epigenetic Regulator Enhances Downy Mildew Resistance in Brassica rapa

Downy mildew is a major constraint on Brassica crop production worldwide, especially during early developmental stages when plants are highly vulnerable to infection.

27 Jan 2026