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Breakthrough Study Reveals Genetic Variants with Significant Impact on Obesity Risk

A study led by Medical Research Council (MRC) researchers has identified genetic variants in two genes that have some of the largest impacts on obesity risk discovered to date.

5 Apr 2024

AI Research Gives Unprecedented Insight Into Heart Genetics and Structure

A ground-breaking research study has used AI to understand the genetic underpinning of the heart’s left ventricle, using three-dimensional images of the organ.

12 Mar 2024

Ancient DNA Reveals Reason for High Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Rates in Europe

Researchers have created the world’s largest ancient human gene bank by analysing the bones and teeth of almost 5,000 humans who lived across western Europe and Asia up to 34,000 years ago.

10 Jan 2024

Epidemiology and Genetic Underpinnings of Clonal Hematopoiesis

A comprehensive new study from deCODE genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, published today in Nature Genetics, provides insights into the epidemiology and somatic and germline genetics of clonal hematopoiesis.

7 Nov 2023

Philanthropic Partnership Unlocks £32 Million for the Future of Best-in-Class UK Biobank

Former CEO and Chairman of Google Eric Schmidt, and Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, are today (Monday 30 October) being announced as the first members of a new consortium that will shape the future of the best-in-class UK Biobank.

31 Oct 2023

The Strong Link Between Genes and Vegetarianism

Going meatless is undoubtedly fashionable, as seen by Impossible Burger and “Meatless Mondays.”

5 Oct 2023

Discovering Age and Sex-Specific Obesity Genes in the Genome

Right from impacting how the human body stores fat to how the brain regulates appetite, hundreds of genes, together with environmental factors, jointly identify weight and body size.

3 Aug 2023

Scientists Identify "Footprints" of Participation Bias in Genetic Data

Why do some people take part in genetic studies while others do not? The answer may lie within our genetic makeup. According to a groundbreaking study by Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Big Data Institute, people who participate in genetic studies are genetically more likely to do so, leaving detectable 'footprints' in genetics data. This breakthrough equips researchers with the ability to identify and address participation bias, a significant challenge in genetic research.

14 Jul 2023

Study Uncovers Candidate Genes That may Drive Inflammatory Bowel Disease

A study of the genetic variation that makes mice more susceptible to bowel inflammation after a high-fat diet has identified candidate genes which may drive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans.

6 Jul 2023

Investigating the Neandertal Origin of Dupuytren’s Disease

Recent research published by Oxford University Press in Molecular Biology and Evolution demonstrates that Dupuytren’s disease is partially Neandertal in origin.

15 Jun 2023

Neanderthal Genes are Responsible for Certain Traits in Modern Humans

Recent scientific discoveries have shown that Neanderthal genes comprise some 1 to 4% of the genome of present-day humans whose ancestors migrated out of Africa, but the question remained open on how much those genes are still actively influencing human traits -; until now.

9 Jun 2023

Mind-Body Connection is More Than Just an Abstraction

Calm body, calm mind, say the practitioners of mindfulness. A new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that the idea that the body and mind are inextricably intertwined is more than just an abstraction.

20 Apr 2023

Poor Sleep Combined With High Genetic Susceptibility Results in Greater Asthma Risk

Poor quality sleep may bolster a person's genetic susceptibility to asthma, potentially doubling their risk of being diagnosed with the condition, suggests a large UK Biobank study, published in the open access journal BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

6 Apr 2023

Brain scans link signs of cellular aging to symptoms of Alzheimer’s

According to a new study led by Anya Topiwala of Oxford Population Health, a division of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and published on March 22nd, 2023 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s disease are connected to telomeres shortening, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes that shorten as cells age.

23 Mar 2023

Socioeconomic and genetic factors likely interact in an additive way to increase risk of metabolic diseases

New research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham, indicates that socioeconomic and genetic factors likely interact in an additive way to affect people's risks of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes.

8 Mar 2023