News

In the largest genetic study on anxiety to date, VA researchers found new evidence on the underlying biological causes of the disorder. The study used VA Million Veteran Program (MVP) data to identify regions on the human genome related to anxiety risk. The findings could lead to new understanding and treatment of the condition, which affects 1 in 10 Americans.

Scientists from the University of California (USA) propose a method for assessing the risk of autism by quantification of male sperm mosaicism. De novo mutations arising on the paternal chromosome make the largest known contribution to autism risk, and correlate with paternal age at the time of conception but the potential impact of assessing parental gonadal mosaicism has not been considered.

A new study published in the journal PLOS Medicine shows that the number of prostate cancer deaths could be reduced by a sixth by simply introducing targeted screening, which is directed at detecting cases among men whose genes put them at higher risk of the disease. The study employs computer modelling to evaluate the potential risk-benefit ratio of routinely screening all adult males aged 55-69 years for prostate cancer by a simple blood test every four years, vs only those who have a higher risk.

Scientists have developed a new gene-therapy technique by transforming human cells into mass producers of tiny nano-sized particles full of genetic material that has the potential to reverse disease processes.

Apple has invited its employees and their families to pass a free genetic test for hereditary diseases. The test is carried out in clinics of the AC Wellness medical network. The company management hopes that the test will let them help their employees to know about potential health problems and take measures to reduce the risk of their development.

The underrepresentation of non-Europeans in human genetic studies so far has limited the diversity of individuals in genomic datasets and led to reduced medical relevance for a large proportion of the world’s population. Indian scientists launched the Genome Asia 100K project to solve this problem. They catalogued genetic variation, population structure, disease associations and founder effects for 1,739 individuals of 219 population groups and 64 countries across Asia.