Gene variation makes alcoholism less likely in some survivors of sexual abuse
Exposure to severe stress early in life increases the risk of alcohol and drug addiction. Yet surprisingly, some adults sexually abused as children — and therefore at high risk for alcohol problems —...
View ArticleGenes influence aerobic training success
(PhysOrg.com) -- An international team of researchers has found an explanation for why some people seem to be more responsive than others to regular endurance exercise - which, in turn, might increase...
View ArticleGreat tits: birds with character
(PhysOrg.com) -- In humans and animals alike, individuals differ in sets of traits that we usually refer to as personality. An important part of the individual difference in personality is due to...
View ArticleA population genetics approach identifies susceptibility variants for viral...
Viruses have played a role in shaping human genetic variability, according to a study published February 19 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics. The researchers, from the Don C. Gnocchi and...
View ArticleCommon gene variant may increase risk for a type of cardiac arrhythmia
An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being...
View ArticleResting brain reveals connections
(PhysOrg.com) -- Images of the brain with various areas 'lighting up' in a rainbow of colours are now pretty familiar to many of us. These come from studies in which people are given tasks to do inside...
View ArticleSmoking significantly increases risk of aneurysm in people with certain genes
For people who carry common gene variants, cigarette smoking greatly increases the risk that a blood vessel in the brain will weaken and balloon out - called an aneurysm - which could be...
View ArticleGenes may exert opposite effects in diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease
Pediatric researchers analyzing DNA variations in type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease have found a complex interplay of genes. Some genes have opposing effects, raising the risk of one...
View ArticleIncrease of beta-carotene in corn improves human health
(PhysOrg.com) -- A Michigan State University researcher is among a team of scientists that have uncovered the mechanism by which the amount of beta-carotene, or provitamin A, is increased in corn, a...
View ArticleResearchers Identify Genetic Variants Linked to Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty...
(PhysOrg.com) -- For the first time, Yale researchers have identified common genetic variants that predispose lean individuals to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance. NAFLD...
View Article1 hour daily exercise fights 'fatso' gene in teens
(AP) -- One hour of moderate to vigorous exercise a day can help teens beat the effects of a common obesity-related gene with the nickname "fatso," according to a new European study.
View ArticleADHD linked to interaction of genetics and psychology
ADHD may be caused by alterations in the serotonin neurotransmission system combined with a tendency to experience psychosocial distress. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal...
View ArticleGene variant may protect memory and thinking skills in older people
New research shows a gene variant may help protect the memory and thinking skills of older people. The research will be published in the April 20, 2010, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the...
View ArticleStudy shows why statins protect some against cancer
(PhysOrg.com) -- Weill Cornell researchers report almost half of Caucasians taking statins are probably not protected against cancer as well as other people because of a particular inherited gene variant.
View ArticleRefined tools help pinpoint disease-causing genes
In findings that may speed the search for disease-causing genes, a new study challenges the prevailing view that common diseases are usually caused by common gene variants (mutations). Instead, say...
View ArticlePatient's whole genome reveals risk of diseases and adverse drug responses
Scientists at Stanford and Harvard Universities collaborated to assess the clinical usefulness of analyzing a patient's full genome for disease risks and unusual drug responses. The work brings closer...
View ArticleFirst common gene found for congenital heart disease
Although congenital heart disease represents the most common major birth defect, scientists have not previously identified the common variation in the genes that give rise to it. Now genetics and...
View ArticlePoor health? Easier for some to blame bad genes than change lifestyle
Does knowing that genes are partly responsible for your health condition mean you are less likely to be motivated to find out about the benefits of behavioral changes? According to Dr. Suzanne O'Neill...
View ArticleGenome-wide study identifies factors that may affect vitamin D levels
An international research consortium has identified four common gene variants that are associated with blood levels of vitamin D and with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. The report from the...
View ArticlePTSD: The serotonin system influences vulnerability and treatment
There is a great deal of interest in factors that contribute to the vulnerability to developing post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. One factor that appears to contribute to the heritable...
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