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Genetics

This shows the researcher next to a head made of clocks

·May 30, 2019·3 min read

Body parts respond to day and night independently from brain

Skin and liver cells appear to have their own circadian clock. Both the liver and skin respond to changes in light and maintain critical function, independent of the brain's circadian rhythm.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 30, 2019·4 min read

Pairing of glutamine-targeting drug and ketogenic diet fights glioblastoma in mice

Combining an antibiotic drug that targets glutamine with the ketogenic diet helps kill glioblastoma cancer cells, reversing symptoms of the disease and improving survivability in mouse models.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 30, 2019·5 min read

Research confirms gut-brain connection in autism

Genetic mutations, which occur in both the brain and gut, could be a main cause of autism. Using mouse models of ASD, researchers discovered the neuroligin-3 R451C mutation affects neural communication in the brain and causes dysfunction in the gut. The findings strengthen the gut-brain hypothesis of autism.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 29, 2019·3 min read

Could a small fish prompt a leap forward for Alzheimer’s disease research?

Using zebrafish models, researchers detected genes with altered levels of expression. The genetic variations were associated with abnormalities with mitochondrial function and the production of ATP.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 29, 2019·2 min read

Early statin treatment may help children with Fragile X

Lovastatin, a common statin usually prescribed to control cholesterol, corrected learning and memory deficits associated with Fragile X syndrome in rodent models.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 29, 2019·4 min read

Researchers explore the epigenetics of daytime sleepiness

Methylation sites have been identified in multiple genes implicated in daytime sleepiness.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 28, 2019·5 min read

Would you eat genetically modified food if you understood the science behind it?

Learning the underlying science behind genetically modified foods generates more positive attitudes toward them, a greater willingness to eat them, and a lowered perception that GM foods are risky.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 28, 2019·4 min read

GWAS identifies new risk loci for harmful alcohol use

Genome-wide study identifies five novel alcohol use risk loci which can pass on the risk of developing alcohol abuse disorder from parents to children.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 28, 2019·6 min read

High LDL cholesterol linked to early-onset Alzheimer’s

Elevated levels of LDL cholesterol has been linked to an increased risk of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, in those with and without a genetic risk factor. This suggests cholesterol could be an independent risk factor for dementia. Additionally, researchers identified a potential new genetic risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's, a rare variant of the APOB gene.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 27, 2019·5 min read

Scientists uncover a trove of genes that could hold key to how humans evolved

Dozens of genes previously believed to have similar roles across different organisms are actually unique to humans. The genetic codes are for transcription factors, which help control gene activity. The findings may help to explain how humans evolved.

This shows how the AI discovered the mutations

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 27, 2019·5 min read

New causes of autism found in ‘junk’ DNA

Using artificial intelligence, researchers discover mutations in noncoding regions of the human genome that may result in autism. The noncoding mutations are associated with altered gene regulation in children with ASD. Additionally, the mutations affect gene expression in the brain and genes already linked to autism, such as those responsible for neuron development and migration.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·May 27, 2019·4 min read

Coat of proteins makes viruses more infectious and links them to Alzheimer’s disease

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) interact with biological fluids, creating a coat of proteins around the viral surface. This results in the viruses becoming more infectious and can contribute to the formation of amyloid plaques. In animal models, researchers found these viruses can bind to amyloid proteins, which aggregate into plaques that contribute to Alzheimer's disease. HSV-1 is able to accelerate the transformation of soluble amyloid proteins into amyloid plaques.