A to Z

Genetics

This shows a man and woman with their heads close together, surrounded by DNA and flowers. The implication of this image is that men and women's olfactory senses differ according to genetics.

·July 30, 2025·4 min read

Your Genes Influence What You Smell

A major genetic study of over 21,000 Europeans has identified 10 regions in the genome linked to how we perceive specific odors—seven of which are newly discovered. Three of these genetic regions function differently in men and women, helping explain hormone-driven changes in smell sensitivity.

This is a cartoon drawing of someone handing another person a bottle of wine

Featured Psychology

·August 22, 2020·5 min read

Your In-Laws’ History of Drinking Problems Could Lead to Alcohol Issues of Your Own

Study reveals a previously unrecognized family connection to alcohol use disorder, the drinking habits of a person's in-laws. People married to those who experienced parental alcohol misuse as a child are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol, even if the spouse has no history of a personal battle with alcohol use.

Image shows a diagram of the mice and microbes.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·December 30, 2016·4 min read

Your Microbiota’s Previous Dining Experiences May Make New Diets Less Effective

People who follow a more restricted, plant based diet have more diverse gut microbiota, a new study reports.

Autism Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 9, 2025·8 min read

Youthful Brain Stem Cells Linked to Autism and Brain Cancer

Researchers have identified a unique stem cell in the young brain capable of maturing into multiple cell types, potentially explaining the origins of autism and glioblastoma. These stem cells show gene expression patterns that regulate early brain development and, when disrupted, could lead to neurological conditions.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·August 19, 2014·3 min read

Zebrafish Help to Unravel Alzheimer’s Disease

New research using Zebrafish provides scientists with surprising new insights into neurodegenerative processes in the human brain.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Videos Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 12, 2014·3 min read

Zebrafish Model of a Learning and Memory Disorder Shows Better Way to Target Treatment

Researchers report the learning and memory deficits associated with neurofibromatosis are distinct features which require different treatment approaches.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·July 6, 2012·2 min read

Zebrafish Reveal Promising Mechanism for Healing Spinal Cord Injury

Preliminary results in mice show that Fgf injections near a spinal injury increase both the number of glia cells at the site and the elongated morphology. Their evidence suggests that Fgfs may work to create an environment more supportive of regeneration in mammals as well and could be a valuable therapeutic target.

Autism Genetics Neurology

·May 16, 2012·5 min read

Zebrafish Study Isolates Gene Related to Autism, Schizophrenia and Obesity

What can a fish tell us about human brain development? Researchers at Duke University Medical Center transplanted a set of...

Featured Neuroscience

·February 1, 2018·5 min read

Zeroing in on Dopamine

Researchers have identified the molecular machinery responsible for the release of dopamine. The findings could help develop new treatments for disorders such as Parkinson's disease and addiction.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 15, 2010·2 min read

Zif Protein Controls Brain Stem Cells

Zif proteins have been found to control whether a brain stem cell differentiates into a neuron or renews as a brain stem cell. There are Zif related proteins in humans that may be targeted by new treatments for brain cancer and other diseases.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Videos Open Neuroscience Articles

·June 28, 2016·7 min read

Zika Infection Prolonged in Pregnancy: Monkey Study

While one infection of the Zika virus could protect against future infections, the duration of Zika infection is prolonged during pregnancy, a new study reports.

Brain Cancer Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 5, 2017·4 min read

Zika Virus Could Be Used to Treat Brain Cancer Patients

A new study in the Journal of Experimental Medicine report Zika virus could be used to target and treat glioblastoma brain cancer. Researchers found a mouse adapted strain of Zika slowed tumor growth and extended life span in mice with glioblastoma.