A DNA (genetic) marker is a gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome that can be used to identify individuals or species.
Two projects aiming to pinpoint genetic and other influences on health have been launched in the US. The Genes and Environment Initiative (GEI), based at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will look at genetic variations and measure environmental factors such as exposure to toxins. The other initiative is a...
An international team of scientists has published a map of human genetic variation, an achievement they say will speed the search for genes involved in conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The 'HapMap' project, launched in 2002 by the International HapMap consortium, is looking at DNA samples from 270...
Scientists from the University of Texas have found a gene linked to some deadly diseases of the body's main blood vessel, the aorta. They hope that their findings, published in the journal Circulation, will lead to new tests and treatments for aortic aneurysm and dissection. Aortic aneurysm is an abnormal...
Australian scientists have identified two regions of human genetic material which they believe harbour genes that influence a person's IQ. The team, based at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, say that identifying the genes that affect intelligence could help research into disorders such as dyslexia, autism and attention deficit...
US researchers have published a detailed map of key variations in our genetic make-up, information they say will help pinpoint genes involved in many common diseases. The team, based at Californian firm Perlegen Sciences, has identified and studied 1.58 million genetic 'markers' in 71 people from three different populations. The...
An international consortium that aims to catalogue patterns of human genetic variation has dropped restrictions on the use of its data. The 'HapMap' project, launched in October 2002, is looking at DNA samples from 270 people from around the world, to help uncover the genetic differences linked to illnesses such...
Sir Alec Jeffreys, the geneticist who invented the DNA fingerprinting technique, has expressed concerns over the cost and effectiveness of the UK Biobank project. In an article published in the Daily Telegraph, he said he has 'a real concern' that nothing useful will come out of the research. He also...
Having a particular genetic marker increases the chance of developing lung cancer. This is the finding of a of $5.9 million project carried out by the Genetic Epidemiology of Lung Cancer Consortium, an interdisciplinary team made up of researchers from across the US. The results, to be published in the...
A new technique could provide an alternative to invasive pregnancy tests, researchers based in the US and Asia have shown. Using small amounts of fetal DNA present in the mother's blood, they have managed to carry out prenatal tests for the inherited blood disorder thalassaemia. The study appeared in the...
Pedigree dogs could help scientists identify genes involved in rare genetic disorders, a new US study shows. Researchers at the University of Washington looked at DNA samples from 85 different dog breeds, and found that each has a unique 'genetic signature'. The team, who published their findings in the journal...
Subscribe for free to what PET does best – informing you of the latest in fertility, genomics and embryo research.
