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.
A study has found genetic clues in the specialised cells that care for developing eggs, which could potentially help doctors to identify which would be the best eggs to choose during IVF treatment. Last week Dr Samir Hamamah from the Montpellier University Hospital in France presented the...
Canadian scientists have found a new way to prompt haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from the bone marrow of mice to multiply, in order to provide a large quantity of HSCs from a small sample of bone marrow. They hope that this technique, if it also works in...
Research published in Nature Neuroscience last week shows that child abuse can alter the expression of a gene that regulates the way the brain controls the stress response. The study was conducted by researchers at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University in Montreal, Canada...
UK scientists have developed a new screening technique that could allow prospective parents to test their IVF embryos for any known genetic disease. The test, dubbed 'a genetic MoT', would cost just £1500 and could be available by next year pending licensing by the Human Fertilisation and...
A study of almost 500 individuals with schizophrenia has revealed 12 genetic variants thought to increase risk for the disease. Writing in Nature Genetics, the researchers, based at Cardiff University, Wales, UK, revealed that one variant, on chromosome 2, held particular significance. The researchers scanned the genomes...
A decade ago, it was found that the blood of pregnant women contains DNA from the fetus. The discovery of this 'free fetal DNA' (ffDNA) has led to the development of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis, where genetic characteristics of the fetus can be analysed a mere few weeks into pregnancy by...
BioNews reporting from the British Society for Human Genetics (BSHG) annual conference in York:By Ailsa Taylor: Clinical trials are urgently needed to validate the increasing number of experimental genetic tests available for assessing an individual's risk of developing serious common diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer...
Government officials in Australia have held a joint public meeting to discuss the dangers of the burgeoning but largely unregulated direct-to-consumer genetic testing market. Chair Professor Ron Trent from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Human Genetics Advisory Committee (HGAC) and Professor David Weisbrot, the president...
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) announced last Friday that a moratorium on the use of genetic test results by UK insurance companies has been extended until 2014. The agreement prevents insurance companies from requesting predicative genetic test results from customers which could be used to deny...
By Katy Sinclair: The recent explosion of genetic tests being marketed to consumers has led to calls for the market to be regulated, and for the clinical utility of the tests available to be validated. The increase in genome association studies has led to the discovery of genetic markers for...
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