Forget an elixir of life or similar such lotions and potions, the secret to a long life may be locked up in the genes of worms. New research has identified a link between a gene associated with aging and a gene associated with some types of cancer.
Skin cancer, or melanomas are caused by over exposure to sunlight, in particular ultraviolet light. How this happens is complex and is still something of a mystery. But researchers have just identified a gene variant that increases the risk of malignant melanoma.
Discovered by the Austrian monk Gregor Mendel, this is a pattern of inheritance where only one copy of a gene needs to be present for a condition to be expressed. Genetic traits are either dominant or recessive.
Scientists from the University of Pittsburgh have announced that they have discovered a series of genetic mutations that appear to be linked to an increased risk of cleft palate. The research could help scientists looking to correct the disorder by gene therapy.
A transgenic animal is one that has had its DNA manipulated to express a foreign gene supplied by another organism. Transgenic rats, rabbits, pigs, sheep, cows and fish have all been produced for a wide range of applications in medicine, industry and agriculture.
Genetic research has advanced in many different ways, starting before discoveries that have been initiated by advances in technology. Some of the most important genetic advances in history were made long before the era of molecular biology and cloning.
23andMe is a start-up biotech company based in Mountain View, California, which provides personal genetic screening. For a mere $399, you can have your genome profiled and interpreted at 23andMe. Read more about 23andMe here.
