Pregnancy and MTHFR
By Bethann Hromatka, Ph.D. The MTHFR gene codes for a protein that helps people metabolize B-vitamin folate (also called folic acid or vitamin B9). Relatively common variations in the DNA...
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The Genetics of Adolescent Growth Spurts
By Alison ChubbWe’ve all known teenagers who grow several inches in a year, and then start bumping into people and furniture as they figure out what to do with their...
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A tale of two fingers
By David Tran Look at your hands. Is your ring finger longer than your index finger, or vice versa? The length of a person’s index finger relative to his or...
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A Song Draws Focus on Osteosarcoma Research
By Bertram K. Two days after his death in May, Zach Sobiech’s song “Clouds” became the number one download on iTunes and now has surpassed seven million views on YouTube....
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Genetics and a rare bone cancer
Late last year researchers with support from the Chordoma Foundation identified a genetic marker associated with that rare form of bone cancer. The Chordoma Foundation has also partnered with 23andMe...
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The Genetics of Mental Illness
Researchers have long believed that genetics put some people at higher risk for mental illness than others, but exactly which genes are involved has remained a mystery. Even very large...
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Barfly Genetics
You probably know that smoking and excessive drinking are bad for you. But did you know that your genetics also factor into how much those vices can impact your health?...
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Smells Like Gene Spirit
Here’s something to file under “Thank Goodness!” Researchers at the University of Bristol found that people with the genetic variant making them more prone to smelly armpits are also more...
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Back-to-School: The Genetics of Learning from Your Mistakes
For back-to-school month we’re running a series of posts on genetic factors that may impact learning. Here we describe a variant that may influence a person’s ability to learn from...
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Did You Know? Genetics Might Influence “March Madness”
It’s that time of year again -- March Madness. Some of you may be baffled by how much energy and money Americans invest in sporting events, but those who participate will expound on the excitement of watching spectacular athletes and the thrill of competition, or simply the fun of betting on the outcome. Investigating the different angles of March Madness also turns out to be pretty interesting from a genetic perspective.
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