Archive for March, 2009

Mar 31 2009

23andMe Launches Pregnancy Community

Published by LindaA under news, our founders

By 23andMe Co-founders Linda Avey and Anne Wojcicki

Every year, 130 million babies are born around the world. Yet little is known about why some women sail through their pregnancies, while others encounter issues such as infertility, miscarriage, pre-term labor, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Giving birth, whether in medically-advanced countries or in the developing world, [...]

One response so far

Mar 30 2009

SNPwatch: Genetic Variation May Explain Why Young Women Are At Greater Risk For Melanoma Compared to Young Men

Published by ErinC under SNPwatch

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

No responses yet

Mar 27 2009

Family History, In Addition To Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors, Predicts Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis

Published by ErinC under news

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), sometimes called “economy class syndrome” is the formation of a blood clot in a vein deep within the body, usually in the legs.  Not only can DVT be painful, but it can also lead to a potentially fatal condition called pulmonary embolism if the clot breaks free and travels through the [...]

No responses yet

Mar 24 2009

Researchers Warn That Physicians Need To Ask About Alcohol “Flushing” To Reduce Esophageal Cancer Risk

Published by ErinC under news

No matter what you call it – “flush”, “blush” or “glow” – the red face, nausea and rapid heart beat that many people with Asian ancestry experience when they drink alcohol is more than just a quirk of nature.  Research shows it’s a significant risk factor for esophageal cancer, one of the deadliest malignancies in [...]

No responses yet

Mar 23 2009

SNPwatch: Researchers Identify Genetic Variants Linked To Heart Rhythm And Possibly Sudden Cardiac Death

Published by ErinC under SNPwatch

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

No responses yet

Mar 20 2009

SNPwatch: Genetic Variation Linked to Smoking and Lung Cancer Might Also Raise Risk for COPD

Published by ErinC under SNPwatch

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

No responses yet

Mar 19 2009

Understanding The Genetics of Parkinson’s Disease: A Work In Progress

Published by ErinC under genetics 101

PET scans showing dopamine activity in a normal brain and a Parkinson’s patient’s before and after treatment with a therapeutic implant.
More than a million Americans have Parkinson’s disease, and another 50,000 are diagnosed each year. Scientists know that many of the characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s — tremors, rigid muscles and movement problems — can [...]

2 responses so far

Mar 17 2009

The Genetics of Globalization

Published by AnneH under genetics 101, news

Before 500 years ago people rarely went far to find a mate, choosing a husband or wife from the locally available pool of men and women. But with the dawn of European colonialism people from different parts of the world were suddenly living side by side, and had a whole new set of people to [...]

2 responses so far

Mar 16 2009

SNPwatch: Inherited Genetic Variation May Predispose People For Blood Disorder Mutation Later in Life

Published by ErinC under SNPwatch

SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that [...]

2 responses so far

Mar 13 2009

BRCA1/2 Mutations May Decrease Lifespan Even In The Absence of Cancer

Published by ErinC under news

BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations account for most (though not all) cases of inherited breast cancer in women. These mutations are also associated with an increased risk for ovarian cancer. In men, BRCA1/2 mutations increase the risk for breast cancer and may also increase prostate cancer risk.  Research has indicated there may also be an [...]

No responses yet

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