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DNA molecule. Polygenic tests can reveal your future risk of many diseases

New DNA tests predict your disease risk – are we ready for them?

14 March 2023

Polygenic tests can predict your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, but some doctors worry about the consequences for healthcare systems and for us


Ancient viruses buried in our DNA may reawaken and cause illness

Ancient viruses buried in our DNA may reawaken and cause illness

26 February 2020

Stress or infection may prompt viruses hidden in our genome to stagger back to life, contributing to some cases of multiple sclerosis, diabetes and schizophrenia


If I have a disease-causing gene, should my doctor tell my family?

If I have a disease-causing gene, should my doctor tell my family?

28 August 2019

Genetic testing is undermining medical norms as people sue their doctors for either telling them or not telling them a relative’s diagnosis, says Laura Spinney


sugar hand

Move over, DNA. Life's other code is more subtle and far more powerful

27 March 2019

Our cells use a sugary language to identify and interact with each other. Cracking it will let us marshal stem cells and create alternatives to antibiotics


embryo

2019 Preview: DNA testing will lead to a decline in genetic disorders

18 December 2018

A large trial of a pre-pregnancy DNA test could be the first step towards marked declines in inherited disorders being passed on to future generations


A plague from South Korea is killing frogs and toads worldwide

A plague from South Korea is killing frogs and toads worldwide

10 May 2018

The world’s amphibians are dying in swathes because of the lethal chytrid fungus, and it seems the epidemic had its origins on the Korean peninsula


Tallin

Estonia to give genetic testing and advice to 100,000 residents

2 April 2018

Estonia is to become the first nation to give state-sponsored genetic advice on health and disease risks, and plans to extend the scheme to all its residents


Silkworms now have a bacterial superpower thanks to CRISPR

Silkworms now have a bacterial superpower thanks to CRISPR

23 March 2018

The CRISPR immune system from bacteria has been engineered into silkworms, allowing them to fight off a virus that plagues the silk industry


23andMe's breast cancer test may create false sense of security

23andMe's breast cancer test may create false sense of security

7 March 2018

Genomics firm 23andMe is the first to receive approval for direct-to-consumer cancer gene tests in the US, but will recipients misunderstand the results?


Blood test

There may be five kinds of diabetes, not just types 1 and 2

1 March 2018

Researchers propose splitting diabetes into five subtypes instead of the current type 1 and type 2 diagnoses. It may help, but we need to know much more


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