Your genetic makeup could be the reason you’re not losing weight. New research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Ben Gurion University in Israel found that one-third of people who followed a healthy diet did not lose any weight — although they did experience health benefits. Participants exhibited “significant improvements” in cardio-metabolic markers, including improved cholesterol, … Read more
Cutting-edge gene editing technology could eradicate Down syndrome, according to Japanese scientists. Down syndrome, which causes a range of developmental differences and affects 1 in 700 newborns in the United States, is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. The extra chromosome, also known as trisomy 21, causes cellular overactivity, compromises … Read more
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s … genetic optimization? Prospective parents using in vitro fertilization (IVF) will soon be able to select embryos based on their potential risk for diseases — including illnesses that develop later in life — thanks to a groundbreaking $5,999 service announced this week by a US biotech company. “Before … Read more
Scientists have identified a new pod of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived near the land bridge between North America and South America about 6,000 years ago. Researchers are still charting how human populations spread across the Americas thousands of years ago, arriving first in North America before veering south. Groups that split off developed their own collection of genes … Read more
Thyme to turn back the clock! A new study suggests that consuming plant-based foods rich in natural substances called methyl adaptogens can potentially slow biological aging. Biological age is the age of our cells and tissues — it may be higher or lower than our chronological age, which is the number of years we’ve been … Read more
Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey had the worst Valentine’s Day — but he’s feeling the love now. Dorsey, 56, was diagnosed on Feb. 14 with Stage 4 esophageal cancer that spread to his lymph nodes and liver. Baltimore firefighter Steve Dorsey, 56, was diagnosed on Valentine’s Day with Stage 4 esophageal cancer that spread to his … Read more
A woman who was searching for information about her long-lost dad has discovered his secret life as a New York City mafia informant. Paula Colville, 60, was raised by her mom Elizabeth, who became pregnant while working in New York City as an au pair in the 1960s. After returning to Scotland, Elizabeth refused to … Read more
A baby born with a rare and dangerous genetic disease is growing and thriving after getting an experimental gene editing treatment made just for him. Researchers described the case in a new study, saying he’s among the first to be successfully treated with a custom therapy that seeks to fix a tiny but critical error … Read more
About 66 million years ago, the Tyrannosaurus rex roamed around Earth terrifying nature around it. Now, one of the largest predators ever to live on land can be your next purse. Researchers and bioengineers are working to create the next cruelty-free and sustainable luxury handbag using lab-grown leather from fossilized T. rex remains from the … Read more
You know about DNA, but you may not have heard of NAD. You wouldn’t be alive without it. NAD — short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — is critical for energy production, DNA repair and cell survival. Scientists are investigating the potential for NAD+, the active form of NAD, to slow aging, boost brain health and … Read more
A groundbreaking new study suggests that a gut-dwelling bacteria may be behind the recent surge in early-onset colorectal cancer cases. The potential culprit? Colibactin, a toxin produced by certain strains of E. coli that thrive in the colon and rectum. “We believe this exposure occurs very early in life — likely during the first decade … Read more
From sweethearts to siblings — yes, you read that right. Victoria Hill sat in sheer “disbelief” upon discovering that her boyfriend was actually her brother. “He sent me the screenshot that, ‘You are my sister,’” Hill, a crestfallen mom of two from Connecticut, explained on the UK’s ITV “This Morning” show. Victoria Hill learned that … Read more
We’ve long known the short-term effects of trauma — headaches, changes in appetite or sleep, fear, anxiety and concentration troubles are just a few. A new study suggests that severe trauma, like that experienced in war, can leave epigenetic “scars” on DNA that endures for generations. In the early 1980s, the Syrian regime carried out … Read more
Billy Corgan still doesn’t know if Bill Burr is his half-brother — and he hasn’t taken a DNA test to find out. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, 57, said in a new interview with People magazine that his close friends have grilled him about his half-brother drama with Burr, 56, which came to a head when … Read more
Researchers have corrected a disease-causing gene mutation with a single infusion carrying a treatment that precisely targeted the errant gene. This was the first time a mutated gene has been restored to normal. The small study of nine patients announced Monday by the company Beam Therapeutics of Cambridge, Mass., involved fixing a spelling error involving … Read more
Feel like you “can’t handle your alcohol?” Do you experience nausea, facial flushing or a racing heart after enjoying even small amounts of your favorite cocktail? These could be signs that you have an inherited intolerance to alcohol — and a mutated gene could be the culprit, according to Cleveland Clinic. This gene mutation hampers … Read more
You may want to pass on that joint. A new scientific paper describes cannabis as a “genotoxic” substance that damages genetic information within cells, potentially leading to DNA mutations, accelerated biological aging and cancer. The authors of the analysis say this genotoxicity can be transmitted to the weed smoker’s offspring via a damaged egg and … Read more
If sugar is always your jam, your DNA may be to blame. An international team of researchers says that a genetic variation in our ability to digest certain sugars may influence how much we like sweet foods — and how much we consume. The scientists are pointing the finger at the sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene, which … Read more
About 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with a new case of oropharyngeal cancer each year, with a UK head, neck and thyroid surgeon pointing the finger at oral sex. Oropharyngeal cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that tends to affect people between 50 and 80 but is becoming more prevalent among younger generations … Read more
Cheek, please! A biotechnology company headquartered in Manhattan has developed an “aging” clock that uses information from the cells in your cheeks to predict your biological age. Biological age is the age of your cells and tissues — this number can differ from your chronological age, which is the number of years you’ve been alive. … Read more