chi square genetics how to apply chi square test in genetics. By: Hoa Nguyen … Continue reading →

The genes that increase the risk of Type 1 diabetes have lost their hiding place. A research group that includes a University of Florida genetics expert has located and narrowed down the number of genes that play a role in the disease, according to a study published in the journal Nature Genetics. Knowing the identities and location of causative genes is a crucial development: Other researchers can use this information to better predict who might develop Type 1 diabetes and how to prevent it. "It's a game-changer for Type 1 diabetes," said Patrick Concannon, director of the University of Florida Genetics Institute. Researchers gathered information about the genetic makeup of 27,000 people, including those who had Type 1 diabetes and others who did not. They then began looking for individual differences in DNA that raise the risk of Type 1 diabetes. Starting with 200,000 possible locations in the genome, researchers used a technique known as fine mapping to pinpoint DNA sequence variations that can lead to diabetes. In some genomic regions, they narrowed the number of disease-causing DNA variations -- known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs -- from the thousands down to five or less. That will make diabetes … Continue reading →

IMAGE:This is Patrick Concannon, director of the University of Florida Genetics Institute. view more Credit: UF Health file photo The genes that increase the risk of Type 1 diabetes have lost their hiding place. A research group that includes a University of Florida genetics expert has located and narrowed down the number of genes that play a role in the disease, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Genetics. Knowing the identities and location of causative genes is a crucial development: Other researchers can use this information to better predict who might develop Type 1 diabetes and how to prevent it. "It's a game-changer for Type 1 diabetes," said Patrick Concannon, director of the University of Florida Genetics Institute. Researchers gathered information about the genetic makeup of 27,000 people, including those who had Type 1 diabetes and others who did not. They then began looking for individual differences in DNA that raise the risk of Type 1 diabetes. Starting with 200,000 possible locations in the genome, researchers used a technique known as fine mapping to pinpoint DNA sequence variations that can lead to diabetes. In some genomic regions, they narrowed the number of disease-causing DNA variations -- … Continue reading →

(Boston)--Today's physicians require an increasingly comprehensive understanding of the principles of genetics and genomics in order to make informed clinical decisions. Scientific discoveries are bringing genomic technology directly to consumers at an increasingly rapid pace. The availability of genomic information necessitates that educators provide adequate training in genetics and genomics for future health-care providers. In a new study in the journal Genetics in Medicine, researchers have shown that genetics curricula are evolving to include current topics in genomics however the majority of the content is taught in the first two years of medical school, with minimal and declining formal instruction in genetics during years three and four. This study was the result of a survey of course directors in the U.S. and Canada who teach genetics to medical students. The survey collected information on what topics are currently being taught, how they are taught, who the instructors are, how student learning is evaluated, what strategies are used when students do not pass the subject at their schools. Medical schools that participated in the survey used a variety of innovative teaching strategies to bring genetics into medical training including using integrated curricular models, as well as diverse and innovative teaching and … Continue reading →

BETHESDA, MD - Over 1,500 scientists from 30 countries and 46 states will attend next week's 56th Annual Drosophila Research Conference organized by the Genetics Society of America (GSA), March 4-8 in Chicago, IL. The conference will feature close to 1,000 presentations (including 170 talks) describing cutting-edge research on genetics, developmental biology, cancer, stem cells, neurology, epigenetics, genetic disease, aging, immunity, behavior, drug discovery, and technology. It is the largest meeting in the world that brings together researchers who use the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to study biology. Of special note are scientists whose achievements in genetics are being honored through awards and special lectures: The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most versatile and widely used model organisms applied to the study of genetics, physiology, and evolution. Drosophila research has led to some of the most significant breakthroughs in our understanding of biology, including five Nobel prizes. It is an effective system for studying a range of human genetic diseases, ranging from cancer to diabetes to neurodegenerative disorders. Fruit flies are a valuable resource for biomedical research because of the efficiency and cost-effectiveness with which comprehensive, sensitive, and accurate biological data can be generated. Research presented at … Continue reading →

IMAGE:This is a maritime pine forest in the Castilian Plateau, central Spain. Maritime pine forests support a great diversity of associated fauna and flora, in particular in the Mediterranean region... view more Data from only a small number of gene variants can predict which maritime pine trees are most vulnerable to climate change, scientists report in the March issue of GENETICS. The results will improve computer models designed to forecast where forests will grow as the climate changes, and promises to help forestry managers decide where to focus reforestation efforts. The results will also guide the choice of tree stocks. The maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) grows widely in southwestern Europe and parts of northern Africa. But the tree's important economic value and ecological roles in the region may be at risk as the changing climate threatens the more vulnerable forests and the productivity of commercial plantations. To predict which regions will sustain pine forests in the future, researchers and managers rely on computer models. But these forecasts don't take into account two major factors that influence a forest's fate: genetics and evolution. Genetic differences between tree populations mean that forests vary in how well they cope with warmer, drier conditions. … Continue reading →

Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Newswise The genes that increase the risk of Type 1 diabetes have lost their hiding place. A research group that includes a University of Florida genetics expert has located and narrowed down the number of genes that play a role in the disease, according to a study published Monday in the journal Nature Genetics. Knowing the identities and location of causative genes is a crucial development: Other researchers can use this information to better predict who might develop Type 1 diabetes and how to prevent it. Its a game-changer for Type 1 diabetes, said Patrick Concannon, director of the University of Florida Genetics Institute. Researchers gathered information about the genetic makeup of 27,000 people, including those who had Type 1 diabetes and others who did not. They then began looking for individual differences in DNA that raise the risk of Type 1 diabetes. Starting with 200,000 possible locations in the genome, researchers used a technique known as fine mapping to pinpoint DNA sequence variations that can lead to diabetes. In some genomic regions, they narrowed the number of disease-causing DNA variations -- known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs -- from the thousands … Continue reading →