The official MedZine Blog

Finnish researchers discovered a genetic mutation causing reckless and impulsive behaviour in carriers under the influence of alcohol. This behaviour is more extreme for what may be expected based on the alcohol use. According to the researchers, these behavioural changes are caused by a mutation in the serotonine 2B receptor gene. The results of their research is published in Translational Psychiatry. Continue reading

After years of discussion, scientists finally seem to have found the answer to what determines our behaviour: genetics or environmental factors. Apparently, no clear distinction can be made between the two, because both contribute equally. This simultaneously implies that every trait is hereditary, in contrast to previous assumptions. The VU Amsterdam and the University of Queensland, Brisbane, presented the results of the largest twin study yet in Nature Genetics. Continue reading

The placebo effect has puzzled scientists for years. Why do patients experience a temporary relief in symptoms without the administration of biologically active substances? According to scientists of the Harvard Medical School in Boston the susceptibility to placebos may be partly based on specific genetic variants. These results were published in a review in Trends in Molecular Medicine. Continue reading

British scientists of the University of Cambridge discovered fifteen novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are linked to the risk of developing breast cancer. That is written in an article, recently published in Nature Genetics. Currently, over ninety of these genetic variations, playing a role in breast cancer development, have been found in the literature. Continue reading

Researchers of the Waggoner Center, part of the University of Texas, discovered a gene network that is possibly linked to alcohol dependence. In the future, patients can be screened for expression of these genes to determine the risk of developing alcoholism and personalise treatment. Results of this research have recently been published in Molecular Psychiatry. Continue reading

Also this week MedZine brings you the latest medical news on various medical specialisms. In this editorial two striking studies are highlighted. The first identifies a protein that is essential for maintaining beta cell function. The second describes genes that are important for left-right differences. Continue reading