Risk of heart disease lower when obesity is due to genetics rather than lifestyle – new research: peakanucha/Shutterstock It’s well known that a high body mass index (BMI) has negative effects on our health, increasing the risk of several diseases. This is concerning since nearly one-third of the world’s population is now classified as overweight …
Genetics might explain why some people have never had COVID – but we shouldn’t be too focused on finding out: LL_studio/Shutterstock It’s been over three years since the first known COVID infection. Since then, we’ve seen hundreds of millions of cases around the globe. You’ve probably had it – at least once, if not multiple …
Arfid: genetics a major factor in this little-known eating disorder – new research: The little-known eating disorder Arfid usually develops in childhood. Tatyana Soares/ Shutterstock An estimated 1-5% of the world’s population suffer from an eating disorder that few people are even aware exists. Known as avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, or Arfid for short, …
Bad hangovers? Why genetics, personality and coping mechanisms can make a difference: Even if you drink the same amount, it's likely your hangover will be different from your friends. Prostock-studio/ Shutterstock After a good night out you may not be surprised when you wake up feeling rough the next morning. But what may surprise you …
Obesity: neither genetics nor social background are very good predictors of your body weight – new research: There's still much we don't know about body weight. Christian Delbert/ Shutterstock There’s long been debate about whether genetics or the environment people are raised in is the biggest cause of obesity. Obesity rates have tripled since the …
IVF: here’s how genetics may be affecting its success – new insights: The success rate of IVF still remains at around 30%. fizkes/ Shutterstock It has been almost 44 years years since the first in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure was successfully performed in 1978 in Lancashire, England. Since then, more than 8 million babies have …
Whether you followed lockdown rules may have been influenced by your genetics – new research: Everyone had a different experience of the pandemic Shutterstock All over the world, people suffered the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their wellbeing. However, the impact was not the same for everyone. We know physical health and mental health …
Genetics helps estimate the risk of disease – but how much does it really tell us?: Makakaden/Shutterstock Genetics research has made momentous strides in the 21st century. At the start of the century, we had a broad understanding that most medical problems in the developed world are partly genetically determined but lacked the technology to …
Bacteria ‘shuffle’ their genetics around to develop antibiotic resistance on demand: To stop antibiotic resistance, scientists need to know how bacteria become resistant. Jarun Ontakrai/ Shutterstock Antibiotic resistance – the ability of harmful bacteria to survive treatment by antibiotics – is a growing threat. It is making it harder to treat life-threatening infections, including tuberculosis, …
Your genetics influence how resilient you are to cold temperatures – new research: People with this gene variant shivered less and had a higher core body temperature when exposed to cold water. Dudarev Mikhail/ Shutterstock Some people just aren’t bothered by the cold, no matter how low the temperature dips. And the reason for this …
An evolutionary jolt helped cattle to spread across Africa. Now genetics must make them more productive: Dinka cattle. Photo by Bruno Bierrenbach Feder/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images African cattle breeds are astonishingly diverse, and often quite beautiful. They range from the dark-red Ankole of southern Uganda, with their massive heat-dissipating horns, to the Boran which thrive in …
Rocket, arugula, rucola: how genetics determines the health benefits and whether you like this leafy green: Also known as 'arugula', rocket belongs to the same plant family as broccoli and kale. pilipphoto/ Shutterstock Love it or hate it, rocket is popular all over the world. Also known as arugula, roquette and rucola, it’s known for …
Dentists in South Africa aren’t being taught genetics. Why they should: Many genetic abnormalities involve the oral and dental region of the face. Shutterstock Genetic and genomic research has improved our understanding of the genetic origin of growth, development and disease and affects all areas of healthcare. There is also mounting evidence that many complex …
Study shows mitochondrial DNA can be passed through fathers – what does this mean for genetics?: 3D man/Shutterstock Some things you learn in school turn out not to be true, for example that there are just five senses or three states of matter. Now cutting-edge research has added to the list by proving the mitochondria …
Breast Cancer Caused By More Than Just Genetics; Quiz Helps Women Identify Risk: St. Paul House Explodes: 1 Victim Pulled From Wreckage A huge explosion jolted a St. Paul neighborhood Friday morning, sending 80-year-old John Lundahl to the hospital, and blowing out windows and walls of nearby homes. A nearby security camera captured the explosion …