Subjects

Cambridge has played a central role in the story of genomics: from uncovering the structure of DNA through to inventing a super-fast way of reading the genetic code. Today, researchers are using genomic information to make more accurate diagnoses, enable personalised medicine, tackle threats like COVID-19, and even reconstruct the ancient history of humans.

Genomes front and centre of rare disease diagnosis

24 Jun 2020

Cambridge-led study discovers new genetic causes of rare diseases, potentially leading to improved diagnosis and better patient care.

Blood test to monitor cancer up to ten times more sensitive than current methods

17 Jun 2020

A new method of analysing cancer patients’ blood for evidence of the disease could be up to ten times more sensitive than previous methods according...

Identification of viruses and bacteria could be sped up through computational methods

30 Mar 2020

A new multinational study has shown how the process of distinguishing viruses and bacteria could be accelerated through the use of computational...

Cambridge to spearhead £20million alliance to map spread of COVID-19 coronavirus

23 Mar 2020

The University of Cambridge is to take a leading role in a major national effort to help understand and control the new coronavirus infection (COVID...

Detailed genetic study provides most comprehensive map of risk to date of breast cancer risk

07 Jan 2020

A major international study of the genetics of breast cancer has identified more than 350 DNA ‘errors’ that increase an individual’s risk of...

The two 31,000-year-old milk teeth found at the Yana Rhinoceros Horn Site in Russia which led to the discovery of a new group of ancient Siberians

DNA from 31,000-year-old milk teeth leads to discovery of new group of ancient Siberians

05 Jun 2019

Two children’s milk teeth buried deep in a remote archaeological site in north eastern Siberia have revealed a previously unknown group of people...

‘Fingerprint database’ could help scientists to identify new cancer culprits

16 Apr 2019

Scientists in Cambridge and London have developed a catalogue of DNA mutation ‘fingerprints’ that could help doctors pinpoint the environmental...

New Year honours 2019

28 Dec 2018

Members of collegiate Cambridge recognised for outstanding contributions to society in science, education, engineering and art

Professor Eske Willerslev with Donna and Joey, two members of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone tribe.

Ancient DNA analysis unlocks secrets of Ice Age tribes in the Americas

09 Nov 2018

Scientists have sequenced 15 ancient genomes spanning from Alaska to Patagonia and were able to track the movements of the first humans as they spread...

Studies raise questions over how epigenetic information is inherited

30 Oct 2018

Evidence has been building in recent years that our diet, our habits or traumatic experiences can have consequences for the health of our children –...

Many cases of dementia may arise from non-inherited DNA ‘spelling mistakes’

15 Oct 2018

Only a small proportion of cases of dementia are thought to be inherited – the cause of the vast majority is unknown. Now, in a study published today...

Mass burial of battle victims from the Xiongnu period in Omnogobi, Mongolia, from which scientists extracted ancient DNA from for the study.

Oldest genetic evidence of Hepatitis B virus found in ancient DNA from 4,500 year-old skeletons

09 May 2018

An extinct strain of the human Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been discovered in Bronze Age human skeletons found in burial sites across Europe and Asia...

Genomics