genetics

Topic description and stories

Regeneration-organizing cells outline the advancing edge of a regenerating tail of a tadpole.

Scientists find new type of cell that helps tadpoles’ tails regenerate

17 May 2019

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have uncovered a specialised population of skin cells that coordinate tail regeneration in frogs. These ‘...

Butterflies are genetically wired to choose a mate that looks just like them

08 Feb 2019

Male butterflies have genes which give them a sexual preference for a partner with a similar appearance to themselves, according to new research.

Slim people have a genetic advantage when it comes to maintaining their weight

24 Jan 2019

In the largest study of its kind to date, Cambridge researchers have looked at why some people manage to stay thin while others gain weight easily...

Breast cancer cell, Credit: Anne Weston, Francis Crick Institute

Researchers develop comprehensive new way to predict breast cancer risk

15 Jan 2019

Scientists have created the most comprehensive method yet to predict a woman’s risk of breast cancer, according to a study led by researchers at the...

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 –...

A healthy lifestyle cuts stroke risk, irrespective of genetic risk

25 Oct 2018

People at high genetic risk of stroke can still reduce their chance of having a stroke by sticking to a healthy lifestyle, in particular stopping...

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...

Scientists create ‘genetic atlas’ of proteins in human blood

06 Jun 2018

An international team of researchers led by scientists at the University of Cambridge and MSD has created the first detailed genetic map of human...

Study finds that genes play a role in empathy

12 Mar 2018

A new study published today suggests that how empathic we are is not just a result of our upbringing and experience but also partly a result of our...