The hidden complexity underlying a common cause of autism
6/29/18
Genes located in a large chromosomal aberration associated with autism interact with each other to modulate the variable symptoms of the disease, according to new research.
genetics
genetics
Corn genetics research exposes mechanism behind traits becoming silent
11/21/17
For more than a century, plant geneticists have been studying maize as a model system to understand the rules governing the inheritance of traits, and a team of researchers recently unveiled a previously unknown mechanism that triggers gene silencing in corn.
Impact of a genetic risk factor for substance use differs by sex in adolescents
11/13/17
In a study of adolescent boys and girls, neuroscientists at Georgetown University Medical Center and Penn State University have found a sex difference in a gene linked to substance use disorders.
Exploring how herpes simplex virus changes when passed between family members
10/20/17
A new study explores how herpes simplex virus might change when passed from one individual to another, information that may prove useful in future development of therapeutics and vaccines.
Disease-associated genes routinely missed in some genetic studies
4/20/17
Whole-exome DNA sequencing -- a technology that saves time and money by sequencing only protein-coding regions and not the entire genome -- may routinely miss detecting some genetic variations associated with disease, according to Penn State researchers who have developed new ways to identify such omissions.
Nose form was shaped by climate
3/16/17
Big, small, broad, narrow, long or short, turned up, pug, hooked, bulbous or prominent, humans inherit their nose shape from their parents, but ultimately, the shape of someone's nose and that of their parents was formed by a long process of adaptation to our local climate, according to an international team of researchers.
Penn State Colorectal Diseases Biobank links genetics and colorectal cancer
3/15/17
Cutting-edge research at Penn State College of Medicine and the Penn State Colorectal Diseases Biobank is revealing how genetics play a role in treating colorectal cancer.
College of Medicine graduate student launches genetics research startup
2/13/17
Penn State graduate student Olivier Noel is only 28 years old, but he’s already changing the face of genetics research.
Thomas Gould named head of Department of Biobehavioral Health
7/15/16
Thomas J. Gould has been named head of the Department of Biobehavioral Health in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State. In this role, he will hold the Jean Phillips Shibley Professorship of Biobehavioral Health. Gould joins Penn State, effective July 1, after serving as professor of psychology and director of the program in neuroscience at Temple University.
Engineer awarded funding for Parkinson’s research by Institute for CyberScience
4/27/16
The Penn State Institute for CyberScience (ICS) has awarded $25,000 to Tao Yao, associate professor in the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and his team of researchers for their project titled, “High-Dimensional Data Analysis for Parkinson’s Disease.”
Gorilla and human Y chromosomes are highly similar, new method reveals
3/2/16
A faster, less expensive method has been developed and used to learn the DNA sequence of the male-specific Y chromosome in the gorilla. The research reveals that a male gorilla’s Y chromosome is more similar to a male human’s Y chromosome than to a chimpanzee’s. The technique works for any species, so it can be used to study male infertility disorders and male-specific mutations. It also can aid in conservation efforts. "Surprisingly, we found that in many ways the gorilla Y chromosome is more similar to the human Y chromosome than either is to the chimpanzee Y chromosome," said Kateryna Makova, the Francis R. and Helen M. Pentz Professor of Science at Penn State and one of two corresponding authors of the paper.
York faculty member featured at faculty colloqium Feb. 10
2/5/16
Jessica Petko, assistant professor of biology at Penn State York, will be the featured speaker at a faculty colloquium on Feb. 10. The program, at 12:10 p.m. in 113 John J. Romano Administration Building, is free and open to the public.
Biobehavioral Health professor honored by Association for Psychological Science
1/21/16
Idan Shalev, assistant professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State, is a 2015 recipient of the Rising Star Award, presented by the Association for Psychological Science. Shalev has been recognized for his innovative work in genetic markers of stress and aging.
Penn State, Harvard team up to enhance science education for minority students
11/10/15
"Finding Your Roots," an innovative new school curriculum that utilizes personalized genealogy and genetics to teach science and health to disadvantaged and minority students, has received $659,000 in grants from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and National Science Foundation.
Penn State Law dean speaks at Capitol Hill on genetics, law enforcement
3/19/15
Penn State Law Associate Dean for Research David H. Kaye spoke on Capitol Hill March 19 regarding the collection and use of DNA evidence at a panel hosted by Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter and Senator Elizabeth Warren.