Resources

Studies raise questions over how epigenetic information is inherited October 30, 2018
A second study, also from Cambridge, suggests, however, that one way that environmental effects are passed on may in fact be through molecules produced from the DNA known as RNA that are found in a father’s sperm. The mechanism by which we inherit innate characteristics from our parents is well understood: we inherit half of […]
A healthy lifestyle cuts stroke risk, irrespective of genetic risk October 24, 2018
Stroke is a complex disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors, including diet and lifestyle. But could adhering to a healthy lifestyle offset the effect of genetics on stroke risk? An international team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge decided to find out by investigating whether a genetic risk score for stroke […]
Many cases of dementia may arise from non-inherited DNA ‘spelling mistakes’ October 15, 2018
The findings suggest that for many people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, the roots of their condition will trace back to their time as an embryo developing in the womb. In common neurodegenerative diseases, toxic proteins build up in the brain, destroying brain cells and damaging brain regions, leading to […]