How the body works

The genome contains all the genes required to build and maintain the body. These processes are gradually being understood, often through research on other organisms.

News


	First gene variant linked to ageing identified A study suggests that that some people may be genetically programmed to age at a faster rate, or may age faster depending on environmental factors. 08/02/10

	Heart rhythm gene revealed in new research New research has revealed a gene which regulates the rhythm of the heart. The study could ultimately help design more targeted drugs for heart problems. 11/01/10

	Eight new blood pressure genes identified Scientists have identified eight new genes affecting blood pressure, in a study part-funded by the Wellcome Trust. 12/05/09

	Genetic make-up influences biased economic decision making, study shows How would you respond if you were told that you had an 80 per cent chance of surviving an operation? Would you give consent? How about if you were told you had a 20 per cent chance of dying? 06/05/09

	Feeling pain in cold conditions Researchers have identified a key component of the system that allows nerve cells to feel pain under cold conditions. 30/07/07

	Master switches for adult blood stem cells A set of 'master switches' keeps adult blood-forming stem cells in their primitive state. 08/02/07

	Pinpointing pain: The congenital inability to experience pain A study of people with a congenital inability to experience pain identifies a key player in the molecular basis of pain perception. 18/01/07

	Sex determination: Exploring XX males A newly discovered growth factor might play a vital role in sex determination. 16/01/07

	Stem cells: Old age proliferators Age creeps up on all of us – including stem cells. 15/12/06

	Matchmaking: Genomic signatures A new 'connectivity map' lets researchers match drugs to diseases. 22/11/06

	Genetic tug of war determines sexual differentiation Whether or not a fertilised mammalian egg ultimately develops into a male or female is determined by the winner of a tug of war between two different genes. 23/05/06

	Body odour: telling smells Human body odour is distinctive, albeit not always pleasant. It appears to be influenced by our genes and may even affect our chances of mating. 14/09/05

	'Jumping genes' contribute to the uniqueness of individual brains The movement of transposons could allow individual brains to develop in distinctly different ways. 15/06/05

	Geneticists identify 'master switch' that causes female flies to behave like males Turning on a single male-specific gene produces a female fruit fly that displays male courtship behaviors: chasing other females, tapping their abdomens and performing wing-beating love serenades. 15/06/05

	Researchers identify sleep gene Researchers identify a gene that can have a powerful effect on the amount of time fruit flies sleep. 27/04/05

	Genes that determine and restrict stem cell fate Research on adult stem cells found in the skin hints at a new class of genes – dubbed pangenes – that can both govern a stem cell's fate and put a hold on future differentiation until the time is right. 10/03/05

	Signalling protein builds bigger, better bones in mice Genetically engineered mice with bone mass up to four times greater than ordinary mice could lead to new ways of preventing or treating osteoporosis and other human diseases. 22/02/05

	Marathon mice created by gene targeting Increasing the levels of a skeletal muscle protein allows 'marathon mice' to run twice as far as normal mice. 24/08/04

	Gene changes in the ageing human brain After the age of 40, some brain genes do not work as well, while others work harder. 11/06/04

	Birds share 'language' gene with humans Gene associated with human language is key component of the song-learning machinery in birds. 30/03/04

	Ageing: An X-linked trait? A Belgian study into the inheritance of telomere length proposes that key genes involved in ageing may be on the X chromosome. 17/02/04

	Investigating the 'master planners' of the skeleton Knock-outs of Hox10 and Hox11 gene familes show roles in construction of ribs, spine and limbs. 18/07/03

	European Commission publishes background paper on stem cell research Overview of the key features of stem cell biology and their potential therapeutic use, and a survey of current legislation in EU countries. 16/04/03

	UK sets up stem cell bank UK Government pledges major investment in stem cells and postgenomic technologies. 19/09/02