Focus on genes

1000 Genomes Project publishes most comprehensive map to date of human genetic variation

Small genetic differences between individuals help explain why some people are at higher risk than others for developing illnesses such as diabetes or cancer. This week, the 1000 Genomes Project, an international public-private consortium, published the most comprehensive map of these genetic variations, estimated to contain approximately 95 per cent of the genetic variation of any person on Earth. 28/10/10

Study reveals sex chromosomes 'not as isolated as first thought'

New research has challenged the scientific belief that the sex chromosomes are genetically isolated and stay largely the same during cell division. 14/09/09

Silence of the triple helix

A direct role for RNA in switching off a gene essential for cancer cell growth has been uncovered by researchers at the University of Oxford. 14/02/07

Human proteins evolving slowly thanks to multitasking genes

Many human proteins ar not as good as they might be because the gene sequences that code for them have a double role, which slows down the rate at which they evolve. 06/02/07

Towards a global map of epigenetic variation

Human Epigenome Project generates DNA methylation profiles of three chromosomes. 29/10/06

RNA interference discoverers win Nobel Prize

Andrew Fire and Craig Mello win the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. 02/10/06

Most human-chimp differences due to gene regulation

The vast differences between humans and chimpanzees are due more to changes in gene regulation than differences in individual genes themselves, researchers argue. 09/03/06

Scientists discover gene that modulates anxiety

Scientists have found a gene that modulates anxiety, using an innovative approach that could be widely applicable to other complex biological traits. 10/10/04

Smoking and lung gene expression

Smoking appears to alter gene expression in lung cells, according to a new study. 22/06/04

Tackling the question of what individual genes do

A new project will use the technique of RNA interference (RNAi) to switch off the expression of one gene at a time in human cells and see how cellular function is affected. 14/02/03

BRCA2 patent granted

European Patent Office grants patent on BRCA2 to Myriad. 27/01/03