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Source- BBC Online

3/28/01

Gene Linked to Leprosy is Found

Scientists have discovered that Leprosy is genetically linked.

Studies in India showed that the disease tends to run in families.

The bacteria that causes leprosy is transmitted through close contact with an infected individual. The disease is curable if treated early.

Scientists are now searching for susceptibility gene(s) within families with high rate of leprosy.

Source- Yahoo Online

3/28/01

Genes for Male Gender is On the X Chromosome

Scientists have found that nearly half of the genes involved in the early development of sperm cells are on the X chromosome.

Males have both the X and Y chromosomes. Females have two X chromosomes.

Researchers believe that the findings show that male infertility due to low sperm count could be through inheritance of a gene from the mother.

Scientists studied genes that are found only in early sperm cells in mice. Only 3 were on the Y chromosome, and 10 were associated with the X chromosome.

Many genetic X-linked disease are linked to the X chromosome, such as color blindness and hemophilia.

Source- Genome News Network

3/19/01

Test for Cystic Fibrosis gene is coming soon!

Coming to the market soon is a cystic fibrosis gene test that will be available to screen pregnant women. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects the lungs and the digestive system.

Source- Telegraph.co.uk j0303455.gif (3319 bytes)

3/10/01

Musical Ability is Inherited

Scientists have discovered that musical ability is mostly inherited from parents rather than acquired.

The study was done on 568 British twin sisters. Twin sisters were asked to listen to 26 tunes with 50% of them containing one or two wrong notes.

When one identical twin (twins that share 100 of the same genes) knew where the mistakes were, her sister was able to detect them too. However, non-identical twins (share 50% of the same genes) were not able to detect similar mistakes.

Scientists believe that pitch deafness is not caused by environmental causes but is genetically inherited. If a person cannot recognize pitches then he or she will unlikely become great musicians. It seems that only 20% of exposure to music contributes to musical abilities.

Source- Houston Chronicle Science j0178185.gif (1909 bytes)

3/6/01

Discovery of DiGeorge Syndrome Gene

Scientists have discovered the mutated gene that causes DiGeorge Syndrome in babies.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine produced mice that lack the Tbx1 gene. Tbx1 controls blood vessel development around the heart. Deletion of a single copy affects heart development. Babies affected are born with congenital heart failure. However, severity of the disease varies within the population. Some affected persons have mild symptoms.

It was known that the syndrome was associated with a missing piece on chromosome 22, however, with data from the human genome project and genetic engineering, scientists were able to identify the gene. Another gene, known as Crko1, was identified by other researchers (at Columbia and Albert Einstein universities in New York City) and is, also, implicated in the disorder. Crko1 is found on chromosome 22 as well. Both copies of the gene are required to produce the disease.

The gene's discovery will allow scientists to develop better diagnosis and prevention of DiGeorge Syndrome that kills one in every 40,000 infants in the US.

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