genetics

Researchers report that molluscum contagiosum, a common skin virus, appears to have taken a gene from its human hosts and kept it, an example of gene transfer from host to virus that is rarely documented. The finding suggests viruses and their hosts exchange genetic material more often than assumed, and scientists are discussing what this reveals about viral evolution and long-term coexistence with humans.

UNC Health reports progress in its gene therapy research aimed at treating Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that primarily affects girls and causes severe impairments in movement, communication and daily function. The announcement highlights the health system's ongoing work to develop genetic treatments for conditions that currently have limited therapeutic options, drawing attention from families and researchers following the rare disease field.

New coverage explains that sex chromosomes influence lifelong health in ways that go well beyond determining biological sex. Researchers point to effects on disease risk, immune function and aging, arguing that X and Y chromosomes continue shaping the body throughout life rather than acting only at birth.

A renewed science explainer points out that pregnancy can make people biological chimeras: fetal cells cross into the mother's body and may persist for decades. Readers are reacting to the detail that even an early miscarriage, such as one more than twenty years ago, could leave behind embryonic genetic material that might even be passed on later. The finding is prompting people to share their own surprise at how long fetal cells can remain.

Police in Summit are revisiting a two-decade-old cold case involving a man whose body was found in a canal, hoping advances in DNA technology can finally identify him. The development highlights how modern genetic genealogy is being used to solve cases that once seemed unsolvable, and it has drawn attention to the unidentified victim and the effort to give his family answers.

Researchers have completed the largest genetic analysis of jaguars to date, identifying how populations of the big cat are connected across their range in the Americas. The findings map gene flow between jaguar groups from Mexico to Argentina, offering a baseline for conservation planning and efforts to protect corridors linking fragmented habitats.

Researchers report that a biologic drug used to treat asthma in children interacts with a common genetic variant, a finding that could help explain why some young patients respond better to these therapies than others. The observation points toward more personalized approaches to prescribing asthma biologics based on a child's genetic profile.

STAT reports a writer had their genome analyzed by Anthropic's Claude chatbot in about 30 minutes, an task that traditionally takes specialists far longer. The episode highlights both the speed of AI tools in personal genomics and the absence of standards for validating such results, raising concerns about accuracy, interpretation and medical decision-making.