genetic screening news stories on Newser

Down Syndrome on Decline as Moms Abort

Kevin Spak — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:26:12 CST

With women waiting longer to have children, the number of Down syndrome cases in the US ought to be on the rise—advanced maternal age increases Down syndrome risk. But instead it fell 15% from 1989 to 2005, ABC News reports. The reason: prenatal screenings. Roughly 92% of women who...

DNA Screening May Help Beat Ovarian Cancer

Jason Farago — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:20:00 CDT

An international coalition of geneticists has discovered a DNA variant in women with ovarian cancer that could lead to earlier detection and lower mortality rates, reports the Guardian . More than half of women exhibit the genetic trait, which increases the likelihood of ovarian cancer by up to 40%. The researchers...

Suit Challenges Patenting of Cancer Genes

Harry Kimball — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:39:02 CDT

A group of breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients has filed suit against the Patent Office for allowing a company to patent two human genes, the Courthouse News Service reports. The plaintiffs, who also include medical organizations and the ACLU, allege that Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2...

House Says No To Genetic Discrimination

Harry Kimball — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:11:20 CDT

A long-suffering bill outlawing genetic discrimination by health insurers and in the workplace sailed through the House today, and President Bush has pledged to sign it into law, Reuters reports. The bill, forms of which have kicked around Washington for 13 years, forbids insurers from denying coverage based on genetic...

Soccer Scouts Look Into Genetic Testing

Rob Quinn — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:00:29 CDT

Scouts for the world's leading soccer teams spend millions every year trying to spot the next Ronaldo or David Beckham but they could soon be turning their attention to genetic tests as well as training grounds. DNA tests that identify genes associated with top athletic ability are already being marketed...

Autistic Kids Linked to Sperm Donor

Rob Quinn — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:07:00 CDT

A New York professor who wanted to become a mother contacted a sperm bank and chose sperm from a donor with a high IQ. When her son turned out to be autistic, she contacted other mothers who used the same donor and discovered some of their kids were autistic as...

Gene Linked to Stress Disorder

Katherine Thompson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:16:00 CDT

A gene that may influence an individual's susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder has been identified by psychologists at Emory University, Time reports. A study of low-income African-American adults in the Atlanta area, 80% of whom had experienced trauma, found that certain versions of a gene were linked to higher PTSD...

Docs ID Prostate Cancer Gene Markers

Katherine Thompson — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:00:57 CST

Seven genetic markers that increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer have been identified, the Guardian reports. A test to screen for the affected genes should be ready within 3 years, British researchers say, leading to more effective early diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The newly identified genes,...

DIY Gene Test: Get Results in the Mail

Jason Farago — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:45:00 CST

A new British company has developed a home DNA test that determines whether customers are genetically predisposed to ailments such as breast cancer, heart disease, obesity, and osteoporosis. Users scrape a cheek with a swab, sign a special waiver if they want to know results even for incurable diseases, such...