24Genetics Blog
DNA and genetics blog
The influence of genetics on celiac disease
What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the digestive system. It is characterized by an intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and crossbreeds of these grains. When a person with celiac disease consumes...
April 25th: World DNA Day
April 25th: World DNA DayThe discovery of DNA is one of the most significant milestones in the history of science and, to this day, remains the basis for many medical discoveries and advances. April 25th is the day on which two main passages in genetics and, by...
Is pancreatic cancer hereditary?
The pancreas is a glandular organ behind the stomach and in front of the spine. It produces gastric juices, enzymes that break down food, and several hormones that help control blood glucose levels. A tumor starts developing when there’s an abnormal growth of the...
Lynch syndrome and genetic inheritance
Lynch syndrome is a genetic disorder that increases the likelihood of developing certain types of cancer, especially colorectal cancer. For this reason, Lynch disease has always been referred to as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer [1]. If you want to know...
Is neuroblastoma hereditary?
There are different types of cancerous tumors, depending on several aspects: where they develop, the causes, the tissue they affect, etc. In this case, we will talk about neuroblastoma, a cancer in immature nerve cells found in different body parts. It's a malignant...
Colorectal cancer and genetics
Genetics is an essential factor in the development of colorectal cancer. A large number of genes may influence each person's predisposition to develop this disease at some point in his or their life. In addition, these genes may also be involved in developing other...
Myasthenia gravis and genetics
Myasthenia gravis is a disease that belongs to the group of neuromuscular diseases, described as disorders that affect the connection between muscles and nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, fatigue, and a range of other symptoms. Millions of people worldwide suffer...
What is follicular lymphoma, and how does genetics play a role?
The lymphatic system is vital to the human body's immune system. It produces and transports lymph cells throughout the bloodstream and acts in the event of infections or other diseases [1]. It comprises an extensive network of lymphatic vessels branching through...
Is Hodgkin’s lymphoma genetic?
Lymphatic cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Hodgkin's lymphoma is part of them and affects the lymphatic system, which is responsible for transporting fluids and immune system cells throughout the body and fighting infections and other diseases....
Coronary artery disease and genetics
Coronary artery disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. It's the most common type of heart disease. Although there are known risk factors, such as smoking, high cholesterol, and hypertension, numerous studies have shown that genetics play an...
Macular degeneration and genetics
Macular degeneration is an eye disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Although age is a major risk factor, genetics also plays a role in its development. In fact, some forms of macular degeneration are related to specific genetic mutations, which can be...
The relationship between myocardial infarction and genetics
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, are responsible for 31% of all deaths worldwide. This equates to 17.9 million deaths per...
Rare Diseases
Rare diseases are characterized by their low prevalence, which is defined as the number of people in a specific group who suffer from a certain disease at a specific time. While there is no single definition for the term "rare disease," they are all based on the...
Obesity and genetics
Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat that can be detrimental to health (1). Therefore, some of the main questions revolving around it concern whether obesity is genetic or hereditary. Among the different existing methods to measure and...
The influence of genetics on intracranial aneurysms
It’s important to understand the factors that can put brain health at risk. Research has shown that both environmental and genetic factors can increase the risk of an intracranial aneurysm, a weakened area in a blood vessel in the brain that causes it to dilate or...
Primary biliary cirrhosis: a genetic liver disorder
Primary biliary cirrhosis, also known as primary biliary cholangitis, is a disease characterized by progressive destruction of liver cells, which can lead to a number of serious complications. It is known that there may be genetic susceptibility in the development of...
What role do genetics play in rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis falls into a very broad group of pathologies called autoimmune diseases. These chronic conditions are characterized by the immune system attacking its own tissues and organs, which can occur anywhere in the body. The exact cause of autoimmune...
Wilms tumor and genetics
The World Health Organization estimates that more than three hundred thousand children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year [2]. Wilms tumor is one of the most common childhood renal cancers, although its incidence is not too high: 1 in 10,000 children...
Basal cell carcinoma and genetic predisposition
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that exist. It usually appears in the areas of the skin most exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck or back, although it can appear anywhere on the body. Skin cancer is mainly classified into three types: basal...
Blue Monday and Seasonal Affective Disorder
Blue Monday is considered by many to be the saddest or most depressing day of the year. This day is set on the calendar on the third Monday in January, when many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or simply Winter depression. According to color...
Motion sickness and its relation to genetics
Do you often get motion sickness when traveling in any mode of transportation? If the answer is yes, it is possible that you suffer from kinetosis, a disorder also known by other names such as travel sickness or sea sickness. If this is your case or you know someone...
Glioma and genetics
Cancer remains one of the diseases with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world, meaning the highest rate of deaths from disease. It is estimated that in 2020, more than 19 million cases were diagnosed worldwide and 10 million people died from this disease...
Hereditary diseases
Hereditary diseases include a large group of diseases that are transmitted from generation to generation, they are those that "run in the family", and have a genetic origin, that is, the cause of the inheritance of these diseases is genetic inheritance. Therefore, to...
Vitiligo: is there a genetic predisposition?
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Its main function is to cover and protect it from the outside. However, like any other organ, it is susceptible to certain diseases. Since it is such a large and external organ, the conditions that occur in it are more...