Breast cancer, occurs when cells in the breasts begin to multiply uncontrollably, resulting in the formation of tumors. If left untreated, the cancerous cells can spread throughout the body and become deadly. This type of cancer is a global health concern, affecting...
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Lung cancer and genetics
What is lung cancer? Lung cancer consists of the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells of the lung epithelium. It usually starts in these organs and can spread to different parts of the respiratory system, even reaching the lymph nodes or other organs, such...
What is a Genetic Test?
In today's age of science and technology, genetics has revolutionized our understanding of heredity and the functioning of the human body. Genetic tests, also known as DNA tests, are one of the most prominent innovations in this field. These tests have gained...
What is the exposome and what is its impact on health?
Health is a complex concept in which it is clear that multiple factors of various kinds have an influence. Some of them are relatively easy to modify; in others our capacity to influence is minimal or null; and others are practically static. As we have told you on...
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
From the color of our eyes to our predispositions to certain diseases, our genes significantly influence our lives. Thanks to technological advances and industry-leading companies like 24Genetics, personalized genetics is now more accessible than ever. What is...
Gaucher Disease and Genetics
What is Gaucher disease? Gaucher disease is a rare autosomal recessive (two copies of a mutated gene must be present for the disease to develop) genetic disorder, which is due to a deficit of a lysosomal enzyme called glucocerebrosidase, which causes the storage of...
What role does the oral microbiota play in your health?
In recent years, interest in the study of the oral microbiota as a marker of health status has increased enormously. More and more research is being carried out in the field of microbiology and, therefore, the conclusions we can draw are more scientifically...
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...