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A new study has explored genetic factors that contribute to skin pigmentation in 1,076 African Americans. They have utilized this data to look for specific genetic factors that are associated with vitamin D deficiency in the same population.

Urinalysis has long been a staple of physical exams to detect and manage a number of diseases and disorders, but not cancer. What if it were that easy, though, and cancer was detected in its very earliest stages when the disease responds more favorably to treatment and improved outcomes are more likely?

Scientists have developed a method using a DNA biomarker to easily screen pregnant women for harmful prenatal environmental contaminants like air pollution linked to childhood illness and developmental disorders.

Trained dogs can detect cancer and other diseases by smell. A miniaturized detector can analyze trace molecules to mimic the process.

A specific SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mutation – one of several genetic mutations in the concerning variants that have emerged – makes the virus up to eight times more infectious in human cells than the initial virus that originated in China.

In a world first genetic study, researchers from the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Australia found that that long-term, heavy coffee consumption – six or more cups a day – can increase the amount of lipids (fats) in your blood to significantly heighten your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Changes in the activity of five genes may play a critical role in determining whether a person will suffer from Lewy body dementia.

Last year, researchers showed that a major genetic risk factor for severe COVID-19 is inherited from Neandertals. Now the same researchers find that Neandertals also contributed a protective variant. Half of all people outside Africa carry a Neandertal gene variant that reduces the risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19 by 20 percent.

A research team has paved the way for the development of highly-sensitive tests for all known coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 variants. These tests are being designed to enable the differentiation between the immune response caused by infection and vaccination.

A new blood biomarker test has been developed that can rapidly detect the severity of COVID-19 infections when a person with flu-like symptoms first presents to a clinic.