Advancements in Skin Scarring Genetics

The highly complex process of wound healing requires the coordinated response of various cell types, as well as the proper delivery of nutrients and oxygen to repair the damaged tissue. While superficial wounds tend to heal within a matter of days, deeper and larger wounds tend to heal by leaving a scar. These scars can be painful, restrict mobility, or impair function.

A recent review calls attention to the need for improved techniques or developments to both treat and prevent scarring. Research could be improved with the use of population health approaches and experimental validation in animal models. In the past, a wide variety of animal models have been used to study scaring. It is possible to take these studies further with the performance of candidate gene validation. Overall, these strategies may uncover links between specific genetic loci and wound related phenotypes in humans. Future experimental work in animal models can then be used to validate these candidate genes and deepen insight into the biological mechanisms involved.




Source:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681525006588#sec0030

Additional:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10843200/

One Genetic Map Could Change How We Understand Mental Health

  

  A groundbreaking study published in Nature analyzed genetic data from over 6 million people to better understand how different mental health disorders are connected. Researchers found that conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, and substance use disorders are not as separate as we once thought. Instead, they share underlying genetic patterns that group into five major clusters, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and internalizing disorders.

    This discovery helps explain why many individuals experience multiple mental health conditions at the same time. Rather than being completely distinct illnesses, these disorders may stem from shared biological pathways influenced by hundreds of genetic variants. The study even links certain disorders to specific brain cell types, offering deeper insight into how these conditions develop at a cellular level.

    What makes this research especially important is its potential to reshape how mental illness is diagnosed and treated. Currently, diagnoses are based mostly on symptoms, but this genetic approach could lead to a more accurate, biology-based system. In the future, treatments might target shared genetic mechanisms, helping multiple conditions at once instead of treating them separately.

    I found this study fascinating because it challenges the way we traditionally think about mental health. It shows that mental illness is far more interconnected and complex than simple labels suggest. This kind of research could reduce stigma and lead to more effective, personalized care, which feels especially important as mental health continues to impact so many people.

Article link: https://stories.tamu.edu/news/2026/01/12/one-genetic-map-could-rewrite-how-we-understand-mental-health/

Additional resource: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09820-3

Genetic Components Linked to Neuropathy

In a recent study examining the causes of motor and sensory neuropathy, researchers have located a gene that has the potential to cause it. 

Neuropathy is a condition in which the peripheral nerves are damaged and can cause numbness and tingling, pain and weakness. This usually occurs in the outermost parts of the body but can also go up the individual's arms and legs. Due to this condition’s potential to severely limit mobility, neuropathy can be extremely debilitating and life altering.

In this study, researchers identified a missense mutation in a gene regulating nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase, an enzyme that regulates DNA repair and metabolic processes. Both in human individuals homozygous for the mutation and in mouse models, the missense mutation in the NAMPT gene disrupted metabolic processes and caused neuropathy. This study marks the first human neurological disease caused by a mutation in the NAMPT gene.

This research is very important because of how difficult it is to effectively treat neuropathy in many cases. By finding a genetic component to this disease, researchers in the medical field may also find new ways to treat it.

Sources:

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx2407

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28333140/

Genetic Influence on Oral Health

Carmine Martino

BIOL-2110-001

Dr. Guy Barbato

April 25th, 2026

    A recent study found that human genetics can influence the oral microbiome and may increase the risk of dental caries, like decay in some people. Scientists analyzed saliva-derived DNA from more than 12,500 individuals and measured the levels of 439 common microbial species found in the mouth.

    The findings showed a surprisingly large effect of human genetics on the abundance of microbes in the mouth. The team identified 11 regions of the human genome associated with differences in the levels of dozens of bacterial species. One gene called AMY1 was strongly linked to the composition of the oral microbiome and even denture use, suggesting that interactions between human genes and oral bacteria may play a role in dental health. The strongest relationship found was between a genetic variant that disrupts the FUT2 gene and the levels of 58 oral bacterial species. The article explains that these findings show a strong interaction between human DNA and the DNA of bacteria living in the mouth.

    I particularly enjoyed reading about this topic because I used to work as a dental assistant, and I would sometimes notice family member's of patients coming in with similar oral health problems even when they seemed to have good home care habits. Reading about how genetics can play a role in a patient's oral health made those experiences make more sense to me.

Article: 

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-genes-microbes-mouths-dental-health.html

Second Source:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/dental-medicine/articles/10.3389/fdmed.2022.1060177/full

Could We Actually Bring Extinct Species Back to Life?

 The idea of de-extinction is something that scientists are exploring to bring back extinct species. This process is the reviving of extinct species using modern genetic told. They are using DNA to recreate or mimic extinct species. Some approches include cloning: use of preserved DNA to create a genetic copy, Selective breeding: breeding modern animals to resemble ancestors, Genetic engineering: editing of DNA of a living species to match an extinct one. The last method is the most promising, tools like CRISPR.

One of the most famous de-extinction projects involves the wooly mammoth. Scientists are attempting to include mammoth genes into the DNA of modern elephants to create a hybrid that can survive cold environments. The goal isnt to bring them back but to also restore ecosystems. Some researchers believe that mammoth like animals can help rebuild Arctic grasslands and slow climate changes.

There are many challenges that come with this idea, DNA degrades overtime, which makes genomes hard to obtain. The accuracy of the species is unknown, and development would require a living surrogate.

Ethical dilemas also come to rise. Should species even be brought back, and could this potentially distract from protecting endangered species today. Concern about animal welfare especially for the surrogates also become a conversation.

National Geographic Society
“De-Extinction.” National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/de-extinction/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Smithsonian Institution
“Can We Bring Extinct Animals Back to Life?” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-we-bring-extinct-animals-back-life-180968197/. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Science
Shapiro, Beth. “Pathways to De-Extinction: How Close Can We Get to Resurrection of an Extinct Species?” Science, vol. 340, no. 6135, 2013, pp. 32–33.

The Genetics of Attraction

 One fascinating discovery is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which is a group of genes that are related to immunity. Studies suggest that people are often attracted to other with different MHC genes. 

Having a difference in these genes between 2 partners is ideal due to stronger immune systems in offspring and greater genetic diversity. In a famous experiment, women rated the scent of T-shirts worn by men and preferred those with different MHC profiles.

Attraction involves brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters such as dopamine (reward and pleasure), oxytocin (bonding), and testosterone & estrogen (sexual attraction). These are influenced by genetics and environment.

Your environment plays a role in your attraction which is shaped by personal experiences, culture, and social context. 

National Human Genome Research Institute
“Genome Editing.” Genome.gov, National Human Genome Research Institute, https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genome-Editing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Nature
Cyranoski, David. “CRISPR-Baby Scientist Fails to Satisfy Critics.” Nature, vol. 564, 2018, pp. 13–14.

World Health Organization
Human Genome Editing: Recommendations. World Health Organization, 2021, https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030381

The Science and Ethics of Human Cloning

 Human cloning sounds like something that is not possible. Cloning is not just fiction, in 1996 a sheep was cloned. This raises the question: could humans be cloned?

The method to clone Dolly the Sheep is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). This includes taking the nucleus from the body cell, inserting it into an egg cell with its nucleus removed, and stimulating the cell to develop and divide into an embryo.

This may seem like your clone would be exactly you but thats not actually the case. Even with identical DNA, your clone would not grow up in the same environment, have different experiences, and would develop a unique personality. 

Human cloning is banned due to serious ethical concerns such as: issues of identity and individuality, high failure and health risks, and exploitation. Because of this, most countries have strict laws.

National Human Genome Research Institute
“Cloning.” Genome.gov, National Human Genome Research Institute, https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Cloning. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Nature
Wilmut, Ian, et al. “Viable Offspring Derived from Fetal and Adult Mammalian Cells.” Nature, vol. 385, 1997, pp. 810–813.

National Institutes of Health
“Cloning Fact Sheet.” National Institutes of Health, https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=41. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

Is Artificial Intelligence the Future of Genetic Disease Diagnosis?

Recent advances in the intersection of artificial intelligence and genetics are transforming how scientists understand and diagnose disease. Companies like Google DeepMind have developed tools such as AlphaGenome, which can analyze vast amounts of genetic data and predict which DNA mutations are likely to cause disease. Traditionally, identifying harmful mutations required years of lab work and trial-and-error experimentation. Now, AI can scan entire genomes in a fraction of the time, identifying patterns that would be nearly impossible for humans to detect on their own. This has major implications for diagnosing rare genetic disorders, where patients often wait years for answers. By combining machine learning with genomic sequencing, researchers are moving toward faster, more accurate, and more personalized diagnoses.

AI-driven tools could eventually make genetic analysis more accessible and affordable, reducing reliance on specialized labs and experts. However, there are still concerns about accuracy, bias in training data, and the ethical implications of relying on algorithms to make medical decisions. Additionally, while AI can predict the likelihood that a mutation is harmful, it does not fully replace the need for biological validation. Despite these challenges, the integration of AI into genetics represents a major step toward precision medicine, where treatments and diagnoses are tailored to an individual’s unique genetic makeup.

I think this is one of the most exciting developments in genetics right now because it shows how different fields of science can come together to solve real problems. The idea that AI can analyze DNA faster than scientists is kind of crazy, but also makes sense since there is just so much genetic data to go through. At the same time, I do think it’s a little concerning to rely too much on AI for medical decisions, especially if the data it’s trained on isn’t perfect. Overall though, I think this could be a huge step forward in diagnosing diseases earlier and potentially saving lives, as long as it’s used carefully alongside human expertise.

Source:https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/28/google-deepmind-alphagenome-ai-tool-genetics-disease

Additional Source: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/new-artificial-intelligence-model-could-speed-rare-disease-diagnosis