Genetics of Alzheimers Disease

 Alzheimer’s disease is a common cause for dementia. It is a disease that affects the brain by causing brain cells to die and causes the brain to shrink. Common symptoms of this disease are memory loss and decreasing ability to do everyday tasks. There is no cure for Alzheimers and in serious cases of this disease complications like infection and poor nutrition can lead to death. 

This article covers the many different genetic factors of Alzheimer’s and it talks about the use of  Genome-Wide Association Studies which allows researchers to identify genes that are linked to Alzheimer’s disease. The authors highlight the use of studying various ethnic groups in order to fully comprehend the genetics of this disease. Certain environmental factors were discussed in this article. It was considered that these factors may play a role in the risk of this disease. 

This document provides a direction of where Alzheimer’s research can go. Using the genetic research of this disease, it is possible to identify biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s disease which would allow for a better treatment of this disease. This disease is extremely detrimental to the brain and therefore this is a very influential article. 

Links:

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/24/4/3754

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447

Genetics Can Lead To Better Christmas Trees?

     Geneticists are working and experimenting to produce Christmas tress that do not require as much vacuuming back at home. Christmas tress are notoriously known for dropping their needles all over the floor which result in endless vacuuming during the holiday season, so a group of geneticists at the NC State Christmas Tree Genetics Program located at North Carolina University are experimenting to fix this issue. For 40 years, they have been attempting to develop the "elite" Frasier fir trees. These trees account for 98% of trees sold in North Carolina. They believe these new modified trees can be sold to growers in the near future 2026-2028. 

    This research first conducted back in the 1990s when the program tested around 30,00 Frasier fir trees. The team behind the experiment aimed to find the perfect one with the best genetic makeup to ensure the needles do not drop as frequent. Out of the 30,000 trees, they only found 25 with the genetics they were looking for. The trees that they have found have a better growth rate, look nicer, and retained their needles for a longer period of time. Around 2018, these tress were placed in an orchid in hopes that they will produce seeds for more of the genetically similar trees. If it goes accordingly they should have a lot more of these genetically better Frasier
 fir trees to reduce pine needle drop rate. 

Links:

https://www.newsweek.com/christmas-tree-sgeneticists-elimiate-seasonal-chore-1849161