Genetic link to the time you wake up

An article from Saxena Lab explains that whether someone is a “morning person” or a “night owl" is about 20-50% influenced by their genetics. A large study of nearly 700,000 people identified 351 genetic variants linked to sleep timing. These genes affect the body’s internal clock, which controls sleep, energy levels, hormones, and hunger. Differences in how people respond to light may explain why some people naturally stay up later than others. However, in modern times most people do not wake up naturally and rely on an alarm of sorts to wake them for their daily obligations (such as work or school) so people are much less likely to wake up at their "natural" time. Furthermore, another article suggests that ignoring your internal alarm aka circadian rhythm, may be unhealthy and linked to several mental and physical illnesses. All in all, while there is a genetic link for the time you wake up, many modern obligations and environmental factors are more influential on you circadian rhythm.

Genetic Risk Factor Found for COVID-19 Smell and Taste Loss

 

According to NBC News, the journal Natural Genetics published a study identifying a genetic risk factor associated with the loss of smell after being infected with COVID-19. Scientists believe that sensory loss comes from damaged infected cells in the olfactory epithelium. The Verywell Health, explains that olfactory epithelium is a thin-cellular tissue that runs along the roof of the nasal cavity and is involved in smell. According to the study, a genetic locus near two olfactory genes is associated with the loss of smell and taste that was caused by COVID-19. Researchers conducted a study where a group of individuals who self-reported receiving a positive Covid test, reported if they experienced loss of smell or taste as a symptom. Researchers compared genetic differences between the individuals who lost their sense of smell and those who didn't. They found a region of the genome associated with this split that's situated near two genes, UGT2A1 and UGT2A2. These genes are expressed within the tissue that is found in the nose which are involved in smell. However, it is still unclear how these genes are involved in the process. "To use these findings, scientists need to learn more about how these genes are expressed and what their functions are in olfactory signaling, Turner said"(Sloat 1). 

I found this article interesting as this study explains how two genes may be associated with the loss of smell. This study can be further interpreted to find the answer as to how these genes are involved in the process and it eventually could find future treatments. Last year I was infected with COVID-19 and I experienced a loss of smell after being infected. Although I can now smell, I always wondered why me? I will keep track of this study and can't wait to see any new findings. 

Sources:

Genetic risk factor found for Covid-19 smell and taste loss, researchers say (nbcnews.com)

https://www.verywellhealth.com/olfactory-epithelium-anatomy-5105135

Picture: https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.vuc9we0XjpjLHliDfIuy-AHaEK?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain

A precision drug for prostate cancer may slow the disease’s spread

 

Links:
Article: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/prostate-cancer-drug-olaparib-slow-spread
Related Article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/health-49877843


Recently, researchers have discovered that a drug used to treat breast and ovarian cancers is also tied to certain genetic mutations that may help combat some of the most severe cases of prostate cancer.
Researchers tested the drug, called olaparib, in a randomized clinical trial of nearly 400 men with advanced prostate cancer and a mutation in one of several genes involved in repairing damaged DNA, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. 
Overall in men given olaparib, the disease progressed more slowly compared with those on standard treatment drugs that deprive cancer cells of the male hormone testosterone. After a year, about 22 percent of men taking olaparib had no signs that their cancer was progressing, compared with 13.5 percent of men on the standard treatments, the researchers reported September 30 in Barcelona at the European Society of Medical Oncology meeting.

This was a very interesting article to read. Although it is too early to say how the drug will impact overall survival , this new treatment looks promising so far, potentially buying some patients a few more months 

Dog behaviors like aggression and fearfulness are linked to breed genetics

Links :
Article : https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencenews.org/article/dog-breed-behavior-genetics/amp
Related Article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201910/how-much-dog-behavior-is-linked-breed-genetics%3famp


A dog’s ability to learn new tricks may be less a product of your extensive training than their underlying genetics. In a study done among 101 dog breeds, scientists recently found that certain behavioral traits such as train ability or aggression were more likely to be shared by genetically similar breeds. While others have looked into the genetic underpinnings of dog behaviors for certain breeds, this study published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society B in October 2019 is the first to investigate a wide variety of dog breeds and find a strong genetic signal .

Using data from over 14,000 dogs described in C-BARQ, the researchers gave each breed a score for 14 different behaviors and then searched for overall genetic similarities among breeds that had similar scores. In summary , energy level and fearfulness showed a smaller genetic contribution, about 50 percent, suggesting that differences in environment or training play an equally important role in shaping those behaviors.

This was definitely an interesting article to read . Although this study does not show how a genetic variant causes a specific behavior , it points to certain statistics that might later lead us to such. It is interesting to see how Dogs are a really powerful system to investigate the genetics of traits and diseases because generations of domestication and breeding have simplified their genomes.