1. THE GENE OF MENTAL ILLNESSES
The GenABCA13is partially inactive in patients with severe psychological problems, such asschizophrenia, Bipolar disorderOdepression, as revealed last November by an international study with 4,000 subjects coordinated by researchers from the University of Edinburgh. The discovery could lead to the development of drugs to restore health in patients with these and other mental illnesses.
2. THE BREAST CANCER GENE
Scientists at the University of Cambridge discovered in 2009 that half of breast cancer samples contain a damaged form of the geneNRG1, which acts as a brake for cancer cells when it works properly, but once damaged allows these cells to multiply and formtumors. Paul Edwards, co-author of the finding published by the journalOncogene, described it as the most important advance of the last 20 years in the fight against this type of cancer.
3. A “SLIMMING” GENE
Scientists from the University of Bonn, in Germany, last November identified afruit fly genethat controls thefat metabolism, very similar to a group of genes present in mammals. When this gene is faulty, insects lose almost all their accumulated fat. Researchers hope that the geneslim(German term meaning“slim”) may lead to aobesity treatment.
4. THE GEN OF THE CURLS
After studying 5,000 pairs of twins, scientists at the Queensland Medical Research Institute in Australia identified the gene responsible for the formation of thecurls in hair. Their studies show that 45% of Europeans have thestraight hair, 40% thewavy hairand only 15% can boast curls. The results also reveal thatthe probability of inheriting curly hair is 90%And they could lead to the development of a drug to straighten hair without resorting to a blow dryer.
5. THE GENE OF BAD DRIVERS
Genetics could be partially responsible for thelack of ability to drive. A team of scientists from the University of California at Irvine detected in 2009 a genetic variation whose carriers show 20% worse results in driving tests than subjects with a different DNA sequence. The gene it affects controls a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, related tomemory.
