More ash news from Iceland

A study from Decode Genetics in Reykjavik, published in Nature Genetics, suggests that four genes have now been identified – two linked to nicotine dependence and another two linked with nicotine metabolism. These findings, if valid, could lead to better understanding of addiction to smoking and how to treat this addiction.

Read more

Why antidepressants don’t work

Long-time depression researcher Eva Redei recently reported some of her latest  findings . She has spent decades breeding rats who are severely depressed (mating depressed rats with depressed rats so you get ‘who are believed to be the most depressed rats in the world’ (!!)). This meant she could identify genes linked to depression. Next she […]

Read more

Genes, free will, responsibility, murder?

If you  smash your fist into someone’s body are you being aggressive and anti-social, or are you just doing what your genes programme you to do? The idea of genes affecting behaviour isn’t new and isn’t disputed, but the use of certain genes as a mitigating factor in criminal behaviour is a contentious issue. Genes […]

Read more

Live long and prosper……

“IT IS probably the most famous greeting in the universe. But the simple Vulcan salute left makers of the new Star Trek film with a galactic-sized headache – because Mr Spock just couldn’t do it. After much head-scratching, experts on the $150 million blockbuster – which boasts stunning high-tech effects – hit upon a low-tech […]

Read more

Monkey Business?

Serotonin is involved in many behaviours, and new research suggests that a mutation in a gene that transports the brain chemical serotonin could influence our social behaviour. This is based on  American research using rhesus macaque monkeys because they are the only other primates with a particular genetic trait. Usually we are homozygous for this  emotion-regulating serotonin transporter gene, having either […]

Read more