Anna Wernick
Verified
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Anna Wernick
Low AMH levels linked to reduced chance of conception
Low levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) decrease the chances of becoming pregnant, independently of age or duration of time spent trying to conceive. Although at-home fertility tests have soared in popularity, their reliance on AMH levels as an accurate fertility indicator has been debated in the literature.
Prenatal genetic tests spot 'hidden' cancer in mothers
A blood test that screens for fetal disorders during pregnancy also accurately signposts cancers in unsuspecting mothers-to-be. A small study led by the National Institute of Health in Maryland, investigated pregnant and postpartum women who had received unusual cell-free DNA (cfDNA) results during their pregnancy but had fetal abnormalities ruled out. Despite none of the women outwardly displaying any signs, nearly half of the women were diagnosed with cancer.
Most recessive developmental disorders linked to known gene variants
Most inherited developmental disorders are caused by previously identified genetic variants, according to the largest and most diverse study to date. Using newer techniques, researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, near Cambridge, and GeneDx, Maryland, reanalysed genetic data from almost 30,000 families affected by autosomal recessive developmental disorders (ARDD) to better understand their genetic causes.
Bending and stretching stem cells directs their development
Bending and stretching stem cells can tell them what cell type to become, according to Canadian researchers. Stem cells replicate and develop into other types of cells in the body, making them useful research tools and potential treatments for diseases of cell loss – like Alzheimer's and Type 1 diabetes.
Multi-Omic Analysis Reveals Lipid Dysregulation Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease Brain
Abstract Parkinson's Disease (PD) is an increasingly prevalent condition within the aging population. PD can be attributed to rare genetic mutations, but most cases are sporadic where the gene-environment interactions are unknown/likely contributory.
Fertility-sparing surgery may work for more cervical cancer patients
Fertility-sparing surgery for cervical cancer, without hysterectomy, may have similar outcomes to more radical surgery in women with small tumours. At present, women with stage I cervical cancers with tumours over two centimetres are advised to undergo standard surgery. This involves the removal of the womb, known as a hysterectomy.
Genetic variant found that reduces risk of Alzheimer's
A novel genetic variant reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 70 percent in people who are predisposed. Researchers at Columbia University in New York investigated the genomes of healthy people with an Alzheimer's-associated gene to see if they carried another genetic variant that protected them. They discovered that many of these unaffected individuals carried a variant in the FN1 gene which allows the toxic Alzheimer's protein, amyloid, to filter out of the brain into the blood.
Genetic mechanism underpinning microcephaly identified
Researchers have unravelled how mutations in a single gene can cause abnormal brain development in fetuses and babies. Although scientists had previously discovered the link between mutations in the gene that codes for a protein called Trabid and microcephaly, it was unknown how these mutations caused the developmental disorder. An Australian research team in Parkville, Victoria, discovered the mechanism underpinning how these mutations affect neuronal development.
Parents' genetic relatedness linked to common diseases
Common diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are more prevalent in people with closely related parents, a new study has shown. Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, and Queen Mary University, London, have developed a new research method to analyse genetic data for the degree of relatedness and risk of disease.
Gene variant in people with African ancestry increases risk of Parkinson's disease
A novel mutation is present in 39 percent of Parkinson's disease patients of African heritage, but is virtually absent in those of European descent, a global genome wide association study has found. The international collaboration comprised scientists from the University of Lagos in Nigeria, University College London, and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.
Gene variant common in black populations linked to severe strokes
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine. A specific gene allele may contribute to the higher severity of stroke seen among black populations, and also the reason they are less responsive to commonly used stroke medications...
Podcast Review: BBC Inside Science – 70th anniversary of the discovery of DNA's structure • PET
On the 70th anniversary of the publication of the seminal papers detailing the DNA double helix, we have new insight into the discovery of DNA's structure. Most of us believe that the University of Cambridge scientists James Watson's and Francis Crick's Nobel prize-winning finding was made using data stolen from Rosalind Franklin, a physical chemist at King's College London.
Event Review: Genomics Lite – Exploring cancer genetics in focus • PET
Genomics Lite is a programme of live webinars in which scientists and other staff at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, discuss their ongoing genetics research and projects. The open forum design allows for the public to ask questions and for the exchange of ideas between scientists and non-scientists alike. This is just one of the many lay-friendly programmes brought to the public by the Institute's public engagement team, Wellcome Connecting Science.
Aspirin reduces the risk of ovarian cancer in spite of genetic risk
Those with a genetic predisposition to ovarian cancer may be able to reduce their risk with daily aspirin use, according to a new study. US researchers conducted a meta-analysis of published data, and used polygenic risk scores to identify patients at higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. to investigate the effect of aspirin use on ovarian cancer risk.
Author Correction: Pathological structural conversion of α-synuclein at the mitochondria induces neuronal toxicity - Nature Neuroscience
Correction to: Nature Neuroscience https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01140-3, published online 30 August 2022. In the version of this article initially published, the acknowledgement of support from Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s did not include the grant no. ASAP-000509, and Supplementary Table 4 did not include linked materials and methods. The HTML and PDF versions of the article and the accompanying Supplementary material have now been updated.
Pathological structural conversion of α-synuclein at the mitochondria induces neuronal toxicity - Nature Neuroscience
Abstract Aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) drives Parkinson’s disease (PD), although the initial stages of self-assembly and structural conversion have not been directly observed inside neurons.
Rapid genetic test to identify babies at risk of antibiotic-induced hearing loss
Rapid genetic test to identify babies at risk of antibiotic-induced hearing loss 11 April 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1140 The world's first bedside genetic test that could prevent babies from losing their hearing has proven successful according to the NHS. The 26 minutes genetic test, called the Genedrive MT-RNR1 test, can identify babies who carry a particular genetic variant that could make them permanently deaf when treated with a common emergency antibiotic.
Event Review: Dreams and Nightmares of the Genetic Age
Event Review: Dreams and Nightmares of the Genetic Age 28 March 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1138 In his loud shirt, covered in green leaves and plants, the University of Manchester's professor of Zoology, Matthew Cobb, was dressed appropriately for this evening's talk. Hosted at the Royal Institution, Professor Cobb gave his 2021 JBS Haldane Lecture upon receipt of his award of the same name.
Genes' role in human lifespan discovered
Genes' role in human lifespan discovered 31 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1130 A group of genes known to regulate lifespan in model organisms such as fruit flies, has now been shown to impact longevity in humans. Reviewing data from studies of over 11,000 long-lived people, researchers found that people with naturally reduced activity in a group of protein translation genes had longer lifespans.
BRCA genes linked to prostate and pancreatic cancer
BRCA genes linked to prostate and pancreatic cancer 31 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1130 BRCA gene mutations have been linked to cancers, including prostate and breast cancer in men, in the largest study to date. Mutations on the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are known to be linked to higher rates of breast and ovarian cancer.
More gene variants that influence severity of COVID-19 identified
More gene variants that influence severity of COVID-19 identified 24 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1129 Gene variants that decrease and increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infection, respectively, have been identified in separate studies.
Donor conceived baby put up for adoption over ethnicity and sperm donor sued for fraud
Donor conceived baby put up for adoption over ethnicity and sperm donor sued for fraud 17 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1128 A Japanese woman is suing her sperm donor for fraud and emotional distress after discovering he lied about his credentials. The woman had agreed to sex with the donor – who presented himself as single, Japanese, and a graduate of prestigious Kyoto University – in order to conceive a child to raise with her husband.
Genetic pathways underlying obesity discovered
Genetic pathways underlying obesity discovered 17 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1128 Analysing genetic pathways linked to metabolism has moved researchers one step closer to understanding the genetics of obesity. Researchers from King's College London (KCL) and the UK government agency the National Institute for Health Research's BioResource collaborated to correlate genomic regions with metabolite levels. Metabolites are molecules produced as a by-product of digestion.
Liver fat directly increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Liver fat directly increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes 10 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1127 A recent study has found that a genetic predisposition to a fatty liver is key to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study, funded by Diabetes UK and led by Dr Hanieh Yaghootkar, a Diabetes UK RD Lawrence Fellow at Brunel University, used statistics to gather genetic data to understand whether liver and pancreas size, and fat content influence the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Gene involved in sense of smell may play a role in breast cancer metastasis
Gene involved in sense of smell may play a role in breast cancer metastasis 10 January 2022 Appeared in BioNews 1127 Not only do our olfactory receptors send smell signals to the brain, but they can also promote the spread of cancer there too. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston have found that the olfactory receptor gene, OR5B21, can cause breast cancer to metastasise to the brain, lungs and bones.
Sperm change swimming patterns to find egg
Sperm change swimming patterns to find egg 15 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1121 Research has shed light on how the chemical environment of the fallopian tubes can influence how mammalian sperm swim towards the egg. Researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, monitored the swimming activity of bovine sperm when exposed to biochemical cues from the environment. Sperm generally performed a symmetrical pattern of swimming with their flagellum (tail) and travelled in a straight line.
RNA-based control switch could be used to turn on gene therapies in cells
RNA-based control switch could be used to turn on gene therapies in cells 8 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1120 A new technique to turn therapeutic genes on in specific cells has been developed, potentially changing the future of gene therapies. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively, have engineered this biological switch.
Gene therapy enhances the effects of Parkinson's disease drug in mice
Gene therapy enhances the effects of Parkinson's disease drug in mice 8 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1120 Gene therapy delivered to a novel mouse model of Parkinson's disease improved the effects of existing Parkinson's drug levodopa. In Parkinson's disease, the death of brain cells called neurones which produce the neurotransmitter dopamine results in problems with motor control.
Scientists uncover why certain genotype increases risk of dying from COVID-19
Scientists uncover why certain genotype increases risk of dying from COVID-19 8 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1120 A mechanism has been uncovered which explains why genetic variation at a particular site on the third chromosome in humans makes people twice as likely to die from COVID-19. Scientists have found those with a particular genotype at this site have greater expression of a relatively unknown gene called LZTFL1, also found on the third chromosome.
UK BioBank study links gene variants to health
UK BioBank study links gene variants to health 1 November 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1119 Analysis of DNA sequences from over 450,000 participants in the UK BioBank has helped connect hundreds of genes to health outcomes. Researchers in New York tested the association of around 2.8 million genetic variants in the protein-coding parts of the genome to 3994 different health-related traits – an enormous scale in terms of the quantity of data gathered.
Radio Review: Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares
Radio Review: Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares 4 October 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1115 Hosted by Professor Matthew Cobb of the University of Manchester, Genetic Dreams, Genetic Nightmares took me back to his lectures during my undergraduate degree there. The professor of zoology is a Professor Brian Cox-like figure, having published seven books and contributed to many scientific news platforms (see BioNews 1070).
Gene that determines severity of COVID-19 discovered
Gene that determines severity of COVID-19 discovered 4 October 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1115 Individuals with a specific version of the OAS1 gene have natural antiviral defences against SARS-CoV-2, resulting in less severe COVID-19 disease.
Genetic variants that cause hypertension in pregnancy identified
Genetic variants that cause hypertension in pregnancy identified 23 August 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1109 An international study has identified a unique pair of genetic variants that can cause the sudden onset of high blood pressure in pregnant women. The condition, called primary aldosteronism, causes sudden onset high blood pressure via increased production of the hormone aldosterone, can occur without warning during early pregnancy.
BRCA2 DNA repair errors implicated in infertility
BRCA2 DNA repair errors implicated in infertility 23 August 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1109 BRCA2 mutations may be implicated in infertility, as well as increasing cancer risk, according to new research. BRCA2 protein complexes work to repair DNA breaks within cells, protecting the integrity of the genome. Mutations in the BRCA2 gene can cause faulty DNA repair mechanisms which in turn confer increased cancer risk (particularly for breast and ovarian cancers).
Parkinson's disease genes involved in mitochondrial recycling
Parkinson's disease genes involved in mitochondrial recycling 16 August 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1108 Genes linked to hereditary Parkinson's disease have been found to play a role in recycling mitochondrial products to generate new mitochondria. Researchers in California have found that Parkinson's disease-associated genes, PINK1 and Parkin, are crucial in the mitochondrial life cycle. Disruption of this pathway could contribute to neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson's.
Podcast Review: Ingenious
Podcast Review: Ingenious 26 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1105 The jargon-free BBC4 genetics podcast series, Ingenious, exposes the history and future of research into a selection of genes. Presented by Dr Kat Arney, each of the ten available episodes covers a particular gene, or genetic mutation, responsible for crucial areas of development and disease. The Omnibus Edition is a gentle hour-long edition of the podcast, bringing together four of Dr Arney's favourite episodes from the first series.
Prenatal base editing corrects lysosomal storage disease
Prenatal base editing corrects lysosomal storage disease 19 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1104 Base editing, a form of genome editing, has been used in preclinical models to correct a lysosomal storage disease known as Hurler syndrome. Sometimes referred to as mucopolysaccharidosis type 1, Hurler syndrome is a rare lysosomal storage disease that develops before birth. Lysosomes are subcellular structures containing enzymes responsible for digesting compounds in the cell that are no longer needed.
Childhood obesity linked to genomic instability which is a hallmark of most cancers
Childhood obesity linked to genomic instability which is a hallmark of most cancers 5 July 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1102 Obese children and adolescents experience higher levels of genomic instability, potentially increasing the risk of cancer in adulthood, a study has shown. Genomic instability can lead to an increased rate of DNA mutation in a cell and therefore a higher likelihood of cancer development.
Podcast Review: 'Will Cancer Make Me Infertile?' - That cancer conversation
Podcast Review: 'Will Cancer Make Me Infertile?' – That cancer conversation 28 June 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1101 Several studies have shown that cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can have temporary or even permanent effects on fertility by damaging the ovaries or testes. The multifaceted sense of grief from losing your fertility can be strong for people of all ages and coping with it is not an easy matter.
Epigenetics study reveals how genes are regulated in dementia
Epigenetics study reveals how genes are regulated in dementia 21 June 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1100 A study has identified 84 new genes linked to Alzheimer's disease by combining and analysing data from over 1400 people. An international collaboration, led by the University of Exeter, studied DNA methylation across nearly half a million sites in the genome in order to identify epigenetic changes linked with the disease.
Development of personalised models of cognitive decline
Development of personalised models of cognitive decline 24 May 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1096 A new model able to predict cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease could help to develop personalised treatments. With an aim to identify therapeutic targets, researchers at McGill University, Canada, combined results from brain scans with gene activity data.
Women with BRCA mutations have lower ovarian reserve
Women with BRCA mutations have lower ovarian reserve 10 May 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1094 Breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) influence the length of some women's fertile period, according to a global meta-analysis. There have been conflicting results from studies of how BRCA mutations influence anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, which is used as an indicator of egg reserves.
How seven cases of a mysterious opioid-induced disease revolutionized Parkinson's research
Photo by Xiao Cui on Unsplash In the early 1980s, seven people took synthetic heroin. What happened next drastically changed our understanding of Parkinson's disease, and how to treat it April 25, 2021 In the early 1980s, doctors across northern California encountered patients with curious symptoms. From Watsonville to San Jose, young people were experiencing a combination of visual hallucinations, jerking limbs, and stiffness.
Mitochondrial genes in fat tissues work poorly in obesity
Mitochondrial genes in fat tissues work poorly in obesity 19 April 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1091 A twin study has revealed that obesity causes the dysfunction of mitochondria which triggers inflammation, particularly in fat tissue. Obesity is associated with numerous health complications, including diabetes and heart conditions. However, tissue-specific mechanisms that drive these conditions are not well understood.
'Zombie genes' increase expression after death
'Zombie genes' increase expression after death 29 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1089 A set of immune cell genes ramp up their expression in brain cells after death, a new study has revealed. While the onset of death is often defined as the time the heart stops beating, the body's cells do not all die immediately. Now, research from the University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC) suggests that important biological processes persist in the human brain for hours longer than previously thought.
Gene therapy benefits seen decades after treatment
Gene therapy benefits seen decades after treatment 22 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1088 Healthy immune cells are still forming 18 years after blood stem cell transplantation in patients with faulty immune systems, research has found.
Podcast Review: 100 Not Out? Genes and Ageing
Podcast Review: 100 Not Out? Genes and Ageing 15 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1087 'Are you noticing things falling apart a bit as you're getting older? ' asked presenter Dr Kat Arney, as I tune into the Genetics Society podcast. This personal attack almost makes me spill my hot cocoa and fall off my lumbar support (I'm 28 and it's a lockdown Saturday night). This is going to be a bumpy listen. Dr Arney is the hilarious and relatable author of 'Rebel Cell', a book about cancer.
Novel immunotherapy approach targets cancers
Novel immunotherapy approach targets cancers 8 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1086 Designer antibodies can alert the immune system to cancerous proteins, slowing tumour growth in mice – three independent studies demonstrate. Researchers at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, investigated the notorious cancer proteins, p53 and RAS. Mutations in p53 and RAS are common among cancers, however, drug therapies have been largely unsuccessful.
Longevity gene protects brain stem cells from stress
Longevity gene protects brain stem cells from stress 1 March 2021 Appeared in BioNews 1085 A gene linked to longevity has been shown to protect brain stem cells from oxidative stress. Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which a gene linked to long lifespans in humans, called the forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3) gene, prevents the development of new neurons.
Having trouble sleeping? Look to the moon for answers
Get new Lab Notes sent to your inbox Photo by Luku Muffin on Unsplash Anyone with a cat (or internet access) has likely observed their tendency to seek out and sit in boxes, bags, baskets, and even a simple square drawn on the ground, as demonstrated by Twitter’s #CatSquare trend. A team of psychologists decided to use this feline behavior to investigate whether cats are susceptible to a well-known visual illusion: the Kanizsa square.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Anna
Contact Anna, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack