How genetics can help improve the quality of your life
Drug allergy is an adverse reaction of the immune system caused by taking a certain drug, this reaction can sometimes be severe. Although any drug can cause allergy, some do it more frequently than others. In this post we provide you with more information about drug allergy and tell you which are the most allergenic […]
DNA contains all the instructions for the correct functioning of the organism, so it is logical to think that genetics plays a fundamental role in people’s health. As knowledge in genetics has advanced, the underlying causes and mechanisms of many diseases have been identified and, in some cases, this has made it possible to establish […]
Prenatal diagnosis is performed during pregnancy to determine if there is any alteration in the development of the foetus. Approximately 3% of live newborns have some type of chromosomal abnormality. In order to detect them prenatally, different techniques have been developed in recent years that have helped to improve diagnosis. QF-PCR, is a technique widely used […]
Congenital heart disease is the most common malformation at birth, but what role do genetics play? Are all cases the same? In this blog we will explain congenital heart disease, its causes and detection methods. What are congenital heart diseases? Congenital heart disease (CHD) is defined as any malformation in the structure of the heart […]
Rare diseases present a unique challenge due to their low prevalence and the complexity of their diagnosis. To improve the quality of life of patients with rare diseases and facilitate the development of targeted therapies, early diagnosis is key. For this reason, genetic tools have become an essential resource for the diagnosis of these pathologies, […]
Diabetes is a disease with a high incidence in today’s society. In Spain, for example, it affects 14% of the population. One of the most common doubts about this pathology is whether it can be transmitted from parents to children. Therefore, in this article we want to clarify whether diabetes is hereditary or not, explaining […]
Genetics has become a crucial tool in modern medicine. Its application opens up new opportunities to better understand diseases and offer personalized medical management. In this context, genome and exome studies have revolutionized the way an individual’s genetic information is analyzed and interpreted. In this article, we explore the differences between these two types of […]
Between 5-10% of all cancer cases are related to genetic alterations that are inherited, i.e. passed down through families. Having an inherited genetic change does not always mean that one is irrevocably destined to get cancer, but rather that there is an increased risk of developing a certain type or types of cancer. New genes […]
Rare diseases are more common than we can imagine and a large number of people are affected by this type of diseases globally. In this article, we explain some common characteristics of this type of diseases and the importance of diagnosing them appropriately. What are rare diseases? Rare diseases can be defined as those […]
When we discuss genetic diseases or hereditary conditions, there is often confusion between these terms. Ultimately, both “genetic” and “hereditary” refer to our DNA and our genetic make-up. However, we need to make the difference between genetic and hereditary, as the two terms are not necessarily interchangeable. While both genetic and hereditary diseases are determined […]
Being a carrier of a genetic disease means that you have a variant related to a disease within your genetic material. This variant does not cause the disease and, generally, does not cause any symptoms, so why is it important to know if you are a carrier of a disease? In this article, we explain […]
Common diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, are complex. This means that their onset depends as much on environmental factors as on diverse genetic factors. Establishing the genetic component associated with these diseases has been challenging. However, with a new approach call Polygenic Risk Score (PRS), now it is possible to detect a greater […]
Some of the most common skin diseases are caused by infections, and others are the result of genetic factors combined with environmental factors. In this article, we bring you some examples of skin diseases caused by different factors, describing their symptoms, treatment and how to prevent them. Skin and dermatology To learn more about the characteristics […]
Medication allergies are an adverse reaction of the immune system caused by taking a specific drug, and sometimes this reaction can be serious. Although any drug can cause an allergy, some do so more frequently than others. In this post, we provide you with more information about allergies to medication and we give you insight about […]
Extracting DNA from blood sounds like a forensic practice we would see on TV shows, but what is its utility? While blood is one of the most commonly used samples to extract DNA, there are other sources from which DNA can be extracted. What is DNA? To begin with, let’s cover what DNA is and […]
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers not only to a single disease but to a wide range of conditions. Autistic people may present challenges with social, communication and behavioural skills. Whilst ASD can be very different for each person, there are some common characteristics that we can identify at different stages in life. In […]
During the past century, the scientific community has made significant discoveries which played a key role in deciphering the human genome: chromosomes were discovered to be the basis of inheritance; the DNA double helix was seen for the first time; the biological mechanism by which the cells read the information contained in the genes was […]
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited condition affecting the brain function in a progressive manner. This means that it can be transmitted from parents to children and that its onset may start quite unobserved, with slow and steady development affecting the patient. Most commonly, Huntington’s symptoms appear in adults aged 35-44. If it develops before […]
Do you know your blood type? This is a question we should all be able to answer. It contains vital information for situations such as blood donations, transfusions or pregnancies. It is also very interesting to know how blood groups are inherited, a very common question asked in medical consultations. Do you want to know […]
Did you know that the probability of having a boy or a girl is determined by genetics? After all, foetal sex depends on whether the sperm cell carries an X or Y sex chromosome. Do you want to know why? It’s all in this article, where we also talk to you about the new methods for […]