genes

Researchers probe the impact of sex and gender on human health

Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Lea Davis, PhD, and longtime colleagues Ekaterina (Katya) Khramtsova, PhD, and Barbara Stranger, PhD, are among seven authors of a paper published May 11 in the journal Cell that outlines “best practices” for evaluating the impact of both sex and gender on human health.

Web tool speeds pulmonary hypertension discovery

The pulmonary arterial hypertension knowledgebase (PAHKB), developed by Vanderbilt researchers, provides a useful tool for identifying PAH-related genes and signaling pathways relevant to pathogenesis.

A pain in the … genes

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that variation in the gene encoding the potassium channel GIRK1 plays a role in modulating human pain perception.

Eye disorder’s genetic risk factors come into focus

An international group of investigators has identified seven new genetic regions associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a common cause of blindness in older individuals.

Gene ‘dose’ may be key to autism

Individuals with overexpression of the gene MECP2 have core features of autism spectrum disorder.

Setting traps to probe gene function

A new method for creating genetic mutations that can be activated at certain times or in specific tissues will enable studies to probe gene function.