We know type 1 diabetes is as much affected by genes as it is by lifestyle and environment. But a huge international study found that there could be as many as 41 genetic loci that affect the risk of type 1 diabetes!
Touted as the largest genetic study into type 1 diabetes, and published in Nature Genetics online this week, the study combined results from two previous studies and found 41 genomic locations were significantly associated with diabetes. The DNA of more than 10,000 people with diabetes from all over the world were studied, including more than 2,300 families with at …read more

The spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases ranges from depression, sleep disorders, alcoholism, narcolepsy, to Alzheimer’s, Parkinsons and cerebral palsy, and there is little similarity in symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Now, a rare brain disorder known as Perry Syndrome may hold the key to a common mechanism underlying the disintegration of the nervous system.
To be published in the February issue of Nature Genetics, a study found that people with Perry syndrome carry mutations in a molecular “cargo” inside brain cells. The mutation is in the subunit of the dynactin complex (DCTN1; p150glued), and results in a failure of the “cell’s …read more

As you’re reading this, I’ll be winging my way to California for my annual trip back “home”. Fortunately, Dr. Alan Packer of Nature Genetics is here with us in spirit today in the tenth interview of the Genetics and Health interview series. I can imagine that more than one of you out there would like to pick his brain and ask why your paper got rejected!
1. Many scientists are interested in life outside of academia, how did you get into publishing and what do you like best about it? What do you like least?
I …read more