Health News

An expert explains viral variants, mutations and strains

What are variants? We asked Divya Shah, Epidemics Research Lead, to explain how variants happen, what they mean for treatments and vaccines—including for COVID-19—and how we can prevent them. What are mutations, variants and strains? Although the terms viral mutants, variants and strains are often used interchangeably, they generally hold different meanings. To spread, a […]

Health News

Gene mutations and the clinical presentation of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Myeloproliferative neoplasms are blood diseases that affect the normal production of blood cells in the bone marrow. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification, myeloproliferative neoplasms are divided into 4 major types. These include chronic myeloid leukemia, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. Over the last several years, there have been new research […]

Health Problems

Mathematical model finds the cancer mutations that matter

Researchers have generated a long list of genetic mutations linked to cancer, but sorting out which ones really drive tumors to grow uncontrollably and which ones don’t has been a challenge. A new mathematical model developed by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) could help with this […]

Health News

Lab test may identify dangerous gene mutations, study finds

The technique is aimed at easing a frustrating problem in genetic testing.  (AP) NEW YORK –  Scientists say they’ve found a new way to help determine whether specific genetic abnormalities are likely to make people sick, a step toward avoiding a vexing uncertainty that can surround DNA test results. Researchers used genetic engineering to create […]