The hottest Genetics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Quibbling with Cofnas: I

Not On Your Team, But Always Fair • 1690 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Ideology Social Policy Genetics Human Evolution Race relations
  1. The hereditarian thesis acknowledges that different human groups have varied traits, but using the term 'race realism' may not be the best way to describe this concept.
  2. Social outcomes are influenced by both genetic differences and cultural patterns, making 'race' a limited descriptor for these variations.
  3. While genes play a role in social outcomes, factors like culture and social circumstances also significantly impact these outcomes, suggesting that a broader perspective than 'race realism' is needed.

We were selected: tracing what humans were made for

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 783 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🔬 Science Genetics Evolution Anthropology
  1. Ancient DNA research has greatly improved our understanding of human evolution. Scientists can now study our genetic history and how humans have adapted over thousands of years.
  2. New techniques allow researchers to see how natural selection has shaped our traits, like skin color and immune response. This gives insight into why certain characteristics are more common in different populations.
  3. The findings show that our physical traits have changed over time due to varying environmental pressures and lifestyles. This helps explain how humans have managed to survive and thrive in diverse habitats.

No, intelligence is not like height

The Infinitesimal • 62 HN points • 26 Aug 24
🔬 Science Genetics Psychology Intelligence Heritability
  1. Intelligence is not predicted by genetics in the same way height is. Studies show genetics only account for a small part of IQ scores compared to height.
  2. IQ is more influenced by environmental factors and cultural background. This means the way we measure intelligence might be impacted by things like access to education.
  3. The meaning of IQ and what it actually measures is still not clear. Unlike height, which is easy to measure, intelligence testing doesn’t have a simple or consistent method of measurement.

The other man: Neanderthal findings test our power of imagination

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 686 implied HN points • 01 Jan 25
🔬 Science Genetics Anthropology Paleontology Evolution History
  1. Neanderthals were more diverse than previously thought, similar to modern humans. Recent DNA findings show that they had unique social behaviors and were genetically distinct from their neighbors.
  2. The ancient DNA era has rapidly changed our understanding of human prehistory. Discoveries from ancient genomes have revealed new insights into our ancestors and how they interacted with Neanderthals.
  3. A notable finding is the discovery of a Neanderthal named Thorin, who lived in isolation for thousands of years. This suggests that Neanderthals had unique ways of life that are very different from modern humans.

Is it time for BEIR VIII?

Gordian Knot News • 153 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🔬 Science Radiation Epidemiology Health Risks Genetics
  1. The BEIR committee, which studies the health risks of radiation, hasn't updated their findings in nearly 20 years. There are new studies and data that could change our understanding of these risks.
  2. Omitting data from certain populations, like radium dial painters, can lead to misleading conclusions about radiation exposure and cancer risk. It's important to consider all relevant groups when assessing risks.
  3. A new BEIR report should include a balanced committee and a clear model for understanding radiation's effects. This would help improve how we manage and regulate nuclear power.
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Polygenic Risk Scores: Ready for Prime Time?

Ground Truths • 3980 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Genetics Risk Assessment Prevention Data Analysis
  1. Polygenic risk scores can provide valuable information on high genetic risk for diseases like heart disease and cancer, beyond traditional clinical risk factors.
  2. The use of polygenic risk scores is advancing thanks to efforts like the eMERGE consortium, incorporating multi-ancestry data and rigorous validation.
  3. Actionable polygenic risk scores have the potential to reduce health disparities and enhance preventive strategies in medical practice.

My Iron Overload Protocol

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 798 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Diet Health Conditions Genetics Wellness
  1. Iron overload can lead to various symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and mood swings, and increase the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  2. Manganese overload can result in issues such as headaches, irritability, and signs similar to Parkinson's disease.
  3. Testing for iron and manganese overload is crucial, as symptoms can overlap, and genetic testing often misses rare mutations related to iron overload.

No human genes have truly 100% penetrance

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 970 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🔬 Science Genetics Molecular Biology Health Bioethics Research
  1. No human genes have 100% penetrance, meaning not all who have a certain gene will show the related traits. This makes predicting health outcomes based on genetics challenging.
  2. Genetic diseases like Huntington's seem like they have high penetrance, but variability in symptoms and onset can make them unpredictable. It highlights the complexity of genetics beyond simple Mendelian traits.
  3. The body's systems, especially the immune system, add layers of complexity that affect how genes express themselves. This makes it really hard to guarantee that a specific gene will always result in the same outcome.

Hereditarian Hypotheses Aren't More Harmful

ideassleepfuriously • 1238 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Genetics Bioethics Technology Research Health
  1. The blank slate perspective can lead to conflict, totalitarianism, and rejection of genetic enhancement technology.
  2. We should value understanding the role of genes in socioeconomic outcomes for accurate policy-making.
  3. Attributing group disparities to genes can reduce blame, control, and punishment, fostering compassion and reducing social conflict.

If langurs can drink seawater, can humans do so as well?

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 895 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🔬 Science Biology Zoology Evolution Physiology Genetics
  1. Cat Ba langurs can drink seawater and survive in dry conditions due to their diet and unique adaptations. They mainly get water from the leaves they eat, which helps them thrive on an isolated island.
  2. Humans cannot drink seawater without serious health issues. Consuming saltwater leads to dehydration because our bodies can't remove the excess salt fast enough.
  3. Research suggests that Cat Ba langurs have special genetic traits that allow them to manage salt and calcium better than most mammals. This helps them live in their harsh environment.

Bioelectric Signalling and Cellular Communication

Solve Cancer in 365 days • 39 implied HN points • 28 Aug 24
🔬 Science Biology Cell Biology Genetics Medical Research
  1. Bioelectricity is how cells communicate using tiny electrical signals. Think of it as the way cells send messages to each other in the body.
  2. Cells have gate-like structures called ion channels that control the movement of charged particles, creating bioelectric signals. These signals help in many processes such as healing and development.
  3. Manipulating bioelectric signals could potentially change how cells behave, which might lead to new ways to treat diseases like cancer by changing unhealthy cells back to normal ones.

Interpreting the Genova Methylation Panel

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1298 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing Methylation Genetics Nutrition
  1. Methylation is crucial for many body processes, with signs of imbalance like fatty liver disease, cardiovascular risks, fatigue, and more.
  2. Simply testing homocysteine, folate, and B12 isn't enough to assess methylation levels accurately. More in-depth tests like the Genova Methylation Panel are recommended.
  3. The interpretive section of the Genova Methylation Panel report provides helpful insights, but it may not cover all relevant patterns. Supplementing with genetic testing like StrateGene is also suggested.

Energy Metabolism Governs Everything

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 2096 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Energy metabolism Nutrition Genetics Stress management
  1. Energy metabolism governs everything in our bodies and plays a crucial role in health and disease.
  2. The laws of thermodynamics, especially the second law, are fundamental to understanding the process of energy metabolism, how the body functions, and how disorder affects health.
  3. Optimizing energy metabolism through proper nutrition, stress management, and addressing idiosyncratic genetic impairments can have a profound impact on overall health and wellbeing.

Your "MTHFR" Is One of 26 Nutrient Deficiencies

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1218 implied HN points • 14 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Genetics Metabolism Screening
  1. MTHFR is just one of 26 nutrient deficiencies that can impact your health.
  2. Low MTHFR activity can lead to various health issues, but can usually be addressed through dietary modifications.
  3. To address MTHFR issues effectively, consider optimizing riboflavin intake, comprehensive nutritional screening, and screening for energy metabolism.

The Genetic Time Machine: Neanderthals, genomics and hybridization priors

ideassleepfuriously • 982 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
🔬 Science Genomics Evolutionary biology Anthropology Genetics Human biology
  1. 200 thousand years of isolation may not be enough for genetic incompatibilities to develop
  2. Genomics has revolutionized evolutionary biology by providing precise insights with massive amounts of data
  3. The mixing of Neanderthal and modern human lineages led to genetic incompatibilities and selection against Neanderthal-origin DNA in modern humans

Startled?! Try Glycine

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1557 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Nutrition Genetics Testing Supplementation
  1. Being easily startled could indicate an issue, while a normal startle response is crucial for protection and fight-or-flight preparation.
  2. The startle reflex involves visual, auditory, and tactile inputs, with enhanced reflex indicative of certain conditions like PTSD.
  3. Glycine plays a crucial role in inhibiting the motor response of the startle reflex, and low glycine levels can lead to heightened startle responses.

Hyper-Darwinian Wars

Holodoxa • 259 implied HN points • 28 May 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Cancer Treatment Evolution Genetics
  1. Cancer is genetic in origin, making treatment a relentless struggle against a protean foe with evolutionary possibilities.
  2. Precision treatment options are emerging as complements or alternatives to traditional cancer treatments, offering hope in the battle against cancer evolution.
  3. The challenges of drug resistance, tumor heterogeneity, cancer stem cells, and the tumor microenvironment highlight the complexity of cancer and underscore the need for innovative, targeted treatment strategies.

Autism diagnoses are rising, yes, but autism, probably not

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 923 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Autism Diagnosis Mental health Genetics Bioethics
  1. Autism diagnoses are increasing due to more liberal diagnostic criteria and shifts in categorization.
  2. There is a trend of decreasing thresholds for autism diagnoses, including reclassifying individuals previously diagnosed with other conditions.
  3. The prevalence of autism is influenced by genetic factors, and options for reducing autism risk may raise ethical questions.

MASHUP: Aboriginal Smokeless Nicotine, Quinine & Caffeine Therapy, African G6PD Deficiency

Grey Goose Chronicles • 786 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🔬 Science Biology Medicine Genetics Pharmacology History
  1. Aboriginal Australians have a unique way of consuming tobacco with varying effects and health benefits.
  2. Quinine has a rich history in colonial expansion and fighting malaria, while caffeine might hold potential as an antimalarial drug.
  3. Genetic conditions like G6PD deficiency in sub-Saharan Africans show adaptations to malaria, impacting medical treatments and outcomes.

The Goldilocks zone between inbreeding and outbreeding

ideassleepfuriously • 884 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🔬 Science Genetics Evolution Human biology Psychology Fertility
  1. The risk of producing abnormal embryos is highest in siblings, lower in first cousins, and lowest in third or fourth cousins.
  2. Inbreeding can lead to shared defective alleles and recessive disorders, causing inbreeding depression.
  3. Outbreeding can lead to genetic incompatibilities and higher rates of miscarriage, causing outbreeding depression.

A language family of one, a land beyond conquest

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 657 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
💾 History Genetics Language Europe Anthropology
  1. The Basque language, Euskara, is unique as it is the only surviving indigenous non-Indo-European language in Europe. This makes it a fascinating subject of study, as it has no known relatives.
  2. Basques have a distinct genetic profile, with a high frequency of RH-negative blood type. This unusual trait contributes to theories about their origins and historical isolation in Europe.
  3. Recent genetic research suggests that the Basques may not be the oldest inhabitants of Europe as previously thought, but instead, they are descended from human populations that lived before the introduction of agriculture.

Why Does COVID-19 Impact People Differently?

LIL Science • 943 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Genetics Immune System Vaccination
  1. COVID-19 affects people differently, with factors like age, comorbidities, and exposure to the virus playing a role
  2. Genetics, such as blood type and HLA genotype, can impact susceptibility to severe COVID-19
  3. Research is ongoing to uncover genetic factors that influence COVID-19 severity, but prevention through vaccination, masks, and distancing remains key

The 3 things Bryan Johnson is missing from his longevity routine.

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 958 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Longevity Nutrition Genetics Testing
  1. Eating a highly nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy body composition, and systematically testing nutrient status are impactful habits for longevity that we can all adopt.
  2. Key aspects missing from Bryan Johnson's longevity routine are ranked and sorted genetics, functional markers of nutrient status, and thorough screening for energy metabolism impairments.
  3. It may not be necessary for most people to follow an extreme caloric deficit like Johnson's 25%. Opting for a less drastic approach, along with comprehensive nutrient testing, can be more realistic and beneficial.

Mechanisms too simple for humans to design

Telescopic Turnip • 274 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Evolution Genetics Technology Artificial Intelligence
  1. Living organisms, like butterflies and bacteria, are incredibly complex, yet humans struggle to replicate them fully because they are surprisingly simple in construction. It's like trying to build a working insect but only using a few basic parts.
  2. The information contained in the genomes of living beings is often much less than what we assume. For example, the human genome contains less useful information than what fits on a CD, showcasing how nature efficiently packs information.
  3. Natural evolution leads to a balance where simpler designs can survive better, while human-made technologies often have complex specifications and high error rates. This means some amazing designs in nature might be too bizarre for humans to create intentionally.

A Brief Genetic History of Europe

Holodoxa • 239 implied HN points • 19 May 24
🔬 Science Genetics History Anthropology Migration Disease
  1. Modern Europeans have a complex genetic history with contributions from different ancient populations like hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers.
  2. Advancements in genomics have drastically reduced the cost of sequencing genomes, leading to significant progress in understanding human genetic history.
  3. Migration has been a significant factor in shaping the genetic and cultural landscape of Europe over thousands of years, and it continues to play a crucial role in our future.

The First Humans in Europe

Grey Goose Chronicles • 1257 implied HN points • 23 Jul 23
🔬 Science Archaeology Evolution Genetics
  1. Evidence suggests that the earliest human ancestors in Europe evolved in Europe before eventually moving to Africa.
  2. The arrival of different human species in Europe can be traced through archaeological findings and genetic studies.
  3. Neanderthals existed in Europe for a long time, and the arrival of modern humans led to significant changes and interactions.

Open Thread 313

Astral Codex Ten • 2202 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🔬 Science Research Genetics Psychology Fiction Education
  1. Genes matter 2x as much as the environment in schizophrenia, not 4x as previously thought
  2. A study on political reasoning errors failed to replicate, questioning a larger literature on the topic
  3. Humans merging with AI may not be unprecedented, as evidenced by a medieval Italian man merging with a knife

Unraveling Autism’s Surge

Who is Robert Malone • 11 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🏥 Health Politics Mental health Public Health Healthcare policy Genetics Education & Policy
  1. Autism diagnoses are increasing, and this is believed to be due to broader diagnostic criteria, greater awareness, and social factors, rather than a single biological cause.
  2. Genetics play a big role in autism, but environmental factors also matter. Different influences might activate genetic risks, making each case unique.
  3. The rise in autism could be linked to changes in how we define and categorize the disorder, with some arguing that this shift might lead to over-diagnosis and misses the real needs of individuals.

Genetiken förändrar vår syn på ras

Rak höger med Ivar Arpi • 589 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Genetics Race Migration Archaeology History
  1. Genetics has revealed greater differences between people than previously thought, challenging both racist and politically correct beliefs.
  2. Historical migrations and cultural exchanges are being reevaluated in light of DNA research, overthrowing old theories.
  3. Recent genetic studies have shed light on demographic movements, such as the Indo-European migrations, significantly impacting our understanding of human history.

Science giveth and science taketh away

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 366 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🔬 Science Evolution Genetics Mathematics Natural History
  1. Science has advanced a lot since Darwin's time, but we often miss the wonder and excitement that comes with these discoveries. It seems like people today are less amazed by scientific progress than they used to be.
  2. Darwin proposed that evolution happens through natural selection, but he didn’t fully explain how traits are passed down. Later scientists combined genetics with evolution to better understand how traits vary across generations.
  3. Today, understanding evolution requires recognizing four main forces: mutation, migration, selection, and drift. These forces shape the genetic diversity that fuels evolution.

Reverse Genetic Systems

A Biologist's Guide to Life • 58 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🔬 Science Biology Virology Genetics Statistics
  1. There are two main theories about the origin of SARS-CoV-2: one is that it came from animal trade, and the other is that it originated in a lab. Each theory has its own set of details that scientists are still investigating.
  2. Understanding the origins of the virus requires knowledge of both biology and complex statistical methods. These methods help researchers weigh the evidence carefully, which is crucial for arriving at the most likely explanation.
  3. The evidence increasingly suggests that the virus may have come from a lab, especially noting the features like the furin cleavage site that were put into a reverse genetic system. This raises important questions about how we study viruses and their potential risks.