The hottest Genetics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Graphic Content & Cyber Monday: the year’s deepest discount

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 274 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🔬 Science Genetics Population History Anthropology Evolution
  1. Cyber Monday is a great opportunity to get a good deal on subscriptions, like locking in an annual rate of $50.
  2. Population trends show that regions like South Asia and Africa will have significant growth, changing global dynamics in the coming decades.
  3. Ancient DNA research is revealing new insights about human evolution and genetics, showing how our ancestors adapted to challenges over time.

Are Seed Oils Behind Your Oxalate Problem?

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1777 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Detoxification Antioxidants Metabolism Genetics
  1. High oxalate levels might be due to seed oils leading to glyoxal production which is a major source of oxalate.
  2. Reducing consumption of seed oils in favor of tropical oils, olive oil, and grass-fed animal fats might help lower oxalate production.
  3. Nutrients like biotin, B12, and folate play roles in detoxifying oxalate, and checking for energetic bottlenecks through comprehensive screenings can help address oxalate issues.

The Problem With Coconut

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1577 implied HN points • 11 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Genetics Diet
  1. Not everyone's genes are compatible with a high coconut diet, especially if you have a predisposition to iron and manganese overload.
  2. Coconuts are rich in manganese, which can be harmful if you struggle with regulating manganese absorption.
  3. If you experience symptoms like headaches, irritability, or tremors while consuming a lot of coconut, you might want to consider reducing your intake.

Africa’s exception to every rule: Ethiopian genetics, sovereignty and religion

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 572 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
💾 History Civilizations Genetics Colonialism Cultural Studies
  1. Ethiopia is unique in Africa due to its rich history, diverse cultures, and genetic diversity. It has a mix of influences from both Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
  2. The country's geographical features, like its highlands, have helped preserve its independence and distinct cultural identity over centuries. This has made Ethiopia a symbol of resistance against colonialism.
  3. Ethiopian genetic studies show a complex ancestry that includes both African and Eurasian elements. This makes Ethiopians distinct from other populations, emphasizing their unique place in human history.

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.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

CoQ10 Deficiency Is Sulfur Toxicity

Harnessing the Power of Nutrients • 1358 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Toxicity Supplementation Metabolism Genetics
  1. CoQ10 deficiency is linked to sulfur toxicity, impacting various bodily functions and potentially causing issues like anxiety after eating meat or taurine consumption.
  2. Hydrogen sulfide, a necessary gasotransmitter, can turn toxic at high concentrations, affecting the body's ability to convert food energy to ATP.
  3. Taurine can help counteract the effects of sulfur toxicity by suppressing the trans-sulfuration pathway, which can prevent the overproduction of hydrogen sulfide and sulfite.

Acorn Genetics

ASeq Newsletter • 14 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🔬 Science Genetics Biotechnology Nanotechnology Research Methods Innovation
  1. Acorn Genetics is working on a new type of DNA sequencing technology. This technology promises to be fast, giving results in just minutes.
  2. The platform aims to be affordable, costing less than $10,000, which could make it accessible to more users.
  3. One of the cool features is that it won’t require any training to use, meaning anyone could operate it easily.

Why Engineer Biology?

Niko McCarty • 39 implied HN points • 10 Sep 24
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Molecular Biology Environmental Science Health Science
  1. Cells can help solve big problems like hunger and climate change by using chemistry and physics to rearrange atoms into useful materials. They are like natural tools that can be engineered to do tasks we need.
  2. Engineering biology has a successful history, like when Norman Borlaug improved wheat crops in Mexico. These achievements show that one innovative solution can make a huge difference over time.
  3. Now is a great time to work in biotechnology because tools for studying and changing genes are getting cheaper and easier to use. This means more people, from different backgrounds, can contribute to solving biological challenges.

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.

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.

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.

The Roche Nanopore Sequencer

ASeq Newsletter • 43 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Biotech Medical Devices Genetics Research Innovation
  1. The Roche Nanopore sequencer has impressive features like an 8 million sensor array and can process data really fast, but its chemistry isn't great.
  2. It has better density and throughput than some models but still needs improvements to stand out against competitors, especially Oxford Nanopore.
  3. Upcoming webinars will share more details, so it could be worthwhile to check them out if you're interested in this technology.

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.

Links in Progress: Snakebites, Pig Hearts, and More

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Medicine Genetics Public Health Pharmaceuticals
  1. An AI tool has been developed to create a new kind of antivenom that can work without refrigeration. This could help save many lives, especially in areas where snakebites are common.
  2. A study showed that a vaccine for Ebola had an 84% effectiveness in preventing the disease in high-risk groups. This is good news for controlling future outbreaks.
  3. New technologies in gene editing and drug development are rapidly evolving, with Chinese companies making significant strides in creating new treatments.

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.

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

American Fertility Still Runs in Families

Bet On It • 115 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Fertility Genetics Parenting Cultural Trends
  1. Fertility is largely influenced by genetics. People from bigger families tend to have more children themselves.
  2. Recent studies show that the connection between family size and having children is actually getting stronger over time.
  3. While family size impacts future fertility, societal factors are also important, and there has been a decline in overall fertility rates in recent years.

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.

Roche Nanopore Expectation Management

ASeq Newsletter • 29 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🔬 Science Genetics Sequencing Biotechnology Research Innovation
  1. The Roche Nanopore sequencer is expected to generate useful sequence data, showcasing its potential in the market. This could help solidify nanopores as a valuable detection technology.
  2. Accuracy is important for applications, but Roche is likely to compete on cost, which could make their technology appealing for various uses. Their position is good for future improvements.
  3. Roche's innovations may lead to significant competition for existing sequencing methods, especially Illumina. The expectations suggest that this could reshape the sequencing landscape.

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.

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.

NobleGen

ASeq Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
🔬 Science Biotechnology Genetics Nanotechnology Research Medical
  1. Noblegen focused on an optical nanopore DNA sequencing method, but they are no longer active. This approach has been attempted multiple times with limited success.
  2. They incorporated a technique where each DNA base is replaced with multiple bases to simplify detection, but there's not much strong evidence that this method works well.
  3. The Noblegen Optipore method showed promise in development, but it was ultimately not adopted, reflecting the challenges in the field of DNA sequencing technology.

Real-Time Multistep Asymmetrical Disassembly of Nucleosomes and Chromatosomes Visualized by High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy

Axial • 7 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🔬 Science Biology Genetics Research Methods Molecular Biology
  1. Researchers used a special microscope to watch how nucleosomes and chromatosomes come apart in real-time. This lets us see important details about how these DNA structures change.
  2. The study found that the disassembly process is not symmetrical; some parts come off before others. This shows a new way that DNA is accessed for various functions.
  3. Linker histone H1 plays a big role in how these structures disassemble. When H1 is present, it makes the process slower and changes the way the nucleosomes fall apart.

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.