(NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) An international research consortium has found 13 new genetic variants that influence blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and the function of insulin-secreting beta cells in populations of European descent. Five of the newly discovered variants increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes.
Continue reading about Newly identified genes influence insulin and glucose regulation
(Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health) An international team of doctors and human geneticists has identified a new genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. The institutions involved in the study were the Institute of Human Genetics of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universitat Munchen, the Neurological Clinic of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munich and the Mitochondrial Research Group of Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Continue reading about Genetic risk factor identified for Parkinson's disease
(Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) It is known that viral “squatters” comprise nearly half of our genetic code. These genomic invaders inserted their DNA into our own millions of years ago when they infected our ancestors. But just how we keep them quiet and prevent them from attack was more of a mystery until EPFL researchers revived them.
Continue reading about The viruses within — and what keeps them there
Tools left behind by these Stone Age seafarers suggest human ancestors really got around.
Are you an overseas born non-Chinese-speaking descendants of Chinese immigrants’ searching for your Chinese family tree?
Continue reading about Finding Your Roots Through Chinese Genealogy
The records of seamen who joined the Royal Navy between 1853 and 1923 can now be searched and downloaded from DocumentsOnline, The National Archives' digital records service.
Read The Full Story
Continue reading about Royal Naval service records 1853-1923 now online
(Uppsala University) The discovery of fossil footprints from early backboned land animals in Poland leads to the sensational conclusion that our ancestors left the water at least 18 million years earlier than previously thought. The results of the Polish-Swedish collaboration are published online this week in Nature.
Continue reading about Fossil footprints give land vertebrates a much longer history
(Wiley-Blackwell) Some modern horses of Iberian origin are descendants from wild horses from the Early Iberian Neolithic, dated around 6,200 years ago. Ancient lineages are mainly represented in the Lusitano group C, constituted by some modern Lusitano and American horses. This is one of the conclusions obtained by a researchers’ team from Spain, Sweden and Denmark and published in Molecular Ecology.
New book offers how-to and a history lesson to potential genealogists ms. Miller wishes to inspire readers to find extended family who were always out there, but never known to you.
Continue reading about Family History Becomes A Treasure Hunt
 Twenty-nine artifacts have been seized by police in southern Iraq before they could be smuggled out of the country.
A team of German and Russian scientists has been able to distinguish between 30,000-year-old human mitochondrial DNA taken from the Markina Gora skeleton, unearthed in 1954, and modern contamination from people who had handled the bones.  Â
There’s more [...]
