DNA contains all the instructions for the correct functioning of the organism, so it is logical to think that genetics plays a fundamental role in people’s health. As knowledge in genetics has advanced, the underlying causes and mechanisms of many diseases have been identified and, in some cases, this has made it possible to establish […]

Congenital heart disease is the most common malformation at birth, but what role do genetics play? Are all cases the same? In this blog we will explain congenital heart disease, its causes and detection methods. What are congenital heart diseases? Congenital heart disease (CHD) is defined as any malformation in the structure of the heart […]

Rare diseases present a unique challenge due to their low prevalence and the complexity of their diagnosis. To improve the quality of life of patients with rare diseases and facilitate the development of targeted therapies, early diagnosis is key. For this reason, genetic tools have become an essential resource for the diagnosis of these pathologies, […]

Diabetes is a disease with a high incidence in today’s society. In Spain, for example, it affects 14% of the population. One of the most common doubts about this pathology is whether it can be transmitted from parents to children. Therefore, in this article we want to clarify whether diabetes is hereditary or not, explaining […]

Between 5-10% of all cancer cases are related to genetic alterations that are inherited, i.e. passed down through families. Having an inherited genetic change does not always mean that one is irrevocably destined to get cancer, but rather that there is an increased risk of developing a certain type or types of cancer. New genes […]

Rare diseases are more common than we can imagine and a large number of people are affected by this type of diseases globally. In this article, we explain some common characteristics of this type of diseases and the importance of diagnosing them appropriately. What are rare diseases?   Rare diseases can be defined as those […]

When we discuss genetic diseases or hereditary conditions, there is often confusion between these terms. Ultimately, both “genetic” and “hereditary” refer to our DNA and our genetic make-up. However, we need to make the difference between genetic and hereditary, as the two terms are not necessarily interchangeable. While both genetic and hereditary diseases are determined […]

Common diseases, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, are complex. This means that their onset depends as much on environmental factors as on diverse genetic factors. Establishing the genetic component associated with these diseases has been challenging. However, with a new approach call Polygenic Risk Score (PRS), now it is possible to detect a greater […]

Some of the most common skin diseases are caused by infections, and others are the result of genetic factors combined with environmental factors. In this article, we bring you some examples of skin diseases caused by different factors, describing their symptoms, treatment and how to prevent them.  Skin and dermatology To learn  more about the characteristics […]

Medication allergies are an adverse reaction of the immune system caused by taking a specific drug, and sometimes this reaction can be serious. Although any drug can cause an allergy, some do so more frequently than others. In this post, we provide you with more information about allergies to medication and we give you insight about […]

Extracting DNA from blood sounds like a forensic practice we would see on TV shows, but what is its utility? While blood is one of the most commonly used samples to extract DNA, there are other sources from which DNA can be extracted. What is DNA? To begin with, let’s cover what DNA is and […]

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers not only to a single disease but to a wide range of conditions. Autistic people may present challenges with social, communication and behavioural skills. Whilst ASD can be very different for each person, there are some common characteristics that we can identify at different stages in life. In […]

During the past century, the scientific community has made significant discoveries which played a key role in deciphering the human genome: chromosomes were discovered to be the basis of inheritance; the DNA double helix was seen for the first time; the biological mechanism by which the cells read the information contained in the genes was […]

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited condition affecting the brain function in a progressive manner. This means that it can be transmitted from parents to children and that its onset may start quite unobserved, with slow and steady development affecting the patient.  Most commonly, Huntington’s symptoms appear in adults aged 35-44. If it develops before […]

Do you know your blood type? This is a question we should all be able to answer. It contains vital information for situations such as blood donations, transfusions or pregnancies. It is also very interesting to know how blood groups are inherited, a very common question asked in medical consultations. Do you want to know […]

Did you know that all human beings share 99.9% of their genetic information? This means our uniqueness lies in the remaining 0.1%, which varies between individuals and determines our physical characteristics (phenotype), as well as how we respond to environmental factors. Want to find out more? In this article we delve into the different types of […]

We want to emphasise how important prevention is as a tool in the fight against cancer, sharing Yolanda’s story with you, her experience is a perfect example of preventative medicine. “My name is Yolanda, I am 46 years old, I am married with 2 sons, who are 10 and 12. Thankfully my parents are alive […]

Did you know that we can pass on genetic disorders to our children, even if we do not suffer from them ourselves? In fact, we only need to be carriers to pass them down our offspring. In other words, even if we have not developed symptoms, if we are carriers, our children are at risk […]

Genetic tests for hereditary cancer are designed to confirm or rule out if you have hereditary genetic mutations that are risk factors for a particular type of cancer. But what are the benefits of knowing if you have this predisposition? This article explains it all in detail! What is cancer and where does it come […]