Genomics lab

What is functional genomics?

'Functional genomics' is a phrase that crops up frequently in discussion around genomics, but what does it actually mean?

Obesity: is it in our genes?

A complex and serious issue, obesity is the result of a combination of factors; but at least some our destiny lies in our genomes

Omics: A cut-out-and-keep guide

You might already know about the genome, but what of the other 'omes’ that affect our health – from the microbiome to the epigenome?

Understanding pleiotropy

We explore one of the many phenomena that show genomics to be far more complex than the ‘one gene per characteristic’ rule

Meet the mitochondria

You’ve heard of the genome – our complete set of DNA – but do you know about mitochondrial DNA and its relevance to health?

Pharmacogenomics: mechanisms of action

We know that different people react differently to drugs. But how does this actually happen? And where does genomics come in?

Probability, chance and genetic inheritance

When it comes to genetic inheritance from parent to offspring, there isn’t a guaranteed outcome. But there are ways to assess the possible outcomes

Do our genes govern our fate?

A ‘faulty’ gene can result in different outcomes for different people – penetrance and expressivity influence the impact of our genetic code
microbe-bacteria

Love bugs? Here’s five key facts about the microbiome

The DNA in your body doesn’t just come from you, thanks to the many millions of bacteria, virus and other cells that reside in you and on you

Rare disease, genomics and the future

In the run-up to Rare Disease Day, we outline what constitutes ‘rare’ and how genomics is used in diagnosis and management

Direct-to-consumer genetic tests at an all-time high…

… but how can healthcare professionals make sure they are equipped to support patients who are worried and distressed about their results?  

Genome editing: Talking to patients

With genome editing hitting the headlines, patients may have questions about its applications. Here’s our concise guide for health professionals