Genes and Disease

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This video from Nowgen, produced by Teachers TV, explores how modern genetic research is helping scientists to understand a rare life-threatening heart condition, as well as the more common skin condition, eczema. Susie Murray has a rare inherited heart condition called Long QT which, if left untreated, can lead to rapid heartbeats, blackouts and even sudden death. Long QT is described as a single gene condition but geneticist Dr Bill Newman explains that there are at least eight genes that can be involved.

Eczema is a common and complex condition, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Professor Irwin McLean believes it is only since the arrival of large-scale genomic tests that scientists have been able to investigate all the factors involved and identify the genes contributing to eczema.

URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx32m

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