International Society of Genetic Genealogy

2025 East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference - ECGGC East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference

Registration ends 30 Sept 2025 for the virtual East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference. You have until 31 Dec 2025 to watch all of the recordings. There’s an ISOGG presentation where we celebrated ISOGG’s 20th year, review the history and discuss future goals. #ISOGG #DNA #ECGGC ecggc.org

Century-old lungs stored in jar reveal how 1918 Spanish flu pandemic began Findings could lead to better understanding of how viruses adapt to humans during a pandemic

“Another mutation of a protein in the virus’s membrane improved its ability to bind to entry point receptors in human cells, making it more resilient and infectious.” #isogg #DNA #epigentics #1918Flu #SpanishFlu
www.the-independent.com/news/science...

Cycling linked with lower dementia risk, study finds | CNN Cycling instead of driving has been linked with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a large study has found.

“Riding a bike is associated with a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia and a 22% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, compared with taking nonactive travel modes such as a car, bus or train…” #ISOGG #DNA #epigenetics www.cnn.com/2025/09/20/h...

New Breakthrough to Strengthen Bones Could Reverse Osteoporosis A new study points to a key bone-strengthening mechanism at work in the body, which could be targeted to treat the bone-weakening disease, osteoporosis.

New finding on #osteoporosis: “Researchers from the University of Leipzig in Germany and Shandong University in China, identified the cell receptor GPR133 (also known as ADGRD1) as being crucial to bone density, via bone-building cells called osteoblasts.” www.sciencealert.com/new-breakthr...

East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference 2025: My Experience Explore my review of the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference 2025, featuring insights, sessions, and a virtual learning experience.

Nice blog post by Linda Yip on the East Coast Genetic Genealogy Conference which you can STILL sign up to watch the recordings through Dec 31, 2025. Registration ends Sept 30,2025 so don’t procrastinate on registering. #geneticgenealogy #ISOGG #DNA #ECGGC
past-presence.com/2025/09/14/k...

“The authors identified a class of lithium compounds that can evade capture by amyloid beta. Treating mice with the most potent amyloid-evading compound, called lithium orotate, reversed Alzheimer’s disease pathology, prevented brain cell damage, and restored memory.”
hms.harvard.edu/news/could-l...

Genomic diversity and structure of prehistoric alpine individuals from the Tyrolean Iceman’s territory - Nature Communications Here, the authors perform genomic analysis of prehistoric individuals from the Italian Alps, to reveal a genetic shift from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic and genetic continuity from the Neolithic to...

"Moreover, G2a2* is represented by only one sub-lineage (G2a2b2a1a1b*, L497) except for the Iceman, which carries a different one (G2a2a1a2a1a1b, G-Z6208, or formerly G2a2a1a2 L-91"
#DNA #ISOGG #YHaplogroupG #AncientDNA #Iceman

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Ireland’s Genealogical Gazette FREE talk on 9 Sept 2025 at 20:00 “Isotopes and Ancestry: Exploring how Archaeochemistry can answer Genealogical Questions,” given by Dr Ashley McCall, an independent researcher based in Dublin. Join via Zoom ID 844 6097 4398 and passcode 66 18 37
#DNA #ISOGG #Ireland

Scientists just found a sugar switch that protects your brain from Alzheimer's Scientists have uncovered a surprising sugar-related mechanism inside brain cells that could transform how we fight Alzheimer’s and other dementias. It turns out neurons don’t just store sugar for fue...

“Scientists just found a sugar switch that protects your brain from Alzheimer's. In addition to a new approach in Alzheimer’s research, study from Buck Institute could explain why GLP-1 drugs show promise against dementia.” #isogg #DNA #epigenetics #glp1
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Mitochondrial DNA variants and their impact on epigenetic and biological aging in young adulthood - Translational Psychiatry Translational Psychiatry - Mitochondrial DNA variants and their impact on epigenetic and biological aging in young adulthood

“Moreover, we demonstrated that a higher FI score of mtDNA variants was associated with both premature epigenetic aging in the early 20s and premature biological aging in the late 20s." #isogg #DNA #epigenetics #haplogroups
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Vitamin D supplements may slow biological aging — Harvard Gazette Trial shows protection against telomere shortening, which heightens disease risk.

“Results from a randomized controlled trial reveal that vitamin D supplementation helps maintain telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases.” #isogg #telomeres #epigenetics news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...

What can Y-DNA analysis reveal about the surname Hay? The family name Hay (plus associated spelling variants) is a prominent Anglo-Norman-in-origin surname that has been well-documented as a Scottish noble lineage since the 12th century CE. Their histori...

Well done study on the HAY surname! #ISOGG #DNA #FTDNA #FamilyTreeDNA #BigY #Ychromosome #Hay #geneticgenealogy
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Caffeine could slow cellular ageing, new research shows how

“…scientists made a surprising discovery: caffeine doesn’t act on this growth switch directly. Instead, it works by activating another important system called AMPK, a cellular fuel gauge that is evolutionarily conserved in yeast and humans.” #DNA #epigenetics #coffee

www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2...

Huge Study Reveals 2 Vaccines That Appear to Reduce Dementia Risk Some immunizations may be quietly protecting us from cognitive decline.

Have you had the Shingles vaccine? If you’ve had the Shingles vaccine (and/or RSV vax) then you may have given yourself a dementia preventative. #isogg #dna #shingles #shingrix #RSV #epigenetics www.sciencealert.com/huge-study-r...

Insulin-inspired peptides may open new pathways to treat Alzheimer’s disease

“Intranasal insulin has been clinically tested in Alzheimer’s Disease patients, demonstrating positive effects on memory and a decrease in Aβ42 levels.” #DNA #epigenetics #isogg #Alzheimers #insulin

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

“Over an average follow-up of 6.7 years, 280 participants, or 27.3 percent, were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Researchers found that 39 percent of the “total effect of egg intake” was linked to choline, a nutrient in egg yolks known to support memory & brain function.”
thehill.com/policy/healt...

New enzyme can be "turned off" to restore cholesterol balance and reduce inflammation Scientists at The University of Texas at Arlington have identified a new enzyme that can be "turned off" to help the body maintain healthy cholesterol levels-a significant development that could lead ...

“When IDO1 is blocked, however, macrophages regain their ability to absorb cholesterol.This suggests that reducing IDO1 activity could offer a new way to help prevent heart disease by keeping cholesterol levels in check.” #DNA #isogg #epigenetics #cholesterol

www.news-medical.net/news/2025062...

A light-regulated circadian timer optimizes neutrophil bactericidal activity to boost daytime immunity The neutrophil clockwork boosts daytime immunity against bacterial infection.

“These findings identify a light-responsive cell-intrinsic timer that controls time-of-day variations in antibacterial activity.” #isogg #DNA #epigenetics #circadian

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Does Alzheimer’s even come close to being an

Does Alzheimer’s even come close to being an Autoimmune Disease? #DNA #epigenetic #isogg
www.j-alz.com/editors-blog...

Examining sleep deficiency and disturbance and their risk for incident dementia and all-cause mortality in older adults across 5 years in the United States - PubMed Addressing sleep disturbance and deficiency may have a positive impact on risk for incident dementia and all-cause mortality among older adults.

“Addressing sleep disturbance and deficiency may have a positive impact on risk for incident dementia and all-cause mortality among older adults.”
#isogg #epigenetics #dementia #alzheimers

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33570509/

DNA shows ancient Egyptians had surprising foreign roots – DW – 07/02/2025 Scientists have sequenced the oldest known DNA from ancient Egypt. It belonged to a potter who lived 4,500 years ago. This rare genetic snapshot offers new insights into the diverse ancestry of early ...

“Their study, published in the journal Nature, describes the first whole ancient Egyptian genome, and the oldest DNA sample from Egypt to date.” #DNA #isogg #Egypt #Nature

amp.dw.com/en/dna-shows...

Frontiers | Gene therapy for hearing loss: challenges and the promise of cellular plasticity and epigenetic modulation Hearing loss can profoundly impact an individual’s quality of life, affecting communication, social interactions, and overall well-being. Many people with he...

“This innovative strategy could potentially revolutionize our ability to address genetic hearing impairments, offering hope for more effective and durable treatments for individuals across a wider age range and at various stages of hearing loss progression.” #DNA
www.frontiersin.org/journals/neu...

Ancient DNA reveals diverse community organizations in the 5th millennium BCE Carpathian Basin - Nature Communications A genomic study of 125 individuals from the Carpathian Basin (4800–3900 BCE) reveals different kinship systems in nearby Copper Age communities, and highlights both genetic continuity and contrasting ...

“Using population genetics, kinship analyses and the study of networks of identity-by-descent haplotype segment sharing, we elucidate the social and genetic dynamics of these communities between 4800−3900 calibrated years BCE.” #isogg #ancientdna #DNA #CarpathianBasin
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Epigenetics – Lay Version

New to epigenetics? University College London has produced Epigenetics for the Lay Person. #DNA #isogg #epigenetics

www.ucl.ac.uk/population-h...

DNA reveals Poland’s first kings may have Scottish origins, challenging founding myths DNA analysis suggests Poland’s Piast dynasty may trace its origins to ancient Scottish Picts, reshaping early Polish royal history.

“Mitochondrial DNA extracted from these cemeteries showed that although the female line was linked to Early Neolithic farming communities, the male line was similar to that of Jutlandic populations.” #isogg #ancientdna #DNA #Scotland
archaeologymag.com/2025/06/pola...

This Common Herb May Hold the Key to Fighting Alzheimer’s, According to a New Study A compound derived from rosemary, known as carnosic acid, has been transformed into a potent brain-boosting drug that combats Alzheimer’s by reducing inflammation and stress in the brain — all while e...

“The authors explained that carnosic acid works by activating enzymes in the body's "natural defense system." They created a stable form known as diAcCA, which once consumed, converts to carnosic acid in the gut and is then absorbed into the bloodstream.”#isogg
www.foodandwine.com/rosemary-car...

Regulation of epigenetics and chromosome structure by human ORC2 We report a multi-omics study in a human cell line with mutations in three subunits of origin-recognition complex (ORC). Although the ORC subunits sho…

ChatGPT 4.5 summary: Human cells with mutations in 3 of the 6 proteins making up the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC) a group typically known for starting DNA replication. It breaks the long-held view that ORC’s job ends at replication. #isogg #DNA #epigenetics
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity: How Centenarians Defy Aging A new longevity study reveals a sophisticated interplay of genetics, epigenetics, metabolism, immunity, and lifestyle. What if living past 90 was not just a lucky break, but the result of a fascinatin...

“For example, APOE ε2 is known to offer protection against cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. FOXO3A helps cells handle oxidative stress and repair DNA, both key processes in aging.” #DNA #epigenetics #isogg #aging

scitechdaily.com/unlocking-th...

Photo of man from the nose up. Half his hair is brown and half is grey.

“Why Aging Comes in Dramatic Waves in Our 40s and 60s
A new study suggests that waves of aging-related changes occur at two distinct points in our life” #DNA #isogg #aging #epigenetics

www.scientificamerican.com/article/dras...

Rilmenidine extends lifespan and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans via a nischarin I1‐imidazoline receptor Rilmenidine has prolongevity and health preserving effects in C. elegans, increased stress resistance and increased autophagy. The stress-resilience, healthspan, and lifespan benefits of rilmenidine ...

“In summary, this research presents a novel case for rilmenidine to be considered a potential calorie restriction mimetic through its prolongevity and health preserving effects, increased stress resistance, and increased autophagy.” #isogg #DNA #epigenetics

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...