Some people are born with a better sense of taste than others, according to a study. So-called supertasters carry a double copy of a gene that makes them sensitive to the bitter taste, so food that tastes great to most people tastes horribly bitter to them. Not just picky eaters, then.
A 2006 study provided evidence that being able to detect the bitter taste evolved as a means of avoiding potential toxins in plants. 35 people were genotyped for the bitter taste receptor gene and given a bunch of vegetables to grade for bitterness. Those with the gene found veggies containing the potential toxin 60% more bitter than those without.
Up to 80% of the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is genetic, according to a 2006 study. But that leaves 20% of... hmm, not quite sure yet. It's still not known exactly what role genes and environmental factors play in the development of the disease.
Many pregnant women opt to have nuchal translucency screening when they're around 12 weeks pregnant. This is an ultrasound scan that measures the nuchal fold, which is the space in the tissue at the back of the baby's neck. Fluid retention here may be a marker for Down's syndrome.
People with Down's syndrome have three copies of chromosome 21 rather than two. This additional genetic material results in the characteristic features of Down's, eg. flat facial profile, slanting eyes and learning difficulties. It's unknown why it happens, but it affects around one in 1000 babies born in the UK.
Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, and similar proteins found in rye, barley and oats, which cause diarrhoea, anaemia and even malnutrition. It runs in families and you're more likely to have it if you're from the west of Ireland, the Punjab region of India, Pakistan, the Middle East or North Africa.
December 2008: Catching a cold sore puts you at risk of Alzheimer's disease, mounting evidence suggests.
November 2008: An experiment in mice has raised hopes of halting some of the effects of Down's syndrome before birth.
