A virus that causes a universal childhood infection is often passed from parent to child at birth, not in the blood but in the DNA, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Scientists say they have found an efficient way to make red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells, a possible step toward making transfusion supplies in the laboratory.

Two genes that influence the activity of nerve cells in the brain may play a key role in a person’s risk for bipolar disorder, marked by dramatic swings from depression to manic behavior, researchers said on Sunday.

Birth control pills may affect how appealing a woman finds a man’s scent — potentially steering her toward a mate who is genetically similar to her, according to British researchers.

Variations in a gene that regulates the brain chemical dopamine may help explain why some people are more prone to anxiety than others, a new study suggests.

For most people, the first experimental drags on a cigarette bring on nausea, coughing and other signals from the brain that say, “Turn back. This is a bad idea.” But for some, they bring a wave of pleasure.

Researchers have traced all of the proteins and enzymes used by the West Nile virus to infect cells, and found 305 genes that could serve as targets for treatments.

International researchers have identified three new DNA variations that increase the risk of schizophrenia and said on Wednesday they were some of the strongest genetic links yet found to the disease.

Genes may determine which teen smokers get hooked for life, according to a study that could shed new light on treating and preventing tobacco addiction.

Scientists have identified a gene that may raise the risk of getting the most common kind of Alzheimer’s disease by about 45 percent in people who inherit a certain form of it.