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Transposable Elements Are Key to Normal Progression of Embryonic Cells

A critical transition in early human development is regulated not by our own genes, but by DNA elements called transposons that can move around the genome, Sinai Health researchers have found.

16 Oct 2024

High Potency Cannabis Leaves Unique DNA Signature, Study Shows

Published in Molecular Psychiatry, this is the first study to suggest that the use of high potency cannabis leaves a distinct mark on DNA, providing valuable insights into the biological impact of cannabis use.

16 Oct 2024

Melanin May Act as a "Drug Sponge," Influencing Medication Effectiveness

Skin pigmentation may act as a "sponge" for some medications, potentially influencing the speed with which active drugs reach their intended targets, a pair of scientists report in a perspective article published in the journal Human Genomics.

15 Oct 2024

New Discovery Reveals How MX Protein Traps HIV and Herpes Viruses

A group of researchers led by Xavier Saelens and Sven Eyckerman at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology discovered how a protein linked to the human immune system wards off HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus-1 by assembling structures in the cell that lure in these viruses and then trap them or even take them apart.

11 Oct 2024

New Approach Aims to Enhance CRISPR Safety and Precision

CRISPR is a revolutionary tool that allows scientists to precisely modify the genome and gene expression of cells in any organism.

8 Oct 2024

Transforming Microbiome Research with Single-Cell Genome Analysis

The human microbiome plays a critical role in our health, influencing everything from disease development to treatment responses.

8 Oct 2024

Mapping the Complex Structure and Function of CRISPR-Cas Protein Scissors

CRISPR-Cas systems help to protect bacteria from viruses. Several different types of CRISPR-Cas defense systems are found in bacteria, which differ in their composition and functions.

3 Oct 2024

Discovering New Drug Targets Through Paralog Hopping

Some proteins in the human body are easy to block with a drug; they have an obvious spot in their structure where a drug can fit, like a key in a lock. But other proteins are more difficult to target, with no clear drug-binding sites.

3 Oct 2024

Structural Discovery of Fanzor Proteins Offers New Directions in Genome Engineering

A revolution in biomedicine is currently underway, driven by the application of genome engineering tools such as the prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas9.

3 Oct 2024

New Insights into the Epigenetic Hallmarks of Cancer

Cancer mortality has just surpassed cardiovascular disease for the first time ever and one in two men, and one in three women, will be diagnosed with some form of the disease in the US, according to the NIH.

3 Oct 2024

Study Reveals Gene Linked to Cold Resistance in Hibernating Mammals

A gene that limits cellular damage could be the key to surviving prolonged cold exposure.

1 Oct 2024

Bipolar Disorder and Epilepsy Share Genetic Roots

A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences has uncovered compelling evidence of a genetic link between bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and epilepsy, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

1 Oct 2024

A Novel Genetic Inference Method for Detecting Rare Disease Variants

Undiagnosed cases of Long QT syndrome have been found, thanks to an inventive examination of shared genomic sequences, which is a sign of distant “relatedness” and can cause irregular heart rhythms, fainting, and sudden cardiac death.

30 Sep 2024

Study: Vaping Alters DNA in Ways Similar to Smoking

Young adults who vape show chemical changes in their DNA similar to those found in young adults who smoke -; changes known to be linked to the development of cancer -; according to a new study just published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology.

26 Sep 2024

New AI Tool Revolutionizes Prediction of Rare Genetic Variant Effects

Whether we are predisposed to particular diseases depends to a large extent on the countless variants in our genome.

26 Sep 2024

Metagenomic Study Reveals the Most Ancient Dairy Remains Known to Date

The oldest method of producing food with microorganisms in human history is food fermentation. Cheese production and consumption dates back to 7000 before the present (BP) among Mediterranean populations, and milk fermentation, for instance, dates back to 6000–4000 BC in India.

26 Sep 2024

Bacteria Can Recode Their Genetics With a Single Flip

Envision being a single cartwheel away from altering looks. The brown locks will turn platinum blond with just one flip. That is similar to what occurs in certain prokaryotes, or single-celled creatures like bacteria when they go through a process known as inversions.

26 Sep 2024

Stem Cell Study Reveals Developmental Dance Behind Individual Variation

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the variations present in human stem cells. This study sheds light on how the unique “developmental dance” at the molecular level within an individual's cells can shape the formation of the brain and the body.

26 Sep 2024

Enhancing Global Nutrition Through Gene-Edited High-Protein Crops

A Mississippi State biologist's groundbreaking research in improving global nutrition and sustainability is featured this week in New Phytologist, a leading plant biology journal.

26 Sep 2024