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Researchers fine-tune an additional system for more efficient gene editing

Over the past decade, the CRISPR genome-editing system has revolutionized molecular biology, giving scientists the ability to alter genes inside living cells for research or medical applications. Now, researchers at Gladstone Institutes have fine-tuned an additional system for more efficient gene editing, using molecules called retrons.

6 Jan 2022

NRL scientists apply new methods to analyze cell behavior

Naval Research Laboratory researchers in the Chemistry Division apply their knowledge of biology in conjunction with materials to improve understanding of how cells and tissues organize and apply new methods to affect cell communication.

From United States Naval Research Laboratory 6 Jan 2022

Genetic material found in blood samples can detect women at risk of pre-eclampsia

A study of pregnant women's blood RNA has found specific molecular profiles that identify women at risk of pre-eclampsia. These insights can identify complications before a woman experiences symptoms.

6 Jan 2022

Superbug MRSA emerged in hedgehogs long before the use of antibiotics in humans

Scientists have found evidence that a type of the antibiotic resistant superbug MRSA arose in nature long before the use of antibiotics in humans and livestock, which has traditionally been blamed for its emergence.

6 Jan 2022

Researchers discover a crucial and exploitable vulnerability in diffuse large B cell lymphomas

Aggressive and relatively common lymphomas called diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) have a critical metabolic vulnerability that can be exploited to trick these cancers into starving themselves, according to a study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell's Ithaca campus.

4 Jan 2022

Scientists shed light on mechanisms responsible for maturation of the splicing machinery

Alternative Splicing is an extraordinarily complex process that requires the coordinated action of multiple proteins, each specialized in very specific functions. These proteins are assembled and matured, forming a kind of consortium of proteins that perform these gene reading functions.

31 Dec 2021

Simple, marine-dwelling creature shines light on cancer resistance

A simple, marine-dwelling creature known as Trichoplax adhaerens has some remarkable properties. The organism can tolerate unusually high doses of radiation that would kill most other forms of life. T. adhaerens has another intriguing characteristic: the ability to resist cancer.

24 Dec 2021

Monitoring strains of bacteria may provide better insights into the microbiome

Every day, the billions of bacteria that inhabit your digestive system change; the food you eat, medications you take, and germs you're exposed to make some bacteria flourish more than others.

24 Dec 2021

Genes key to microbial colonization of plant roots discovered

Some microbes can form thin films called biofilms. These biofilms give them an advantage over other microbes by protecting them from stresses such as a lack of nutrients or the presence of harmful substances in the environment.

24 Dec 2021

Blocking function of blood-clotting protein prevents bone loss from gum disease in mice

Blocking function of a blood-clotting protein prevented bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease in mice, according to research led by scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health.

24 Dec 2021

Unraveling how DNAzymes work in real time

DNAzymes are precision biocatalysts that destroy unwanted RNA molecules. However, major obstacles to their use in medicine remain.

23 Dec 2021

A genetic variation makes sugar healthy for some Greenlanders

A genetic variation among some Greenlanders makes sugar healthy – significantly more than for most people.

23 Dec 2021

Study identifies two proteins as novel markers of aggressive prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and is among the top five causes of cancer-related death. In most cases, prostate cancer can be successfully treated but there is a group of patients who suffer an aggressive course and often fatal outcome.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers identify genes responsible for “spinach teeth”

People are generally familiar with “spinach teeth,” the harmless but gritty-chalky mouthfeel triggered because of a vegetable.

23 Dec 2021

Researchers cultivate an archaeon that breaks down oil all by itself

Microbes are capable of converting oil into natural gas, i.e., methane.

From The Max Planck Institute 23 Dec 2021

Experts carry out the first major genetic study into cortical folding patterns

The brain’s surface, the cortex, is folded into an intricate pattern of grooves (sulci) and bumps (gyri). Individual differences in this pattern are associated with cognitive performance and brain disorders, however very little is known on how the “bumpiness and grooviness” of the cortex is determined.

23 Dec 2021