Genetic News and Research

RSS

Study sheds light on the genetic toolkit used during evolution to create different extremities

A sophisticated system guides the development of our limbs. Researchers at University of Basel have shed new light on the genetic toolkit used during evolution to create a range of different extremities such as fins, wings, hooves, toes and fingers.

30 Sep 2021

New partnership reveals the genetic secrets hidden in 7,000 grapevines

A new partnership revealing the genetic secrets hidden in 7,000 grapevines are yielding clues that could make the U.S. grape industry more resilient and deliver new kinds of grapes to benefit growers and consumers alike.

30 Sep 2021

Naturally occurring chemical compound could prevent the effects of the virus in bees

Around the world, honeybees are dying in large numbers. This die-off is in part because of a deadly virus that can kill bees or impair their ability to return to the hives after foraging. But in a study published September 28 in the journal iScience, researchers show that a cheap and naturally occurring chemical compound could prevent or reverse the effects of the virus in bees.

29 Sep 2021

Supercoiling and looping can transmit mechanical stress along the DNA backbone, shows study

When people think of DNA, they visualize a string-like double helix structure. In reality, the DNA double helix in cells is supercoiled and constrained into loops. This supercoiling and looping are known to influence every aspect of DNA activity, but how this happens has not been clear.

28 Sep 2021

Bird poop reveals how birds' gut microbiomes change on migration

The trillions of bacteria living in our guts play a crucial role in our ability to digest food and fight off disease.

28 Sep 2021

Researchers examine the deep past of human population dynamics

The current year marks the 20th anniversary of human genome sequencing. To mark this event, scientists headed by Professor Qiaomei Fu from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reviewed the current progress in the area of ancient DNA (aDNA)—DNA acquired from the remains of past organisms.

28 Sep 2021

Research provides new insights into growth hormone receptor gene's evolutionary history

A new study delves into the evolution and function of the human growth hormone receptor gene, and asks what forces in humanity's past may have driven changes to this vital piece of DNA.

27 Sep 2021

Study adds two new genetic variants to the list of glutamate receptor mutations

Researchers from Northwestern Medicine distinguished different variants of the gene GRIK2 that induces nonsyndromic neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD).

27 Sep 2021

Tumor suppressor protein binding to RNA also binds DNA, says study

Scientists from the Medical University of South Carolina earlier displayed how hnRNP E1 attaches to metastatic-linked RNAs to prevent their translation.

27 Sep 2021

Researchers explore the regulation of suberin in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants modify the permeability of their roots to adapt to their nutritional needs. This takes place through the degradation or production of suberin.

27 Sep 2021

Exploring cell and gene based therapies for Parkinson’s disease

After several decades of pre-clinical development, cell- and gene-based therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) are now actively being explored. In this special supplement to the Journal of Parkinson's Disease on "Repairing the Parkinsonian Brain," experts highlight some of the current strategies being pursued to restore lost function and replace what is lost in the PD brain, with special emphasis on the challenges associated with translating advanced therapeutic approaches into pioneering clinical trials.

24 Sep 2021

How do genetic variants influence the expression of genes in the blood?

Researchers are now pursuing intensive research on the genetic causes of traits and diseases, with over 250,000 such links known currently.

24 Sep 2021

How does the KLF4 transcription factor influence gene expression?

Scientists have led a research group to identify a mechanism using which transcription factor KLF4 can influence gene expression.

24 Sep 2021

Researchers develop a DNA sensor to target and detect infectious viruses in minutes

A new sensor can detect not only whether a virus is present, but whether it's infectious – an important distinction for containing viral spread.

23 Sep 2021

Researchers reverse Kleefstra syndrome after birth in a mouse model

Scientists announced the reversal of Kleefstra syndrome—a genetic disorder leading to intellectual disability.

23 Sep 2021

Potential biomarkers help diagnose progressive stages of liver disease

Results of national research pinpointed potential biomarkers that could ultimately be employed for the diagnosis of progressive stages of liver disease.

23 Sep 2021

Genetic and epigenetic origin of pediatric liver cancer uncovered

Researchers at Hiroshima University have analyzed the molecular findings of almost 160 pediatric liver cancer cases and discovered molecular markers that should help to understand and treat the considerable variation in prognoses.

22 Sep 2021

Premature aging of the tracheobronchial stem cells could contribute to chronic lung disease

Are prematurely aged or overworked stem cells a significant factor in chronic lung disease? Findings of a study just released in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM) say this is likely so.

22 Sep 2021

Researchers seek to point a way toward a unified theory for DNA folding

At more than 2 meters long, the human DNA molecule uses intricate folding patterns to fit into cells while locally unfolding to express genes. Such phenomena, however, are difficult to measure in experiments, and theoretical frameworks explaining them continue to be at odds with one another.

22 Sep 2021

Scientists find two proteins that pair up to build lifelines to cancer cells

In human cancer cell and mouse studies, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine have found that a set of proteins work in tandem to build supply lines that deliver oxygen and nutrients to tumors, enabling them to survive and grow.

21 Sep 2021