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DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).

Exon-Specific Analysis Uncovers Novel Insights into Psychiatric Disease

This research highlights the role of exons in mental illnesses, offering new perspectives on genetic factors that influence psychiatric disorder development.

3 Jun 2025

WVU Student Discovers Fungus with LSD-Like Therapeutic Potential

A WVU microbiology student discovered a new fungus, Periglandula clandestina, with potential therapeutic properties for addiction and depression treatments.

3 Jun 2025

Large Language Models Unlock New Frontiers in Plant Genomics

By leveraging the structural parallels between genomic sequences and natural language, these AI-driven models can decode complex genetic information, offering unprecedented insights into plant biology.

2 Jun 2025

Repairing DNA Double-Strand Breaks May Improve Genomic Stability by Limiting Organelle-to-Nucleus Gene Transfer

A new study in Nature Plants reveals that DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR) pathways help prevent gene transfer from organelles to the nucleus in plants. Disruption of DSBR increases the risk of genomic instability through endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT).

2 Jun 2025

How Domestication Changed Cat Genes and Behavior

Whether one is fortunate enough to have a cat friend or must enjoy the experience vicariously through cat videos, Felis catus is a familiar and reassuring presence in our daily lives.

30 May 2025

Seasonal Light Changes Continue to Shape Human Circadian Rhythms

It’s tempting to think that, with our fancy electric lights and indoor bedrooms, humanity has evolved beyond the natural influence of sunlight when it comes to our sleep routines.

29 May 2025

New Research Reveals Yeast-Based Production of Human DNase1 Protein

Research on yeast-based production of human DNase1 offers a cost-effective alternative to mammalian cells, enhancing treatment options for cystic fibrosis.

29 May 2025

Study Reveals How APOE Isoforms Impact Brain Microglia

A study reveals how APOE isoforms influence microglial activity in Alzheimer's, highlighting the need for targeted interventions based on genetic risk factors.

28 May 2025

Cobraa: A Coalescence-Based Model Infers a Structured Ancestry Shared by Modern-Day Humans

The Cobraa model offers insights into human evolution, detailing ancestral population dynamics and genetic admixture events over the last 1.5 million years.

28 May 2025

Epigenome Editing: Enhancing Endonuclease Protein Design for In Vivo Applications

Researchers have engineered a compact, high-specificity IscB variant, NovaIscB, for safe, persistent in vivo epigenome editing using AAV delivery, offering a powerful tool for gene regulation without DNA breaks.

28 May 2025

Extracellular RNA Profiling Recommendations: Results From exRNAQC, a Comprehensive Assessment of Pre-Analytical Factors for Quality Control

A large-scale study (exRNAQC) outlines how blood tube type, RNA purification method, and processing time influence exRNA profiles. Results support new guidelines for researchers and diagnostic product developers working on RNA-based biomarkers.

28 May 2025

Study Challenges Longstanding Mitochondrial Theory of Aging

The human genome is broadly classified into the genome residing in the cell nucleus (nuclear DNA) and the genome residing in the mitochondria (mitochondrial DNA: mtDNA). Mitochondria are cell organelles that produce energy essential for life activities through oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondrial respiration), and mtDNA encodes a set of genes required for mitochondrial respiration.

27 May 2025

Mutation Profiling Reveals Therapeutic Targets in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Lung Squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) represents the second most common non-small cell lung cancer. Although studies identified adenocarcinoma-like driver mutations in LSCC using next-generation sequencing (NGS), the disease is challenging to treat due to the limited number of detectable mutations for targeted drug therapy.

27 May 2025

Cold Adaptation in Rice Offers New Insights into Evolution

Chinese researchers recently discovered molecular evidence supporting Lamarckism, a long-debated theory from the early 19th century that suggests acquired traits can be inherited.

27 May 2025

Unraveling Bacterial Biomass Loss for Climate Prediction

Marine bacteria control the amount of CO2 stored in the oceans by swimming after and destroying sinking particles that might otherwise linger in the ocean for millennia.

27 May 2025

New LLNL Method Accelerates Protein Screening for Drug Discovery

Machine learning and supercomputing have brought about a revolution in computational drug discovery.

24 May 2025

RNA Editing and Transcriptional Switching Shape Fungal Antiviral Response

The expression of symptoms of viral infections is a byproduct of complex virus-host molecular pathways. These remain largely unknown, especially in the case of fungus-virus pathogen systems.

24 May 2025

Machine Learning Reveals Molecular Profile Differences in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Scientists aiming to advance cancer diagnostics have developed a machine learning tool that is able to identify metabolism-related molecular profile differences between patients with colorectal cancer and healthy people.

24 May 2025

New Genomic Score Predicts Risk of Progression in Multiple Myeloma

A new risk assessment score developed by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard reveals how multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, begins and progresses from precancerous to malignant states by tracing DNA mutations.

24 May 2025

Gene Loss and Gain Shaped the Evolution of Relapsing Fever Bacteria

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have analyzed ancient DNA from Borrelia recurrentis, a type of bacteria that causes relapsing fever, pinpointing when it evolved to spread through lice rather than ticks, and how it gained and lost genes in the process.

24 May 2025