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A gene is a unit of heredity in a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. All living things depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains.

New RNA Extraction Approaches Overcome Agarose Barriers in Lung Slices

Precision-cut lung slices allow researchers to study living human lung tissue outside the body, preserving the different cell types and structures that make up the organ.

24 Oct 2026

Long-Read Nanopore Sequencing Resolves Unexplained Tumor Mutations

Michigan's Oncology Sequencing Program, or MiOncoSeq, was the first of its kind in the nation to sequence patient tumors.

24 Oct 2026

New Genetic Map Identifies Variations Linked to Long QT Syndrome

Using an innovative, high-throughput technique, an international collaboration led by Vanderbilt Health researchers has created a "map" of 1,757 genetic variations that can trigger a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder called long QT syndrome.

24 Oct 2026

Tower Sensing and Genetics Reveal Time-Shifting Phenotypes in Cottonwood Canopies

Black cottonwood is a fast-growing, genetically diverse tree with potential as a lignocellulosic feedstock for biofuels, including sustainable aviation fuels.

24 Oct 2026

Scientists Discover Molecular Cascade Behind Brain Dysregulation in Angelman Syndrome

Angelman syndrome is a rare disease with a single known cause: one missing gene. The lack of that gene, normally inherited from the mother, occurs in approximately one in 20,000 births and is associated with cognitive and mobility deficits that become evident in children when they are around 6 months of age.

24 Oct 2026

Genetic Clue to Autism's Fourfold Difference In Boys and Girls

Findings on MECP2 regulatory variants suggest genetic factors contribute to autism's male bias, enhancing understanding of the disorder's heritability.

22 Oct 2026

New DNA Test Detects Listeria in Ice Cream and Reveals How It Survives Freezing

Researchers developed a PMA-ddPCR assay to detect and quantify potentially viable Listeria monocytogenes in ice cream, identifying the pathogen in two of 500 commercial samples and demonstrating good agreement with conventional culture-based measurements. The method also supported predictive models of bacterial growth under different temperature conditions, while experiments showed that the pathogen could survive 240 days of frozen storage without substantial changes in population levels.

21 Oct 2026

Touchlight Announces Leadership Transition, with Will Downie Appointed Interim CEO

Touchlight today announces that Karen Fallen is stepping down as CEO and that the Board of Directors has appointed Will Downie as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

From Touchlight 21 Oct 2026

Metabolic Reprogramming Enhances Gamma Delta CAR T Solid Tumor Clearance

By turning a patient's own immune cells into stronger cancer-fighting cells, CAR T-cell therapy has transformed how some blood cancers are treated. But it's been harder to extend this approach to solid tumors, including cancer that has spread to the bone.

21 Oct 2026

Clinician-Led Approach Could Give Doctors a Control Dial for Cell Therapies

A clinician-led research team has developed a gene-editing platform that could give doctors more control over cell therapies, making them more practical for patients with complex immune conditions.

20 Oct 2026

Functional Genomics Platform Connects Candidate Genes to Pest Defense Phenotypes

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) supplies dietary protein, livestock feed, and income in tropical and subtropical regions, while its nitrogen-fixing ability adds agricultural value. Genome sequencing has provided researchers with numerous candidate genes, and genetic transformation has enabled studies of traits such as drought and heat tolerance.

20 Oct 2026

Cold Responsive Transcription Factor Binding Overlaps Open Chromatin at Gene Promoters

Rice originated in subtropical environments, yet its cultivation has expanded into regions where low temperatures threaten growth, development, and yield. Japonica rice generally tolerates cold better than indica rice, and researchers have linked this adaptation to changes in stress-responsive gene expression. Much attention has focused on C-repeat binding factors, a group of transcription factors that help coordinate plant cold responses.

20 Oct 2026

Mobile Genetic Elements and Reservoir Type Drive Resistance-Gene Abundance in Water Sources

Aquatic environments are recognized as reservoirs and pathways for antimicrobial resistance, receiving antibiotic residues and resistant microorganisms from sewage, livestock farming, and aquaculture. Previous studies have detected resistance genes in drinking water sources and shown that conventional treatment may remove them incompletely.

16 Oct 2026