Genetics News and Research

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Genetics is the study of genes and heredity. Heredity is the passing of genetic information and traits (such as eye color and an increased chance of getting a certain disease) from parents to offspring.

Breaking the Interspecies Immune Barrier to Advance Human Organ Generation

Failure of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to survive when grown with the PSCs of distantly related species occurs because of an innate immune reaction in the nonhuman cells, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests.

9 Dec 2025

Study Uncovers Principles Guiding Replication Initiation Across the Human Genome

When cells proliferate, genomic DNA is precisely duplicated once per cell cycle. Abnormalities in this DNA replication process can cause alterations in genomic DNA, promoting cellular aging, cancer, and genetic disorders.

4 Dec 2025

Study Exposes Ancestry Biases in Current Gene Annotations

Human gene maps contain major blind spots because they were built largely from the DNA sequences of people with European ancestry, according to a study published today in Nature Communications.

4 Dec 2025

Harnessing Triploid Loquat to Unlock Aneuploid Diversity for Advanced Breeding

Triploid plants are widely valued in horticulture for desirable traits such as seedlessness, yield improvement, and stress resilience.

2 Dec 2025

New Label-Free Breakthrough for Studying Bacterial Shape Diversity

Scientists have long known that bacteria come in many shapes and sizes, but understanding what those differences mean has remained a major challenge, especially for species that can't be grown in the lab.

2 Dec 2025

Study Reveals ATM-Driven Mechanism Behind Telomere-Induced Senescence

After a finite number of divisions, cells simply give up. As each round of replication trims their telomeres-the protective caps at the chromosome ends-those caps eventually become too short to prevent chromosome ends from being recognized as DNA breaks.

2 Dec 2025

Study Uncovers How Polyploid Plants Harness Transposons for Evolutionary Innovation

Polyploidization, the combination and duplication of genomes, is a major driver of plant evolution and diversification. Yet this process causes "genome shock," leading to rapid activation of transposable elements (TEs).

2 Dec 2025

New Regulatory Pathway Enhances Key Aroma Compound in Wine Grapes

β-Damascenone is a key norisoprenoid compound responsible for characteristic floral and fruity aromas in grapes and wines, particularly those from non-aromatic varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

27 Nov 2025

Study Identifies Adipogenin as Crucial Driver of Lipid Droplet Formation

A microprotein called adipogenin appears to play a key role in helping fat cells store lipid droplets – a phenomenon that's pivotal for metabolic health, a study co-led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows.

27 Nov 2025

Gene Transcription Start Sites Identified as Hidden Mutational Hotspots

Researchers have discovered new regions of the human genome particularly vulnerable to mutations. These altered stretches of DNA can be passed down to future generations and are important for how we study genetics and disease.

27 Nov 2025

Discovery Reveals Unexpected Role for OTULIN in Controlling Tau Expression

Scientists have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a brain enzyme called OTULIN controls the expression of tau, the protein that forms toxic tangles in Alzheimer's disease.

26 Nov 2025

Freezing Cells for Success: DMSO-Free Redefining the Future of Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation plays a crucial role in cell biology research, bioprocessing, and biomanufacturing. Traditionally, DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) has been the cryoprotectant of choice for preserving cells.

25 Nov 2025

Novel Mechanism for Epigenetic Patterning in Plants

Every cell within an organism shares an identical genetic blueprint. Their distinct identities stem from epigenetics—precise chemical markers that dictate gene expression.

24 Nov 2025

New Polygenic Risk Scores Transform Disease Prediction for Han Chinese Populations

Researchers at Academia Sinica have developed the first population-specific polygenic risk score (PRS) models for people of Han Chinese ancestry, achieving unprecedented accuracy in predicting risks for common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders.

22 Nov 2025

Genetic Insights Reveal Key Drivers of Bone Density in Children

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) revealed important genetic components that affect bone density in children and adolescents.

20 Nov 2025

Transcription Factor SmMYB53 Drives Enhanced Tanshinone Synthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Salvia miltiorrhiza has long been used in traditional medicine, with tanshinones being its main active compounds.

19 Nov 2025

Discovery Reveals Greater Epigenetic Complexity in Unicellular Life

Multicellular organisms (animals, plants, human) all have the ability to methylate the cytosine © base in their DNA. This process, a type of epigenetic modification, plays an important role in conditions such as cancer and processes such as aging.

19 Nov 2025

Exploring Carotenoid Diversity in Carrots Through Gene Editing

Carrots are rich in carotenoids, essential for human health, providing important compounds like vitamin A.

17 Nov 2025

Targeted Genetic Testing Revolutionizes Diagnosis of X-Linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism

Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have developed a targeted genetic test to improve diagnosis for X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP), a rare and disabling movement disorder that affects primarily men of Filipino ancestry.

17 Nov 2025

Understanding Genetic Diversity Through Short Tandem Repeats

Scientists at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have revealed a previously overlooked layer of genetic variation that could help explain why people experience disease differently, and why some treatments work better for certain populations.

17 Nov 2025