DNA News and Research

RSS

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).

Muscle Reprogramming Protein Found to Both Activate and Repress Genes

For more than 30 years, scientists have studied how the myogenic determination gene number 1 (MYOD) protein binds DNA to modify the gene expression of muscle stem cells.

11 Aug 2025

Researchers Uncover How Macrophages Respond to Infection Stress

Fighting infections requires speed and accuracy. A team of researchers from CeMM and MedUni Vienna, led by Christoph Bock and Matthias Farlik, explored how macrophages—the body’s initial responders—handle this stress.

11 Aug 2025

Plant Genetics Research Reveals Dynamic and Diverse Centromere Behavior

Cell division is an essential process by which living organisms grow, replenish lost cells, and regenerate dead and damaged tissues.

8 Aug 2025

Salk Scientists Use CRISPR to Uncover Microproteins Linked to Obesity

The obesity rate has more than doubled in the last 30 years, affecting more than one billion people worldwide.

8 Aug 2025

Smaller Scale Mutations in HNF1A Gene Nudge Millions Toward Type-2 Diabetes

Mutations in a single gene, HNF1A, are known to cause MODY3, a rare, early onset form of diabetes.

7 Aug 2025

Uncovering How Cells Precisely Control Protein Production

It's known as biology's central dogma: All living organisms' genetic information is stored in DNA, which is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins that perform nearly all essential tasks in a cell.

6 Aug 2025

New Computational Tool Reveals How Long Non-Coding RNAs Control Gene Expression

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are a type of RNA molecule that do not carry instructions to make proteins. Instead, they influence how other genes are expressed.

6 Aug 2025

Prime Editing Reverses Symptoms of Severe Childhood Neurological Disease

Scientists use a precise form of gene editing called prime editing to correct the most common genetic mutations that cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood, a rare and severe neurological disorder that begins in infancy.

From The Jackson Labs 6 Aug 2025

There’s Something Fishy Going on with Great White Sharks that Scientists Can’t Explain

White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) almost went bottom-up during the last ice age, when sea levels were much lower than they are today and sharks had to get by with less space.

6 Aug 2025

New PCE Systems Enable Precise Genome Engineering Across Kilobase to Megabase Scales

A team of Chinese researchers led by Prof. GAO Caixia from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed two new genome editing technologies, known collectively as Programmable Chromosome Engineering (PCE) systems.

5 Aug 2025

Small Changes in Brain Enzyme May Have Shaped Modern Human Behavior

The evolutionary success of our species may have hinged on minute changes to our brain biochemistry after we diverged from the lineage leading to Neanderthals and Denisovans about half a million years ago.

5 Aug 2025

New Genetic Research Reveals Hibernation Secrets Hidden in Human DNA

Animals that hibernate are incredibly resilient. They can spend months without food or water, muscles refusing to atrophy, body temperature dropping to near freezing as their metabolism and brain activity slow to a crawl.

1 Aug 2025

AI Tool Accelerates Hunt for Elusive Genome‐Encoded Microproteins

Proteins sustain life as we know it, serving many important structural and functional roles throughout the body.

1 Aug 2025

Cancer Cells Trigger Instant Energy Surge When Squeezed

Cancer cells mount an instant, energy‑rich response to being physically squeezed, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.

31 Jul 2025

The DNA Analysis Device that Can be Made on a 3D Printer

University of Queensland researchers have developed an affordable, open-source DNA measurement tool that can be built using a home 3D printer.

30 Jul 2025

Advanced Genetic Analysis with the epicGEN Solid Cancer and MSI Kit

Highly sensitive and efficient analysis with an emphasis on specific regions of the genome. epicGEN NGS panels are designed for modern diagnostic laboratories.

29 Jul 2025

dpMIG-seq Enables Efficient Genetic Analysis of Tetraploid Blueberry

Polyploid crops, such as blueberries, often exhibit complex inheritance patterns that complicate genetic analysis and hinder breeding efforts.

29 Jul 2025

Multi-Omics Approaches Reveal New Insights into Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis

Colorectal cancer is among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies worldwide, with liver metastases occurring in nearly one-third of patients and accounting for a major share of cancer-related deaths.

29 Jul 2025

Study Uncovers Genetic Roots of Stuttering

The largest genetic analysis of stuttering has demonstrated a clear genetic basis for the speech disorder, highlighting neurological pathways of risk.

29 Jul 2025

Every Newborn Sequenced Within a Decade: What Does This Mean for Healthcare?

We spoke with Neil Ward from PacBio about England’s plan to introduce whole genome sequencing for every newborn, and how long-read technology is shaping the future of early diagnosis around the world.

29 Jul 2025